October's arrival means the intensity around college football cranks up. Coastal Athletic Association football heads into the autumn months with an uncertain picture, which means a wild conference race is about to unfold over the next seven weeks. 

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Preseason favorite Rhode Island sits at 2-0, as it has since Week 2 and will after the Oct. 4 slate. The Rams complete their non-conference slate with the 109th installment of their in-state rivalry series against Brown on Friday night. 

The Governor's Cup is one of three in-state trophy games set for Week 6 of the CAA football calendar and 1-of-4 non-league matchups. Campbell travels to NC State, while both Monmouth and Hampton are at home against MEAC opponents. 

Here's the complete rundown of CAA football games on FloCollege in Week 6. 

Villanova at New Hampshire Football

Villanova and New Hampshire each rebounded from Week 4 losses with CAA wins in Week 5. The host Wildcats from UNH are looking to improve to 2-0 in conference play with Villanova coming to Durham, building off of last Saturday's 24-6 rout of UAlbany. 

UNH has yet to reach 30 points through five games, but its CAA opener may be the most promising offensive showing yet for these Wildcats. They crossed into UAlbany territory on four of their first five possessions and scored three touchdowns in that stretch to build an early and insurmountable 21-0 lead. 

Quarterback Matt Vezza was solid, going 19-of-24 for 190 yards with no interceptions and a touchdown to Ryan Blagg, who made a spectacular grab. UNH still has yet to establish the run consistently though, totaling only 118 official rushing yards on 40 carries in Week 5. UNH is ranked No. 101 nationally in rushing offense at 110.6 yards per game, and 105th at 3.2 yards per carry. 

Villanova defenses are typically among the most stout against the run in all of FCS. After an uncharacteristic performance in a 51-33 loss to Monmouth, surrendering 188 yards to Hawks running back Rodney Nelson and 5.9 yards per carry to MU overall, the Wildcats stepped up against William & Mary. 

Villanova has also had David Avit cooking in the last two weeks, putting up 135 yards against Monmouth and 133 last week with three touchdowns in each contest. Containing him will be crucial for New Hampshire to maintain a favorable pace. 

A combined score in the lower-to-mid 30s is to UNH's benefit; a total exceeding 40 is advantage Villanova. 

PREDICTION: Villanova 28, New Hampshire 21 

Delaware State at Monmouth Football

In its first season with former Cal Golden Bears and Philadelphia Eagles star DeSean Jackson as head coach, Delaware State has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the FCS season. The Hornets have already surpassed their combined win total from the previous two seasons, going 3-2 in a September that included a 37-32 defeat of CAA member UAlbany in Week 2. 

One week removed from a 35-31 loss to future CAA program Sacred Heart, DSU faces an opponent that might be the class of this year's Coastal. Monmouth went 3-0 against FCS competition during September, and quarterback Derek Robertson set the early pace for the 2025 Walter Payton Award. 

And what a pace it's been. 

Robertson's 419.3 yards per game are the most in Div. I or II football, and his 18 passing touchdowns lead all of Div. I. Meanwhile, Hawks receiver Josh Derry comes into Week 6 ranked third in FCS in total receiving yards with 535 and tops in touchdown receptions with eight. 

Monmouth's prolific passing attack contrasts with Delaware State's nation-leading rushing offense. The Hornets are rolling up 282 yards per game on the ground at a 6.2-per carry clip. Running backs Marquis Gillis and James Jones both rank in the top 30 among all FCS ball-carriers at 509 and 355 yards, with Sacramento State transfer quarterback Kaiden Bennett adding another 250. 

DSU can move the ball, but keeping pace with Monmouth may be more than the Hornets multifaceted rushing attack is equipped for. While DSU leads FCS in rushing yards, Monmouth actually has the top ball-carrier between the two teams heading into Saturday with Rodney Nelson going for 127.3 yards a contest. 

Nelson provides the perfect balance for Robertson and the diverse corps of Hawks pass-catchers to keep defenses guessing. Expect another big Saturday from the Monmouth offense in a non-conference win. 

PREDICTION: Monmouth 52, Delaware State 24 

Maine at Bryant Football

Regional counterparts Bryant and Maine have faced seven times since 2011, including in Bryant's inaugural CAA football season a year ago, but Saturday's meeting is just the third ever at Beirne Stadium. 

The two last clashed at Bryant's Smithfield, Rhode Island, home in 2014. The 13-10 Bulldogs win is Bryant's only victory ever in the series. The Black Bears have won three straight over the Bulldogs with last year's 38-26 decision in Orono. 

