The wide-open Coastal Athletic Association kicks off its 2024 season with a Week 1 that features a bevy of marquee FCS vs. FCS matchups. Getting things started with a bang is a rematch of a 2023 Playoffs encounter, as preseason CAA favorite Villanova welcomes Youngstown State back to the Mainline for the second time in nine months. 

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Week 1 Thursday night also includes the debut of Bryant as a CAA member, facing off against another Coastal team in Delaware — albeit for a non-conference matchup. 

Youngstown State at Villanova 

Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. ET 

Connor Watkins' goal-line touchdown run and his 64-yard connection with Jaylan Sanchez completely changed the complexion of Villanova's 45-28 playoff win over Youngstown State last December. Watkins — who also ran in a 14-yard carry in the fourth quarter that effectively slammed the door on the Penguins — reunites with Sanchez to power the Villanova offense into 2024. 

The Wildcats also boast a veteran defense with potential All-Americans across each unit. Linebacker Shane Hartzell made 14 tackles with a sack against the Penguins in the Playoffs, and matched his partner in the linebacker corps, Brendan Bell, with three quarterback hurries. Isas Waxter, meanwhile, picked off a pass against Youngstown State. 

While the December meeting was decidedly in Villanova's favor, comparing 2024 with 2023 isn't necessarily one-to--one. The Penguins roster undergoes considerable turnover, which Wildcats coach Mark Ferrante noted. 

"You might going in thinking they're going to do certain things, but how might they approach that differently with turnover?" he said, adding Villanova will instead focus internally. "Let's prepare and let's get ready to execute what we're trying to do as well as we can in a consistent fashion." 

What's more, Villanova isn't without its own changes. All three of the running backs who formed the Wildcats triple-threat rushing attack — Jalen Jackson, DeeWil Barlee and TD Ayo-Durojaiye — are gone. Watkins is a more than capable ball-carrier, but Villanova's offense has typically been at its best when distributing touches among a variety of runners. 

Thursday's season opener will be a major opportunity for Isaiah Ragland, who saw 24 in 2023, to break out as a No. 1 option. 

PREDICTION: Villanova 38, Youngstown State 17

VMI at William & Mary

Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. ET  

William & Mary welcomes Southern Conference counterpart VMI to Zable Stadium, as the Tribe kick off 2024 looking to bounce back from the disappointment of 2023. 

A familiar face leads VMI into Williamsburg: Former Richmond and Delaware head coach Danny Rocco is in his second season helming the Keydets. Rocco took over for Scott Wachenheim, whose spring 2021 team won the SoCon championship with a potent passing attack coordinated by new Stony Brook head coach Billy Cosh. 

Wachenheim's final Keydets team finished 1-10 and winless in the SoCon, prompting the change that brought aboard Rocco. VMI saw an immediate improvement to 5-6 and 4-4 in the SoCon, and the Keydets head into 2024 with Preseason 1st Team All-SoCon anchors on each side of the line. Tyriq Poindexter is a 6-foot-5, 325-pound cornerstone for an offense looking to get jump-started in Patrick Ashford's third season as coordinator. 

VMI defensive coordinator Rich Yahner is another familiar face, William & Mary coach Mike London noted. Yahner was on Rocco's staff at Delaware and broke into coaching at the University of Virginia. 

"This is a good football team [full] of guys we have a lot of respect for," London said. 

The Tribe should have opportunities to attack on offense, particularly if Bronson Yoder returns to form in his first game back since a season-ending injury last October. The Keydets surrendered 4.6 yards per carry against the run a season ago and almost 190 rushing yards per game. 

PREDICTION: William & Mary 34, VMI 10 

Bryant at Delaware 

Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. ET 

An incoming member of the CAA begins its tenure in the league facing an outgoing counterpart. Delaware transitions to FBS competition and membership in Conference USA next season, and in preparation for the jump, the Blue Hens are ineligible for a conference championship or FCS Playoffs bid.   

Despite the lack of championship stakes, Delaware coach Ryan Carty promises the Fightin' Blue Hens will play like there are title implications each week. 

"We don't want anybody to come in here and not give us their best shot," he said. "We're certainly going to give them ours." 

