#2 Colonial Athletic Association

Alright, finally getting started on this and none too soon. We come to the conference that has a serious argument for being the best in the country. Obviously will get to the reasons why its number two but it isn't a large gap between 1 and 2. This conference is deep and could be deeper depending on who has the bounce back years and who finally takes that step forward

Placement Reasoning

The only real difference between the CAA and the Missouri Valley is personal preference. Most people would argue, and could easily justify, the CAA being the top conference in the FCS. My reasoning for it being number two are simple...one, it has the national runner-up and not the champion. Two, the bottom of the conference is just a little deeper than that of the MVFC. Three, when you go head to head with teams...too often I find myself saying the MVFC team would win on a neutral site

2017 Recap

We all know about James Madison and their run that came up short but the story of 2017 had to be Elon who came out of nowhere to win 8 and be a legit threat in the conference race. They did lose three straight to end the year so there is a bit of a sour taste in the mouth. Then there was the curious case of New Hampshire...having no business being in the playoffs, they got a pop fly opening game that turned into a quarterfinal run. They should be better this year but they should also be starting a new playoff streak. Stony Brook rounded out the last of the four playoff teams and brought about an interesting discussion to the table about team placement in the playoff (its a very flawed system)

Then comes the surprises...Villanova, Deleware, and Richmond all missed the playoffs in one of those weird twists that became a theme of the 2017 season. Albany was another major disappointment after All-America RB Ibitokun-Hanks had major issues trying to regain full health after a knee injury. Towson, Maine, William & Mary, and Rhode Island all had moments but overall disappointing 2017 seasons

Playoff/National Championship Contenders

Its easy to figure out that next to the MVFC, the CAA has the most playoff and national championship contenders. As many as seven teams have a legit shot to make the playoffs and you can argue three have national championship dreams including the first and most obvious 

The Favorite

James Madison

Umm...duh. This is the best team not named North Dakota State. They will have to replace a few pieces including QB Bryan Schor and DE Andrew Ankrah but programs like this reload not rebuild. Who is the signal caller for the Dukes will go a long way to seeing if their dominance continues.  And they better have things shown up properly before a brutal five-game stretch that has them playing @Richmond, Elon, @Villanova, Stony Brook and @New Hampshire 

The Contenders

New Hampshire

No they shouldn't have made the playoff or hosted a playoff game, but they did and made the most of it and they look to springboard that to 2018. And with 18 starters coming back, there is a lot there to say a run that leaves no doubts is very possible. The schedule isn't as demanding week in, week out like the Dukes but the Wildcats do have  back to back matchups with Villanova and James Madison late in the season

Villanova

Nova was absolutely crushed by injuries last year, but almost all of those injured players come back and should make for an improved side. What also helps is a relatively easy start of the season as the Wildcats take on lower tier sides before turning the dial all the way up starting with an Oct 13 home matchup with James Madison

The Sleepers

Elon

The Pheonix are good...but this speaks to how deep this conference is that it wouldn't be a major shock if they didn't make the playoffs. Most of the talent from last years squad is back but the road schedule is just brutal. The home schedule is no cupcake either as Furman, Richmond, and New Hampshire all come to Rhodes Stadium. If they get out of the muck in decent position a three-game stretch with lower tier teams to end the year could be a boost and get them in the playoffs

Delaware

The Blue Hens were one of the last teams to be left out of the playoffs and a run to leave no doubts in the goal for 2018. There is talent and depth on the squad what will be interesting is how they navigate the schedule after the first three games. A potential 3-0 start can quickly be erased starting with an end of September road game at NDSU and an October schedule that isn't bone crushing but tricky

Richmond

Another one of those teams that just disappointed you in 2017, the Spiders lose 3rd round draft pick Kyle Lauletta but do have a proven player to take over things in R-Jr Kevin Johnson. Doesn't help that he'll have a combined 185 catches coming back in the WR core. A key early-season stretch @Stony Brook and home to James Madison and Deleware should make clear if the Spiders have legit playoff dreams

