A chaotic week around college football gives heightened stakes to Saturday’s rivalry matchup between James Madison and Richmond.

Because Dartmouth and New Hampshire are the only Div-I football programs in the state of New Hampshire, and are separated by less than a two-hour drive, you might assume the Big Green and Wildcats play each other every year. That would be an incorrect assumption.

Mark Ferrante knew the stakes of the call when he decided to go for it on fourth-and-one from his team’s own 29-yard line. But the Villanova coach’s players gave him no choice.

Towson traveled across the country its last time out, completing a first month that Tigers coach Rob Ambrose called “a meat grinder” against nationally ranked FBS opponent San Diego State.

The University of Massachusetts football program has lost 16 games in a row. Connecticut has lost its last 10 games, and 30 of its last 31 outings against FBS opponents.

In case a reminder was necessary, Week 5 reemphasized the hyper-competitive nature of the Colonial Athletic Association.

New Hampshire was roughed up by Pittsburgh 77-7 last weekend, and the task won’t be much easier for the Wildcats when they face third-ranked James Madison during Homecoming Weekend on Saturday.

An unfortunate reality of thrilling football games dictates that for a team to win, another has to lose. Elon and Richmond both ended up on the wrong side of this reality in their respective Colonial Athletic Association openers, with the Phoenix’s rally from down 21 points to William & Mary falling just short; and Richmond exchanging big leads with Villanova in a wild Week 3 contest.

Perhaps the most interesting question entering Saturday’s Colonial Athletic Association matchup between Albany and Delaware is this: Who will start at quarterback for the eighth-ranked Blue Hens?

Shadows over the Dignity Health Sports Park turf lengthened as the sun made its descent toward the Pacific horizon, commensurate with a good San Diego State team overshadowing the upset hopes of visiting Towson.

The last two Colonial Athletic Association teams to begin their conference schedules meet in Week 4, with each bringing a contrasting style.

Taking the football field in front of 110,000 spectators may sound imposing. For Dan Smith, the prospect is more exhilarating.

Sophomore Dino Maldonado passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns in New Mexico State’s 43-35 victory over South Carolina State last weekend, but he might not be the Aggies’ starting quarterback for Saturday’s game against Hawaii. Although he’s healthy, Maldonado may not even play.

Say the word “momentum” to a stat-head, and you’ll probably be greeted with sighs and eye-rolls. There’s no quantifiable way to measure its existence in football, but plenty of those who have experienced it recognize it.

In case you needed a reminder of how fast the football campaign passes, about a quarter of the 2021 regular season is already complete. Four teams in the Colonial Athletic Association reached this milestone with unblemished records: James Madison, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Villanova.