The Colonial Athletic Association features plenty of outstanding games this season, both in and out of conference. The Football Championship Subdivision league has proven it can play with big-time programs time and again the past few years, claiming 10 wins against larger-classification schools in the past six years.
Here are the five best games involving a CAA team you don’t want to miss.
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1. DELAWARE AT MARYLAND, AUG. 30: The Blue Hens went 11-4 last season, advancing to the FCS National Championship game. Led by now-Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, Delaware upset Navy, 59-52. Maryland, which went 6-7 and lost the Emerald Bowl to Oregon State, lost a large senior class last season and has struggled against inferior opposition (see: 31-14 win against Villanova last year).
2. TOWSON AT NAVY, AUG. 30: The Tigers, who were a disappointing 3-8 last season, have a chance to make a name nationally by upsetting the Midshipmen in Annapolis. Quarterback Sean Schaefer, who has thrown for 8,358 yards, 51 touchdowns with 45 interceptions in his career, gives them a chance. Navy returns starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and most of an offense that led the country in rushing for an NCAA-record three straight seasons, but loses coach Paul Johnson who left for the same position at Georgia Tech. First-year coach Ken Niumatalolo will have his hands full.
3. JAMES MADISON VS. APPALACHIAN STATE, SEPT. 20: James Madison, ranked No. 1 in Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, has a chance to upset the three-time defending national champions. The highlight of the game will be the battle of running quarterbacks, featuring James Madison’s Rodney Landers (1,273 yards, 12 TDs last year) and the Mountaineers’ Armanti Edwards (1,588 yards, 21 TDs).
4. DELAWARE AT RICHMOND, NOV. 15: The teams played one of the greatest games in CAA history last year, when Richmond outlasted Delaware, 62-56, in five overtimes. The battle lasted 4 1/2 hours, and saw the teams combine for nearly 1,050 yards of offense. And with Richmond, which reached the FCS semifinals last season, expected to repeat as South Division champions and Delaware, which advanced to the national title game last fall, expect plenty to be on the line this fall.
5. MASSACHUSETTS AT NEW HAMPSHIRE, NOV. 15: This game will likely decide who wins the North Division. Massachusetts drubbed the Wildcats, 27-7, last season. New Hampshire, which will have to replace standout quarterback Ricky Santos, still features All-American tight end Scott Sicko (51 catches, 619 yards, 6 TDs).
OTHER BIG GAMES: Maine at Iowa, Aug. 30; Massachusetts at Texas Tech, Sept. 20; New Hampshire at Army, Aug. 30; Northeastern at Syracuse, Sept. 20; Richmond at Virginia, Sept. 6; Villanova at West Virginia, Aug. 30; Massachusetts at Rhode Island, Nov. 1.
