Preseason Outlook for the CAA Football Race
The latest Coastal Athletic Association preseason coaches' poll reveals Rhode Island as the clear front‑runner, amassing 144 total votes, including 12 votes for first place, and securing the conference's preseason championship honors.
Sacred Heart University is positioned tenth in the poll with 49 votes, reflecting a solid outlook for the program as it prepares to face rivals such as Albany, North Carolina A&T and Hampton within the 13‑team field.
Behind Rhode Island's dominance, a tight group of contenders – Monmouth, Elon, New Hampshire and Stony Brook – occupy the next slots, each eyeing a share of the conference crown; notably, Stony Brook earned the sole other first‑place vote.
Individual recognitions pepper the preview, with Devin Farrell earning offensive player of the year honors and several SHU athletes named to the preseason All‑CAA team, including fifth‑year senior running back Mitch Summers and graduate offensive lineman Tim Suk.
Adding further intrigue, Rhode Island has reached the NCAA FCS Playoff first round in each of the past two seasons, underscoring the program's recent momentum while the broader league promises competitive matchups throughout the upcoming schedule.