The Great Danes have cracked the Coaches Poll. 

UAlbany Football became the latest CAA team to enter the FCS Football Rankings after the Great Danes beat No. 24 William & Mary 24-8.

UAlbany entered the AFCA Coaches Poll for the first time this season at No. 25. 

The victory, which pushed UAlbany to 7-3 on the season, was a statement win that put the Great Danes in a position to win the CAA. They are one of five CAA teams currently with a 5-1 record in conference play. 

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While UAlbany entered the season with buzz around returning All-CAA quarterback Reese Poffenbarger, it was the running game that helped sink W&M’s postseason hopes on Nov. 4. Griffin Woodell rushed for 105 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown, while Poffenbarger was 12-of-22 with 205 yards passing with a touchdown and interception. 

Golden Apple Rivalry Game Carries Some Weight In 2023

While Stony Point Football is 0-9 and 0-7 in CAA play, they can play the role of spoiler at this year's "Golden Apple" game against UAlbany. 

The Great Danes travel to Long Island this week to play the Sea Wolves 

W&M Football Slide Continues

UAlbany was one of three CAA ranked teams, which doesn’t include William & Mary, which dropped from the rankings for the first time this season. 

The Tribe started the season with FCS National Championship expectations and were ranked in the top 5 of the rankings for most of the first half. But a tough injury to Bronson Yoder has helped send the team into a tailspin. They have gone 1-4 since beating Maine 28-3 on Sept. 23. 

William & Mary is dangerously close to missing the FCS playoffs altogether. 

Delaware Football, Villanova Football On CAA Collision Course

Two teams that look poised to make the playoffs and possibly win the CAA are rivals Delaware and Villanova. 

Despite the losing to Elon 33-27, Delaware remained ranked in the top-10 of the poll at No. 8. They are 7-2 overall and are the highest-ranked CAA team. 

Villanova entered the rankings for the first time a week ago and moved up four spots to No. 18 after beating New Hampshire 45-33. 

Villanova travels to The First State on Nov. 18, the day before the FCS Playoff Selection Show, in what could be for the CAA title. 

UNH Football Continues Tough 2023 Season

A year after the conference had W&M and UNH share the conference championship, both programs are seemingly out of the mix. 

While W&M's conference hopes aren't officially dashed, the Tribe needs to win out and have five teams lose two more games. That won't happen. A win by any of those five teams this week will officially eliminate W&M from the title race, and Elon and Richmond play each other this week.

New Hampshire’s disastrous season now has the Wildcats at 4-5 and 2-4 on the season, while W&M is 3-3 in the conference and 5-4 overall. 

Here are the complete FCS rankings for Week 11. 

FCS Football Rankings For Week 11 (Nov. 6)

1. South Dakota St. (26)    9-0    650    
2. Furman    8-1    612    
3. Montana    8-1    603    
4. Idaho    7-2    575    
5. Montana St.    7-2    
6. South Dakota    7-2    492    
7. North Carolina Central    8-1    491    
8. Delaware    7-2    386    
9. Florida A&M    8-1    378    
10. UIW    7-2    368    4    
11. Sacramento St.    6-3    355    
12. North Dakota    6-3    346    15    
13. North Dakota St.    6-3    324    
14. Austin Peay    7-2    304    
15. Southern Illinois    6-3    285    
16. UT Martin    7-2    263    
17. Chattanooga    7-3    258    
18. Villanova    7-2    193    
19. Harvard    7-1    191    
20. Northern Iowa    6-3    161    
21. Western Carolina    6-3    158    
22. Holy Cross    6-3    129    
23. Lafayette    7-2    91    
24. Central Arkansas    6-3    79    
25. Albany    7-3    67    NR    

Dropped Out: William & Mary (24)

Others Receiving Votes: Youngstown St., 59; Mercer, 56; Illinois St., 16; Davidson, 9; Eastern Illinois, 5; Fordham, 3; Samford, 3; Tarleton, 3; William & Mary, 3; Nicholls, 1.

CAA Standings Heading Into Week 11

• Delaware  7-2, 5-1
• Villanova  7-2, 5-1
• UAlbany  7-3, 5-1
• Richmond 6-3, 5-1
• Elon 5-4, 5-1
• William & Mary 5-4, 3-3 
• Rhode Island 5-4, 3-3
• Hampton 5-4, 3-3
• Campbell 4-5, 3-3
• Monmouth 4-5, 3-3
• Towson 4-5, 3-3
• New Hampshire 4-5, 2-4 
• Maine 2-8, 1-6
• N.C. A&T 1-8, 0-6
• Stony Brook 0-9, 0-7

CAA Rivalry Games To Impact FCS Playoffs, League Title Race

The end of the season brings some of football's biggest rivalries, and that includes the CAA's biggest games. 

The final week of the season on Nov. 18 will include these games featuring huge CAA and playoff implications: 

• Villanova at Delaware, 1 p.m. 
• Richmond at William  & Mary, 1 p.m.
• Monmouth at UAlbany, 1 p.m. 
• Rhode Island at Towson, 1 p.m. 
• Hampton at Elon, 1 p.m. 

Villanova and Delaware are both 7-2 and 5-1 in conference play entering Week 11. This means that four teams could enter the final week with chances to finishing first in the conference with wins in Week 11. 

Elon and Richmond play each other in Week 11. 

Last year, the CAA sent five teams to the FCS Playoffs: William & Mary, New Hampshire, Delaware, Elon and Richmond.

FCS Playoffs 2023 Outlook

Twenty-four teams will advance to the FCS playoffs in 2023. Ten of those teams will automatically qualify for the playoffs via conference titles. Those conferences are: 

• Big Sky 
• Big South/Ohio Valley 
• Coastal Athletic Association 
• Missouri Valley Football Conference
• Northeast
• Patriot League
• Pioneer Football League
• Southern
• Southland
• United Athletic Conference

The Ivy League does not enter the FCS playoffs, meaning No. 19-ranked Harvard won't be in the field. If the season ended on Nov. 6., South Dakota State would likely be the overall No.1 seed and Delaware would be the CAA automatic qualifier. 

When Is The FCS Football Playoff Selection Show?

 Division I Football - Championship Subdivision -- Selection Announcement show is Nov. 19 at 12:30 p.m. EST. 

What Channel Is The FCS Football Playoff Selection Show?

The show will be on ESPNU. 

When Do The 2023 FCS Playoffs Start?

The first round of the FCS playoffs is scheduled for Nov. 25. 

When Is The 2024 FCS National Championship Game?

The FCS National Championship is at 2 p.m. on Jan. 7 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The game will be on ABC. 

How To Watch FCS Football 

FloFootball and the FloSports app is home to CAA college football and more. FloFootball will also be home to game replays and highlights 

For more action, including all the CAA conference games, check out the FloFootball schedule page.

Archived Footage On FloFootball

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloFootball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

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