CAA trending down ....

[fourthandshort]

They're going from 15 to 16 teams next year, but getting worse every year because their top teams are leaving and they're taking all comers.

Delaware is now leaving and Richmond is very concerned, rightly so. CAA is getting so watered down that Richmond did not play any of the top 3 teams in the CAA this year .. the only 3 that deserved bids. And Richmond got a bid at 8-3 for playing the 81st ranked SOS. Then they drew NC Central, who's resume at 9-2 was even worse, and won before getting smoked by CAA's Albany 41 - 13.

In any case, CAA will lose Delaware in 2025 after losing JMU. Leaving usually good Villanova, and a handful of sometimes good UNH, Albany, Richmond, and more recently W&M .. but not really W&M. Then after that, it is a couple below average programs, followed by whole a bunch of bad programs.

CAA is hanging on for dear life. Big Sky has definitely taken their place as the 2nd best FCS conference.

It's not 'business as usual' with Richmond and CAA Football

"We’re really trying to get our arms around these changes, and we will. We’re really kind of in the reactive mode right now rather than the proactive mode."

richmond.com

Rank	Team	Record	PF	PA	Record	PF	PA	Record	PF	PA	Record	PF	PA
7	Villanova	10-2 0.833	33.6	18.5	6-0 1.000	37.3	13.2	4-2 0.667	29.8	23.8	7-1 0.875	33.0	14.6
11	SUNY Albany	10-3 0.769	30.5	16.8	6-0 1.000	34.3	9.0	4-3 0.571	27.1	23.6	8-1 0.889	33.6	15.2
18	Delaware	9-4 0.692	31.6	24.0	5-2 0.714	29.3	23.4	4-2 0.667	34.3	24.7	6-2 0.750	33.0	16.9
32	Richmond	9-4 0.692	28.2	23.6	5-2 0.714	33.6	21.3	4-2 0.667	21.8	26.3	7-2 0.778	28.3	23.6
33	New Hampshire	6-5 0.545	37.5	29.5	3-2 0.600	38.0	32.4	3-3 0.500	37.0	27.2	4-4 0.500	36.9	32.0
34	Elon	6-5 0.545	24.7	24.0	4-1 0.800	28.6	16.6	2-4 0.333	21.5	30.2	6-2 0.750	25.6	19.9
37	William & Mary	6-5 0.545	21.7	18.5	3-2 0.600	26.4	19.6	3-3 0.500	17.8	17.7	4-4 0.500	23.5	20.5
39	Rhode Island	6-5 0.545	28.9	27.8	4-1 0.800	33.2	23.2	2-4 0.333	25.3	31.7	4-4 0.500	25.0	26.0
52	Towson	5-6 0.455	24.0	32.4	1-4 0.200	19.6	33.6	4-2 0.667	27.7	31.3	4-4 0.500	28.0	35.9
53	Monmouth NJ	4-7 0.364	32.5	27.5	3-2 0.600	44.2	22.0	1-5 0.167	22.7	32.2	3-5 0.375	33.5	28.3
60	Campbell	5-6 0.455	28.7	33.3	1-3 0.250	22.3	33.8	4-3 0.571	32.4	33.0	4-4 0.500	25.6	31.4
78	Maine	2-9 0.182	23.5	32.7	2-3 0.400	30.6	30.8	0-6 0.000	17.7	34.3	1-7 0.125	27.0	36.1
79	Hampton	5-6 0.455	23.3	35.4	1-4 0.200	17.8	32.6	3-2 0.600	26.4	39.0	3-5 0.375	20.4	36.6
96	NC A&T	1-10 0.091	16.1	30.5	0-5 0.000	17.2	34.0	1-5 0.167	15.2	27.7	0-8 0.000	15.9	30.6
105	Stony Brook	0-10 0.000	15.2	39.2	0-5 0.000	14.6	33.2	0-5 0.000	15.8	45.2	0-8 0.000	17.3	41.9

 

[StLRedbird]

One thing I've noticed over the years with the Colonial is that they've got a pretty consistent set of bottom feeders. Agreed, expanding that group seems like a poor plan. It's sister conference, the A10, places a high priority on the academics and commitment to academics in it's member schools. Colonial probably shares that. I guess what I'm suggesting is that their tolerance of an academically strong school with a, uh, less strong commitment to athletics would be better tolerated.

If you're suggesting that this should impact how the FCS selection committee evaluates them, time will tell. BTW, I've appreciated your "fact checking" of that committee.