Delaware's best shot is always a stiff one. Coming off a 2023 playoff appearance, the Blue Hens begin preparing for FBS with a deep, talented roster on both sides of the ball. Running back Marcus Yarns earned preseason All-American recognition from a variety of outlets after his 939-yard, 15-touchdown season. 

On defense, it starts up front for Delaware with a line that Bryant coach Chris Merritt called, "As physical and as deep as it comes." 

"Those guys are stout," Merritt said. "They're going to be hard to move on the line of scrimmage." 

A program that is traditionally in contention for the CAA championship every year provides a fitting introduction to CAA competition for newcomer Bryant, even though Thursday's matchup is not a league game. 

PREDICTION: Delaware 42, Bryant 21 

Colgate at Maine

Friday, Aug. 30  at 7 p.m. ET 

Maine's opening month is one of the most challenging in FCS, sending the Black Bears to Montana State in Week 2 and with national semifinalist UAlbany visiting Orono early into the CAA slate. Starting off on the right foot will be important for Jordan Stevens' Maine bunch playing in front of a home crowd. 

"We're excited to play Friday night at home. It's the first day all the students arrive here at the University of Maine, so I'm expecting a big crowd, expecting a great environment here in Alfond Stadium."

Maine did not play at home until Week 3 a season ago — and it's first home game was abruptly moved to a Friday night due to a hurricane. The change to kick off Week 1 with ideal conditions could set the Black Bears on course to rebound from a trying 2023. 

Perhaps the most significant storyline for Maine in its 2024 opener is the debut of quarterback Carter Peevy. A transfer from Mercer, Peevy is an electric, two-way playmaker who led his former to its first-ever FCS Playoffs. His transition will drive a Maine offense that returns big-play pass-catching threat Joe Gillette and talented Montigo Moss.   

Colgate presents a worthy challenge, having been in the hunt for the Patriot League title in 2023. However, the Raiders gave up 32.6 points per game and 283.6 passing yards per contest a season ago. Unless Colgate's defense turned it around significantly in the offseason, Peevy could make a real statistical splash in his Black Bears debut. 

PREDICTION: Maine 35, Colgate 24 

Morgan State at Hampton

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. ET  

Former MEAC counterparts square off when Hampton welcomes Morgan State to Armstrong Stadium. This is the first of three matchups between Morgan State and CAA opponents, with Towson and Stony Brook each hosting the Bears in September. 

Morgan State went 1-2 against the CAA in 2023, stunning Richmond in a Week 1 defensive struggle. Towson and UAlbany outlasted the Bears in tight contests later in the campaign. 

Saturday's affair is the first between Hampton and Morgan State since a 21-12 Pirates win in 2016. Plenty has changed since, not the least of which being Hampton's spring transition to a new head coach. Saturday marks the debut of Trent Boykin steering the wheel of the Pirates ship. 

"One of the things we've been building all camp all is camp is just becoming a team," Boykin said. "When you build that camaraderie to each other and they know who they're playing for and what [their teammates] represent, I think you put a product on the field that they want to be a part of." 

Saturday's prime-time matchup offers the first glimpse of the new-look Pirates, though plenty of the names making up Hampton's roster are familiar. Quarterback Chris Zellous and running back Elijah Burris return to give HU a truly electrifying backfield. They'll power the Pirates run game against a Morgan State defense that limited opponent to 3.47 yards per carry a season ago.

PREDICTION: Hampton 24, Morgan State 21 

Holy Cross at Rhode Island 

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. ET 

In Rhode Island's pursuit of its first playoff appearance in almost 40 years, it feels appropriate for the Rams to open against a program that has been a mainstay in the postseason over recent years. 

Holy Cross appeared in four consecutive Playoffs from 2019 on, a run that only ended in 2023. And, even in missing the Playoffs a season ago, the Crusaders still finished on the right side of .500 for a fifth straight season. 

Despite significant roster changes, including replacing standout quarterback Matthew Sluka, and with a new head coach, URI's Jim Fleming said he anticipates "their flavor won't change a whole bunch." 