Stony Brook

It was the best season for the Seawolves since joining the CAA in 2017 but just with Elon, a step back is almost expected because of just how deep the conference is. It won't help that two of the top playmakers for Stony Brook have both graduated. Add the fact that the schedule is very tricky even in non-conference and it is not a far stretch to see a 10-win team last year, win around half of that and not make the playoffs

Teams to add/subtract

To say this one is easy is an understatement...just add the two schools that should have never dropped football in the place

Adding Northeastern and Hofstra 

Yes, for my money the decision of these two schools dropping football is just mind-boggling. Both schools were solid programs, Hofstra more so historically than Northeastern but not among the dredge of the bottom of the FCS. Naturally, money was involved but both schools (especially Hofstra) had solid footing in the area where the school lie. Yes, UMass was somewhat invading the Boston area (a move that was a regrettable disaster) and Stony Brook was becoming more noticeable but there was no real reason for the dropping of football. 

The best part, both schools can come back and be instantly competitive. Hofstra especially has a rich recruiting grounds and doesn't have to venture far outside of the NYC/NJ area to get quality. And you have an instant rivalry and probably trophy as Stony Brook has claimed Long Island all theirs. Now as for Northeastern, the Massachuttes has never been known to house the greatest of football talent but it is a solid state and can produce enough depth to compete in the CAA. 

And as for the fit in the CAA, this is basically white on rice. It is two of its core members back in the fold, the CAA would rise to 14 teams and the next step would be somehow figuring out how to create conference championship games for the larger conferences and therefore adding more intrigue to the FCS as a whole. Ok a man can dream

One last thing...yes UMass was a CAA member at one point, yes they should drop back to the FCS but the question of what conference should they join hangs over them like a man without a country. The CAA would be a natural fit but would they want them back? I dunno. And if the CAA doesn't take them then they would be in a serious limbo and would have to be an independent for a while

Best/Worst

Stadium

Best - Deleware Stadium/Bridgeforth Stadium

Let's go with the two most FBS ready stadiums in the conference. It no secret that especially in James Madison's case the stadium has become one of the nicest in all of FCS and that rumors of a FBS move have been floating around for some time now. They have quieted down a bit but are still around and won't die. As for the stadium...its big without being over the top and while it is one of the rare FCS stadiums with a second deck it does give off the feel of you are too far away from the action.

Delaware Stadium's draw is that while it has the size it is intimate. In a way like Grizz Stadium just without the best view in college football. Its the perfect size and the stands are right on top of you. No its not like how it is in the Bison Dome but you can still hear the comments 

Worst - Alfond Stadium

Is this the worst place to play a game...of course not. It is not bad at all, but when you have your average run of the mill college stadium there needs to be something that makes it stand out. Unfortunately, at U of Maine, there is nothing that does so. So while not a bad stadium, just ain't making the cut here

Logo and Nickname

Best - Elon Phoenix

I would love to sit here and say this was a difficult one...nope. Unique nickname? Check. Unique logo? Check. It perfectly unique without being too far over the top. Cause, especially with the logo, things could have been outta control very quickly but the Phoenix isn't too crazy without taking away the glamor 

Quick note...yes the Spiders is an awesome nickname but what makes it fall short is the bland logo...I wish it was a bit more, but just a basic spider just eh

Worst - Maine Black Bears

Basically, everything that applies to the stadium applies here. Nothing wrong with it, its better than most but at the end of the day, it falls short. No shame in it just means there are schools that are better

Uniforms

Best - Delaware

Admittedly this was a tough call since the options were mostly blah. The Blue Hens come out on top because of the fact that the uniforms have a Michigan vibe and that is a copycat that flies if done correctly. The helmets make sure that it is done correctly

Worst - William & Mary

The same way I talked about Maine I will talk about the Tribe. It is just a uniform, nothing special, not gonna knock your socks off with flash or color combos or alternative combinations. Its one of those, that if you put in a lineup and said "pick out W&M" 9 outta 10 wouldn't have a shot