Conference competition kicks off in the Coastal Athletic Association with four league matchups in Week 3. The first conference games of the season headline a loaded Saturday that also features a variety of high-stakes out-of-league contests.

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• FCS Football Top 25 Week 2 Results: How The Ranked Teams Did
• Division II Football Scores Week 2: Here’s Who Won

Taking center stage among the non-conference clashes, UAlbany returns to Moscow for a rematch of last season’s thrilling FCS Playoffs win over Idaho.

William & Mary is also on the road, playing its second game in as many weeks in the Palmetto State when it visits Wofford. The Tribe fell short last Saturday at Coastal Carolina but have a prime opportunity to bounce back this week in a game with potential playoff implications.

Wofford is off to a surprising 2-0 start after knocking off Richmond, 26-12.

Rounding out the top non-conference games in the CAA’s third week, Elon continues its docket of in-state matchups with its first this season at Rhodes Stadium. The Phoenix debut at home against Western Carolina, a SoCon title hopeful coming off a loss to the CAA’s Campbell Fighting Camels.

An Elon defense that looked tough in defeat Week 1 at Duke against flexed its muscle, this time holding North Carolina Central to just six points through the first quarters. Along with the aggressive defense that has become a calling card of the Phoenix under coach Tony Trisciani, Elon's 41-19 win last week marked the coming-out party of CAA Freshman of the Week T.J. Thomas. 

The running back erupted for 163 yards and scored one of the Phoenix's three rushing touchdowns. Look for him to be a key element alongside Matthew Downing in the evolving Elon defense. 

Towson at Villanova

Brendan Bell went for 10 tackles against Colgate after making 11 tackles against Youngstown State. Richie Kimmel, Zahmir Dawud and Christian Sapp all have interceptions through the first two weeks, and Dawud forced a fumble in Week 1.

"Our defense is flying around to the football. We're able to rotate more guys through," Wildcats coach Mark Ferrante said. He noted rotating more linebackers was an emphasis in the 28-3 win over Colgate last week. 

Villanova’s defense very much looks the part of championship contender. It will again be central for the Wildcats in the conference opener when they host a Towson team coming off its own dominant defensive showing in Week 2.

The Tigers outlasted Morgan State in a 14-9 rock fight thanks in part to holding the Bears to 84 rushing yards — 2.5 per carry —and 249 total yards. C.J. McClendon’s three tackles for loss paced Towson to 13 total backfield takedowns. Combined with the four tackles for loss Towson recorded at Cincinnati in Week 1, the Tigers are tied for sixth-most nationally heading into Villanova.

Towson's ability to get into the backfield carried over special teams where Rion Roseborough blocked a pair of Morgan State kicks. 

This should be a physical clash with the defense that can make the final stop coming out on top. 

PREDICTION: Villanova 20, Towson 14 

Monmouth at Maine

Derek Robertson’s return to Orono headlines the conference opener between Monmouth and Maine. Robertson, who led the CAA in passing yards per game a season ago while at Maine, is on a similarly prolific pace two games into his tenure at Monmouth.

Robertson followed his 390-yard, three-touchdown debut at Eastern Washington with 355 yards and four touchdowns last week vs. Lafayette. He's on pace to blaze past the 2,933 yards he threw for last season while at Maine. But can Robertson's former Black Bears teammates slow his fast start? 

"You know his character, his work ethic and you know his knowledge of the game. He's like having a coach on the field," Maine coach Jordan Stevens said of Robertson. "So we know that he'll be well-prepared...And he's really just picked up where he left off in terms of his accuracy and his timing." 

The former Black Bear Robertson is the second marquee quarterback the Maine defense sees in as many weeks, but he presents a much different challenge than Montana State's dual-threat playmaker Tommy Mellott. Mellott went 12-of-15 passing for 144 yards last week, and his 66 rushing yards contributed to a 344-yard day for the Bobcats. 

