Just three weeks remain in the FCS regular season, and both the Playoffs and conference championships are in sight. The Coastal Athletic Association hits this stretch run with Rhode Island and Richmond continuing to set the pace in pursuit of the league crown, each coming off of hard-fought Week 10 wins.

Behind the Rams and Spiders with one loss in the conference are Stony Brook and Villanova. Stony Brook plays an early rivalry game in Week 11, looking to claim the Golden Apple Trophy for the first time since 2021, while Villanova hosts struggling North Carolina A&T.

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Richmond is also at home in Week 11. And, like Villanova, the Spiders draw an opponent languishing near the bottom of the CAA with Campbell coming to Robins Stadium. The Camels are on a one-game losing streak, while Richmond has run off its last seven straight since an 0-2 start.

Bryant taking Stony Brook to overtime in Week 10 provides another reminder, however, no game in the CAA should be taken for granted.

Rhode Island at Delaware

Rhode Island aims to remain atop the CAA and undefeated against FCS competition, facing an opponent in its final weeks as an FCS program. Delaware transitions out of the CAA and into the FBS Conference USA in 2025 and is thus ineligible for the Coastal championship.

Still, the Fighting Blue Hens can impact the league title race with a win over rolling Rhody.

URI’s fourth-quarter magic continued in a Week 10 comeback against Monmouth, sending the Rams to their seventh straight win. Devin Farrell threw a pair of touchdown passes to Marquis Buchanan, including what proved to be the game-winner with 1:17 remaining, in a 37-28 victory.

Rhode Island outscored Monmouth 27-7 after falling behind, 21-10.

"We prefer not to be in those situations," Rams coach Jim Fleming said. "But once again, we played off of one another...against a very good and well-coached team. We knew we had our hands full." 

Fleming anticipates Rhode Island having its hands full again with another good, well-coached team. 

Ryan Carty's Delaware team ranks second in the CAA in scoring offense, trailing only Monmouth at 36.4 points. Meanwhile, the Blue Hens defense is limiting opponents to 18.8 points per game — third-fewest in the Coastal. 

They are also undefeated at home, improving to 5-0 with a 28-14 win over UAlbany before their bye last week. 

There are undeniable similarities between Delaware and Rhode Island starting with leadership. Carty said of the Rams "that's something that's been consistent in that program." 

"Now they're just more experienced," Carty said of Rhode Island's players. "The talent has gotten deeper. They roll out there, right now, some of the most talented [players] in the league." 

Both sides do indeed boast plenty of talent. Rhode Island's Buchanan has established himself as one of the best receivers in the CAA, helping facilitate Farrell's steady improvement. Malik Grant has been steady at running back, and A.J. Pena is one of the best linebackers in the nation. 

Delaware counters with running back Marcus Yarns, who exploded in his return from injury with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown, and another two scores on receptions vs. UAlbany. Defensively, KT Seay and Melkart Abou-Jaoude are potential game-changers. 

In typical Rhode Island fashion, expect this one to go to the wire — and look for this to be the best game on the entire FCS docket in Week 11. 

PREDICTION: Rhode Island 31, Delaware 28

UAlbany at Stony Brook

 The 26th installment of the Empire State rivalry between UAlbany and Stony Brook has playoff implications for a second consecutive season. Last year, UAlbany claimed the Golden Apple for a second consecutive season and added another win in what ended as the best season in Great Danes history. 

This time around, it's Stony Brook looking to add to its playoff resume and continue one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent FCS history. The Seawolves can reach eight wins for the first time since 2017 when Stony Brook won a 28-21 thriller over UAlbany. That year's installment was part of a run in which four straight meetings between the programs came down to a single possession. 

First-year Stony Brook coach Billy Cosh understands the stakes his team is stepping into hosting UAlbany on Saturday. 

"I'm learning it," Cosh said. "I'm new to New York, so I'm learning that, but I know it's a big game because it's the next one, and they've had us the past two years." 

Meanwhile, here for all four of those one-possessions games — and every matchup since 2014 — was UAlbany coach Greg Gattuso. His Great Danes are looking for three straight wins in the series, something neither program has accomplished since UAlbany took six in a row from 1996 through 2001. 

To do that, the 2024 Great Danes need to snap out of a three-game slump. Their 31-14 loss to New Hampshire last week marked the third straight game in which the Great Danes scored only 14 points. Finding offensive consistency has been difficult for UAlbany, particularly with the ground game only producing 104.8 yards per game. 

Establishing the run against a Stony Brook defense that has been spotty in stopping the rush will be critical if the Great Danes are to pull off the upset. Conversely, look for a Seawolves defense that has been excellent at getting into opposing backfields to ratchet up the intensity with its blitzing. 

PREDICTION: Stony Brook 28, UAlbany 17

Elon at William & Mary

Elon and William & Mary head coaches Tony Trisciani and Mike London took over in the same season, 2019, at which point began a trend of their matchups being among the most competitive on the CAA calendar every year.

Last season's 14-6 Elon win at Rhodes Stadium was the third straight game between the two programs decided by one possession, and the fourth of five since Trisciani and London arrived at their respective stops. 

"We're similar programs, both high academic schools, developmental programs that use the portal to supplement our roster instead of building it that way," Trisciani said. 

And indeed, with players who have come up through both programs, difference-makers in past installments of the series are back to try to put another stamp on it. Last year, Elon defensive back Caleb Curtain had arguably his best performance of an All-America campaign. 

In 2021, William & Mary quarterback Darius Wilson went 14-of-20 passing with two touchdowns and rushed for 95 yards with a third touchdown. Wilson's again quarterbacking the Tribe, flanked by one of the most dynamic running-back tandems in college football with Malachi Imoh and Bronson Yoder. 

After struggling in a loss to Stony Brook that temporarily knocked William & Mary on the wrong side of the FCS Playoffs bubble, Wilson responded with a 16-of-21 passing, 242-yard, and two-touchdown showing vs. North Carolina A&T. 

Wilson, Imoh, and Yoder all rushed for touchdowns, and each posted at least 64 yards. 

"So very proud of Darius for rebounding, taking it on his shoulders and saying, 'Listen coach, I can play better. I know I've got to play to better to help this team win.' And he demonstrated that on Saturday," London said. 

With the dual-threat Wilson leading the way, William & Mary's multifaceted offense could present some problems for a talented Elon defense. The Phoenix have played well on that side of the ball much of the season but gave up 41 points to a Hampton offense with similar make-up as William & Mary. 

Much will depend on the up-and-down Elon offense's ability to move the ball and keep its defense off the field to get some breathers. 

PREDICTION: William & Mary 27, Elon 21

What Are The Top Conferences In The FCS?

Curious about the top performers and strongest conference within the FCS ranks? We’ve got you covered.

See the FCS conferences ranked using a unique system that was originally developed for chess.

When Do The 2024 FCS College Football Playoffs Start?

The FCS playoffs begin on November 30, 2024.

The 2024 Division I FCS College Football Championship game will be played on January 6, 2025, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

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