This year, Bryant comes in eager to break through in conference play. The Bulldogs are 0-2 in the CAA in 2025, losing games to Campbell and Towson by all of four combined points after a 26-24 heartbreaker in Week 5 vs. Towson. 

As Bryant has gotten closer to breaking through in CAA play, production from running back Elijah Elliott has jumped accordingly. Elliott's 100 yards against Towson marked the Montana State transfer's new high, and he scored a pair of touchdowns after carrying for one in the previous four games. 

With Elliott settling into a bigger role in the offense, Bryant can throw a multifaceted rushing look at Maine with Dylan Kedzior, Grant Robinson and quarterback Brennan Myer all having considerable carries among them. 

The Black Bears defense has been solid against the run at 3.5 yards allowed per game, but prone to giving up big plays through the air. While Myer can deliver with the pass for Bryant, he's also been interception prone with at least one every week; Bryant's ability to establish the run and draw in the Maine defense will be vital to the Bulldogs avoiding costly turnovers against a Black Hole eager to improve its takeaway production (just three total in 2025). 

PREDICTION: Bryant 28, Maine 20 

Stony Brook at UAlbany Football

The 27th edition of the Battle for the Golden Apple marks the series return to early October for the first time since 2007, and the Oct. 4 date is the Battle's earliest installment since a Sept. 28 encounter in 2002. 

It's been less than 11 months since Stony Brook ended a brief skid against UAlbany, reclaiming the Golden Apple for the first time since the fall 2021 season with a 24-6 win. The Seawolves come into this year's installment with positive momentum, something they've struggled to build through the first month of the season. 

A roaring rally that fell just short in Week 4 at Lindenwood carried over into Stony Brook's 35-10 romp last Saturday vs. Merrimack. Quarterback Chris Zellous played his best game since joining the Seawolves in the offseason, passing for 167 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 117 yards. 

Zellous' dual-threat playmaking paired nicely with running back Roland Dempster breaking the century mark for the first time since Week 1 with his 114 yards. Add three rushing touchdowns, and the 2024 Walter Payton Award finalist heads into Week 6 with scores in back-to-back games for the first time on the season. 

Last November, Dempster went for two touchdowns against the Great Danes and had one of his most active pass-catching games of the campaign with five grabs for 49 yards. That element of Dempster's game could be a pivotal weapon for the Seawolves against a UAlbany defense that was outstanding against the run at New Hampshire, limiting the Wildcats to three yards per carry. 

The Great Danes defensive line duo of Ibrahim Sanogo and Balansama Kamara are two of the most talented playmakers upfront in the CAA, and UAlbany will need them to both have monster games against Stony Brook. 

PREDICTION: Stony Brook 35, UAlbany 14 

North Carolina A&T at William & Mary Football

Last year's 45-7 William & Mary rout was the first and only meeting between the programs. Each side looks different in 2025, especially North Carolina A&T with first-year head coach Shawn Gibbs, who replaced former Tribe assistant coach Vincent Brown Jr. 

The Aggies broke through for their first-ever CAA win earlier this season, rallying to beat Hampton in overtime. A&T went on another furious rally, coming back from down 30-9 in the second quarter last week at Maine before ultimately falling, 37-30. 

A&T's ability to score on explosive plays buoyed it after the slow start last week, with quarterback Kevin Brown throwing touchdown passes of 34 yards to Jayvonne Dillard and 26 yards to 26 yards to Antoine Bell. Add an 85-yard punt return touchdown from Elijah Kennedy, and the Aggies were within a score in the final two minutes. 

William & Mary is coming off a loss to Villanova in which the Tribe surrounded an end zone-to-end zone kickoff return touchdown. Other than a 45-yard Carter Peevy touchdown run in Week 2, the scores William & Mary has conceded to FCS opponents have typically come at the end of longer drives. 

Generating explosive scoring opportunities either on offense or special teams is necessary for North Carolina A&T having a chance to spring the upset. More importantly, the Aggies need a much faster start than they had against either Hampton or Maine. 

PREDICTION: William & Mary 38, North Carolina A&T 13 

Elon at Towson Football

Both Elon and Towson opened CAA play with wins a week ago, joining Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Monmouth as the Coastal's only squads without a conference blemish. 

That changes after 60 minutes — if not more — Saturday in Towson. 

The Tigers played their second nail-biter in as many weeks, recovering from a tough, 31-28loss to Youngstown State the week prior with their gutty, 26-24 defeat of Bryant. The Towson defense bowed up to deny Grant Robinson just before the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt, a moment indicative of this Tigers team at its best. 