Monmouth, meanwhile, has been slow to establish a consistent run game to complement the prolific passing attack, though Hawks coach Kevin Callahan said he saw his team "making progress there" in a 40-35 heartbreaker vs. Lafayette. Getting Sone Ntoh rolling to open the field for the pass will be critical for Monmouth to get its first win. 

PREDICTION: Monmouth 34, Maine 28 

Campbell at Rhode Island

Campbell scored its first-ever win over a Top 25-ranked opponent with its 24-16 defeat of Western Carolina. The Camels shut down one of the most prolific offenses in the FCS, limiting the Catamounts to 287 total yards and 3.8 yards per carry – the latter a full 2.5 yards per attempt less than Western Carolina reeled off Week 1 at NC State.

With Jalen Brooks putting together a stellar individual performance on defense — 12 tackles, a pass break-up and one of Campbell’s three interceptions of WCU Walter Payton Award hopeful Cole Gonzales — Chad Mascoe held it down offensively.

Mascoe has looked solid filling the void that Hajj-Malik Williams left. The Camels quarterback threw for two touchdowns and rushed for a third at Western Carolina, and now tries to make his mark against a talented Rhode Island defense.

The Rams took their lumps Week 2 visiting Minnesota of the Big Ten Conference. A strong performance Week 1 against Holy Cross, however, demonstrated the potential of Rhode Island’s veteran group on that side of the ball.

Rhode Island’s quarterback competition between Hunter Helms and Devin Farrell continues into conference play. Both have seen significant snaps through the Rams’ first two contests, with Helms going 8-of-14 for 44 yards with an interception and Farrell at 26-of-51, 363 yards and two touchdowns and two picks.

Jumpstarting the offense will be key for Rhode Island, but a high hurdle against that Campbell defense. Brooks’ standout effort in Week 2 jumps out to Rams coach Jim Fleming. 

"Campbell has some athletes back there [in the secondary]," he said. "We are very familiar with their structure and some of the things we do [are] similar to what we do." 

The similarities between the teams should make for a tightly contested CAA opener. 

PREDICTION: Rhode Island 21, Campbell 20 

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Saturday, Sept. 14

All times Eastern

• Delaware vs. North Carolina A&T - 1 p.m. 
• Charleston Southern vs. Richmond - 2 p.m.
• Holy Cross vs. Bryant - 2 p.m.
• Towson vs. Villanova – 3:30 p.m.
• Monmouth vs. Maine - 3:30 p.m.
• Campbell vs. Rhode Island - 6 p.m. 
• Stonehill College vs. New Hampshire - 6 p.m.
• Western Carolina vs. Elon - 6 p.m.
• Hanover vs. Butler - 6 p.m.

How Did The CAA Football Teams Perform In Week 2?

*CAA teams in bold

• Bryant def. Franklin Pierce, 21-17
• Campbell def. No. 17 Western Carolina, 24-16
• Delaware - BYE
• Elon def. North Carolina Central, 41-19
• Hampton def. Virginia Union, 33-21
• Montana State def. Maine, 41-24
• No. 19 Lafayette def. Monmouth, 40-35
• New Hampshire def. Holy Cross, 21-20
• North Carolina A&T def. Winston-Salem State, 27-20 (OT)
• Minnesota def. Rhode Island, 48-0
• Wofford def. Richmond, 26-19
• Stony Brook def. Stonehill, 37-10
• Towson def. Morgan State, 14-9
• West Virginia def. UAlbany, 49-14
• No. 5 Villanova def. Colgate, 28-3
• Coastal Carolina def. William & Mary, 40-21