First-year Crusaders leader Dan Curran comes from Merrimack, where he spent 13 years as both an offensive coordinator and head coach. Curran is part of the illustrious Sean McDonnell coaching tree, having played at New Hampshire for the longtime Wildcats coach, and studied under coordinator Chip Kelly. 

McDonnell's influence is well-known at URI, so Fleming knows to expect Holy Cross to arrive in Kingston with a "tough, hard-nosed group." 

URI is hard-nosed in its own right, featuring a one-two punch in the defensive front seven with Westley Neal Jr. and A.J. Pena. The lineman Neal and linebacker Pena are both Buck Buchanan Award candidates and keys to the Rams' CAA championship pursuit. 

On offense, expect to see Rhode Island roll with two quarterbacks to continue the evaluation process  between Devin Farrell and Hunter Helms. Both are vying for the vacancy that longtime starter Kasim Hill filled — but only after winning a similar competition, as Fleming noted. 

PREDICTION: Rhode Island 28, Holy Cross 17 

Long Island at UAlbany 

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. ET 

UAlbany's look, coming off a historic 2023 and with a variety of key playmakers being replaced, provides one of the most intriguing Week 1 storylines anywhere in college football. 

The Great Danes will start Wisconsin transfer Myles Burkett at quarterback. He steps in for Reese Poffenbarger, who was sensational in UAlbany's run to the program's first CAA championship and FCS national semifinals appearance. 

"Myles is a good, talented kid. He can run, he can throw, he can mix it up," Great Danes coach Greg Gattuso said. "He's learning his way a little bit, but every time I see him, he's got his playbook and he's out in the lounge studying. He really wants to be a great football player." 

Great Danes announce transfer Myles Burkett as the starting QB for UAlbany's home opener against LIU.

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— FloFootball (@FloFootball) August 21, 2024

Burkett goes from exam prep to his first graded test against a Long Island bunch that, despite its underwhelming 4-7 record in 2023, Gattuso said reminds him of UAlbany. The Great Danes coach cited three of the Sharks' defeats a season ago were by 11 points or fewer, including to current CAA teams Bryant and Maine. 

For Gattuso, Long Island's close calls are reminiscent of UAlbany in 2022 when the Great Danes foreshadowed their championship breakthrough with five losses of a touchdown or less. LIU looks for a similar jump in the Northeast Conference behind defensive veterans including linebacker Qualil Lumpkins, who made 5.5 tackles for loss a season ago; and Preseason 1st Team All-NEC defensive back Caleb Nartey. 

While UAlbany will have plenty of new starters, the Great Danes are not lacking for established playmakers. Expect big things from running back Griffin Woodell, the local prodcut who emerged as a surprise weapon in his freshman campaign. He's operating behind one of the nation's most experienced and productive offensive lines. 

PREDICTION: UAlbany 41, LIU 14 

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College Football Schedule On Aug. 29 For FloFootball

•  6:00 PM EST: Minnesota Duluth vs Northern Michigan
• 6:00 PM EST: Hampden-Sydney Col vs NC Wesleyan
• 6:00 PM EST: Youngstown St vs Villanova
• 6:00 PM EST: Reinhardt vs Carson-Newman
• 7:00 PM EST: West Texas A&M vs Sul Ross State
• 7:00 PM EST: Bryant vs Delaware
• 7:00 PM EST: VMI vs William & Mary
• 7:00 PM EST: Delta State vs Mars Hill
• 8:00 PM EST: Colorado Mesa vs A&M-Kingsville
• 8:00 PM EST: Missouri Southern vs Midwestern State

College Football Schedule On Aug. 30 For FloFootball

• 7: 00 PM EST: Colgate vs Maine

College Football Schedule On Aug. 31 For FloFootball

• 1:00 PM EST: Glenville State vs Emory & Henry
• 4:00 PM EST: St. Andrews vs Erskine
• 6:00 PM EST: Morgan St vs Hampton
• 7:00 PM EST: Albany State vs Valdosta State
• 7:00 PM EST: Long Island vs UAlbany
• 7:00 PM EST: Miles vs West Alabama
• 7:00 PM EST: Western N.M. vs UT Permian Basin
• 7:00 PM EST: Holy Cross vs Rhode Island

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