Towson's defense is physical and multifaceted, and has allowed just 21 points per game to FCS competition. CJ McClendon, Branson Peters, Rodney Roane Jr. and Ja'Mez Drummer all have from 2.5 to four tackles for loss on the season, while Drummer and Roane each have an interception. 

Elon's defense isn't lacking for defensive difference-makers, either, featuring the CAA leading in interceptions, Ishmail Atkins. Two of those picks came in last week's 37-20 win over Hampton, and were a byproduct of the Phoenix defense front causing havoc. 

Elon racked up five sacks and eight tackles for loss, with one of each coming from Kahmari Brown. Brown has three sacks on the season and six tackles for loss, ranking 37th among all FCS players in the latter category. 

With two such salty defenses on each side, the spotlight turns on a pair of freshmen quarterbacks. Towson's first-year signal-caller Andrew Indorf has thrown a touchdown pass in every game this season, while Elon's Landen Clark has three games with multiple touchdown throws and four performances with at least one rushing touchdown. 

They are two different type of player, but each equally important in what should be an evenly matched contest likely to go down to the wire. 

PREDICTION: Towson 27, Elon 24 

Norfolk State at Hampton Football

The Battle of the Bay began in 1963, and Saturday's edition marks the 60th in the series. Norfolk State holds a narrow 30-28-1 lead all-time, but the rivalry has been back-and-forth for much of the last decade. 

Neither side has claimed consecutive wins since Norfolk State took three straight from 2014 through 2016. Hampton looks to end that run after last year's 37-7 rout. 

The Pirates also seek their first win over a Div. I opponent in 2025. Hampton's lost three straight since a 27-20 defeat of Elizabeth City State on Sept. 6, dropping an overtime heartbreaker to North Carolina A&T, the Real HU rivalry game with Howard and last week's loss to Elon. 

Norfolk State's in the same position under highly publicized first-year head coach Michael Vick. The former Virginia Tech and NFL star, whose tenure opened with a 27-7 loss to CAA opponent Towson, has lost three straight to Rutgers, Sacred Heart and Wagner — the latter two by eight combined points — since an overtime win over Virginia State. 

Both the Pirates and Spartans have struggled to score points, averaging 19.6 and 18.4 per game. Hampton's mounted a promising rushing attack with Jah'Kei Chavis, Ja'Quan Snipes and Isaiah Freeman all carrying for more than 228 yards this season, but neither Freeman nor fellow quarterback Braden Davis have been able to pass effectively enough to give Hampton balance. 

Norfolk State quarterback Otto Kuhns passed for 220 yards against Towson and 340 with a touchdown against Sacred Heart, but he's thrown as many picks (three) as touchdowns. The Spartans run game, meanwhile, spreads carries among a primarily three-man rotation of Kevon King, X'Zavion Evans and Jaylen Laudermilk, all of whom have multiple rushing touchdowns on the season. 

Sustained drives should be a critical facet of Saturday's Battle of the Bay. It doomed Hampton last week, wearing down after three strong quarters at Elon before the Pirates surrendered 17 fourth-quarter points. 

Extending and finishing drives figures to be the key point of emphasis for both teams looking to breakthrough into the Div. I win column. 

PREDICTION: Hampton 30, Norfolk State 28 

2025 AFCA Coaches FCS Preseason Poll

1. North Dakota State

2. South Dakota State

3. Tarleton State

4. Montana 

5. Montana State 

6. Illinois State

7. UC Davis

8. Lehigh 

9. Tennessee Tech 

10. Rhode Island

11. Southern Illinois

12. Monmouth 

13. Northern Arizona

14. North Dakota 

15. Idaho

16. West Georgia 

17. Jackson State

18. Youngstown State

19. Villanova 

20. UIW

21. Austin Peay

22. Mercer

23. Abilene Christian 

24. Presbyterian 

25. Lamar 

2025 CAA Football Predicted Finish

(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)

1. Rhode Island (8 first-place votes)                163
2. Monmouth (4 first-place votes)                    142
3. Villanova (2 first-place votes)                       139
4. Stony Brook                                                  125
5. UNH                                                              119
6. Towson                                                          108
7. William & Mary                                              104
8. Elon                                                                  98
9. Maine                                                             71
10. Campbell                                                        53
11. Hampton                                                         50
12. UAlbany                                                          47
13. Bryant                                                             32
14. North Carolina A&T                                         23

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