College Football Rankings 2024 

AFCA Coaches Poll – Sept 8, 2024

1. South Dakota State (22) - 1-1 (Last Week: 1)
2. North Dakota State (2) - 1-1 (Last Week: 2)
3. Montana State (2) - 3-0 (Last Week: 3)
4. Villanova - 2-0 (Last Week: 5)
5. Idaho - 1-1 (Last Week: 7)
6. South Dakota - 1-1 (Last Week: 6)
7. Central Arkansas - 1-1 (Last Week: 9)
8. Southern Illinois - 1-1 (Last Week: 12)
9. Montana - 1-1 (Last Week: 4)
10. North Dakota - 1-1 (Last Week: 20)
11. Sacramento State - 0-2 (Last Week: 8)
12. UC Davis - 1-1 (Last Week: 18)
13. William & Mary - 1-1 (Last Week: 14)
14. UIW - 1-1 (Last Week: 11)
15. UAlbany - 1-1 (Last Week: 13)
16. Chattanooga - 0-2 (Last Week: 10)
17. Tarleton State - 2-1 (Last Week: 21)
18. Lafayette - 1-1 (Last Week: 19)
19. Illinois State - 1-1 (Last Week: 22)
20. Youngstown State - 1-1 (Last Week: 23)
21. Northern Iowa - 2-0 (Last Week: NR)
22. Florida A&M - 2-1 (Last Week: 24)
23. Nicholls - 0-2 (Last Week: 25)
24. Mercer - 2-0 (Last Week: NR)
25. Weber State - 1-1 (Last Week: NR)

Others Receiving Votes: Southeast Missouri State (61); Furman (51); Richmond (49); Wofford (46); Abilene Christian (38); Elon (37); Southern Utah (31); Eastern Illinois (28); Western Carolina (27); North Carolina Central (16); Northern Arizona (14); Delaware State (13); New Hampshire (13); Harvard (11); UT Martin (10); Missouri State (8); Yale (8); Saint Francis (Pa.) (6); Drake (5); Alabama A&M (4); Alabama State (2); Georgetown (D.C.) (2); McNeese (2); Rhode Island (2); Campbell (1); Indiana State (1); Lamar (1); Prairie View A&M (1); Stephen F. Austin (1).

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll – Sept 8, 2024

1. South Dakota State (44) - 1-1 (Last Week: 1)
2. North Dakota State (6) - 1-1 (Last Week: 2)
3. Montana State (6) - 3-0 (Last Week: 3)
4. Idaho - 1-1 (Last Week: 7)
5. Villanova - 2-0 (Last Week: 5)
6. South Dakota - 1-1 (Last Week: 6)
7. Central Arkansas - 1-1 (Last Week: 9)
8. Montana - 1-1 (Last Week: 4)
9. Southern Illinois - 1-1 (Last Week: 10)
10. North Dakota - 1-1 (Last Week: 23)
11. Sacramento State - 0-2 (Last Week: 8)
12. UIW - 1-1 (Last Week: 12)
13. William & Mary - 1-1 (Last Week: 13)
14. Chattanooga - 0-2 (Last Week: 11)
15. UC Davis - 1-1 (Last Week: 18)
16. Tarleton State - 2-1 (Last Week: 20)
17. UAlbany - 1-1 (Last Week: 16)
18. Illinois State - 1-1 (Last Week: 21)
19. Lafayette - 1-1 (Last Week: 19)
20. Weber State - 1-1 (Last Week: 24)
21. Youngstown State - 1-1 (Last Week: 25)
22. Elon - 1-1 (Last Week: NR)
23. Mercer - 2-0 (Last Week: NR)
24. Nicholls - 0-2 (Last Week: 22)
25. Abilene Christian - 1-1 (Last Week: NR)

Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Southeast Missouri - 111; Richmond - 100; Wofford - 85; Northern Iowa - 70; Florida A&M - 69; Western Carolina - 67; Eastern Illinois - 64; Furman - 52; Campbell - 49; Southern Utah - 48; Lamar - 15; Alabama State - 13; North Carolina Central - 12; Saint Francis - 11; Austin Peay - 8; Charleston Southern - 7; Harvard - 5; Drake – 4.

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