With the 2023 season three weeks in, the campaign is at the one-quarter mark. By weekend's end, each of the Coastal Athletic Association teams will have played a conference game and the initial pace for the league championship will be set. 

The quarter-post offers a fitting opportunity to take stock of the conference to date, evaluating points of strength and potential areas for improvement in order to make a push for the FCS Playoffs. 

With six of the CAA's teams sitting at 2-1 through three weeks, here's a breakdown of where each of the one-loss teams sit ahead of Week 4. 

1. New Hampshire 

Defending conference co-champion New Hampshire has looked the part of repeat contender. Just three points in a 45-42 loss at Central Michigan, a team likely to contend for the Mid-American Conference championship, separate UNH from a perfect start. 

With Dylan Laube leading the nation in all-purpose yards and ranking top five in receiving yards, as well as Max Brosmer checking in among the most prolific passers in FCS, the UNH offense is explosive and exciting. 

Complementing it on the other side of the ball, the Wildcats boast a well-rounded defense with playmakers across all three phases. Joe Eichman's emergence as a leading playmaker to support the fearsome front-line tandem of Dylan Ruiz and Josiah Silver, Ryan Toscano's leadership at linebacker and Max Oxendine setting the tone for the secondary combine to make this a championship-caliber group. 

2. Delaware

Despite some question marks with key starters from last year's playoff team gone, Delaware appears to be right back to the standard it set in Ryan Carty's first season as head coach. The Blue Hens have steadily overwhelmed each of their FCS opponents through the first three weeks — CAA counterpart Stony Brook and 2022 playoff opponent Saint Francis — en route to dominant second halves. 

A stifling defense that excels in turnover creation has set the bar. Chase McGowan is fast establishing himself as one of the most fearsome pass-rushers in the conference, and a variety of ball-hawks in the linebacker corps and secondary capitalize on forced passes.

Marcus Yarns is averaging a whopping 11.4 yards per carry and has scored four touchdowns through the first three weeks. His effectiveness in the ground game is an ideal complement to the stingy Blue Hens defense. 

3. Rhode Island 

Repeated finishes just outside of a playoff berth reset outside expectations for Rhode Island, a preseason Top 25 selection. The Rams have responded nicely with two emphatic wins in conference play, routing Stony Brook in Week 2, 35-14; and scoring the program's first win at Maine in 25 years, 34-17. 

Were it not for a near-miss with a ball-spotting controversy Week 1 at Georgia State, Rhody would be headed into a marquee matchup with Villanova at 3-0. 

Kasim Hill has been excellent through the first quarter of the campaign, feeding off the talent and depth in the stacked receiving corps. The Rams defense has yet to allow 20 points to an FCS opponent heading into a Week 4 showdown with Villanova. 

4. Campbell 

Newcomer Campbell came into the CAA as perhaps the league's most intriguing wild card. A variety of new additions to the Camels roster joined veterans like quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, and thus far, the dynamic has worked. 

Campbell gave top four-ranked and defending co-champion William & Mary a handful for the first half in Week 1. Since dropping the opener, the Camels have scored more than 100 points in road wins at The Citadel and over a good Monmouth bunch. 

Williams is among the most electrifying quarterbacks in the FCS, and NaQuari Rogers is coming off a breakout performance in the win at Monmouth. Both flourish behind what may be the most talented offensive line in the nation. 

If the defense makes strides, Campbell will contend for its first FCS Playoffs. 

5. Villanova 

Perhaps the most unknown of the one-loss teams thus far is Villanova, which cruised to a 2-0 start in its two games against FCS competition. The Wildcats dominated Lehigh and Colgate teams coming off bottom-half finishes in the Patriot League, and lost to a talented UCF to close the non-conference season. 

Week 4 should reveal Villanova's likelihood to return to CAA championship contention. The Wildcats get Rhode Island at home, and the Rams potent offense poses a significant test for a defense that endured its share of growing pains in 2022. 

However, with running backs Jalen Jackson and DeeWil Barlee averaging north of 7.5 yards per touch, and Rayjoun Pringle putting up huge numbers holding down top receiver duties while Jaaron Hayek works his way back from injury, the offense looks explosive.

6. Hampton 

While the Pirates check in at No. 6 of this rundown of 2-1 teams, Hampton could very well be 3-0 heading into its bye week. Sandwiched between dramatic wins over Grambling and rival Howard, Hampton dropped a 31-23 decision to Norfolk State in a game the Pirates dominated in several key areas. 

Hampton converted 19 first downs to Norfolk State's 12; the Pirates outgained the Spartans 435 yards to 340, and outpaced NSU in both rushing and passing. However, turnovers vexed Hampton in a 31-23 loss that denied HU a perfect non-conference season. 

The circumstances of the setback crystallize the pivotal question marks Hampton will have to address to compete in conference play, as self-inflicted damage via turnovers cost the Pirates a game they otherwise dominated. Likewise, Hampton outplayed rival Howard in most statistical categories but needed a furious, fourth-quarter rally to avert a 1-2 start. 

Ball Game! In case you missed it, here’s Jordan White’s INT that wrapped up Hampton’s 7th straight win against Howard.#WeAreHamptonU @thejordanwhite6 pic.twitter.com/4gJaBbFLug

— Hampton Football (@Hampton_FB) September 20, 2023

If Hampton irons out self-inflicted miscues, the Pirates are dangerous. The offense is multi-dimensional with dual-threat quarterback Chris Zellous coming into his own and running back Elijah Burris behind only 2022 Walter Payton Award top-three finisher Jaden Shirden among all CAA ball-carriers. 

Add Darran Butts to the mix, and Hampton might have the best three-man rushing rotation in the league.