The Coastal Athletic Association enters 2026 with a completely new look. Realignment sent Richmond (2025), Villanova, and William & Mary (2026) to the Patriot League for football, but the CAA reloaded with Sacred Heart joining as its 13th member — and the league’s identity hasn’t changed one bit. Year after year, the CAA sends multiple teams to the FCS playoffs (multiple bids for 34 straight years), develops NFL talent, and stages some of the best atmospheres in the subdivision, stretching nine states from Maine to North Carolina. The 2026 opener wastes no time, throwing conference matchups on the board in Week 1 alongside road trips across the region. Every game is live on RallyFuel. Tap your pick, earn +20 RallyFuel points per vote, and back one of the deepest leagues in FCS.
Conference Games, Right Away
The CAA doesn’t believe in warmups. Two league matchups land on opening weekend:
Maine at Towson (Thursday, Aug. 27): the Tigers host the Black Bears in the conference’s very first game of 2026 — a matchup that could echo in the standings all the way to November.
New Hampshire at UAlbany (Friday, Aug. 28): the Great Danes host the Wildcats as two proud Northeast programs with playoff traditions collide in the Capital Region.
Opening Weekend Across the Map
Morgan State at North Carolina A&T (Saturday, Aug. 29): the Aggies bring HBCU excellence to a Week 1 matchup steeped in tradition, hosting a fellow proud HBCU program in Greensboro.
Stony Brook at Delaware State (Thursday, Aug. 27): the Seawolves open on the road against another HBCU program on the rise.
Rhode Island at Merrimack (Friday, Aug. 28): the two-time defending conference champion Rams open with a New England battle against the Warriors.
Bryant at Stonehill (Saturday, Aug. 29): a New England neighbor clash for the Bulldogs.
Campbell at ETSU (Saturday, Aug. 29): the Fighting Camels head to the mountains for an early SoCon test.
Monmouth at Tennessee Tech (Saturday, Aug. 29): the Hawks and their high-powered offense head south.
Big Stages Ahead
CAA teams love a big stage, and the September 5 slate delivers a gauntlet of FBS road trips right after opening weekend: New Hampshire at Syracuse, Hampton at Maryland, Towson at Navy, Rhode Island at Temple, Maine at Appalachian State, and North Carolina A&T at Georgia State. Newcomer Sacred Heart plays its first-ever CAA conference game that same day at Monmouth, while Elon opens league-adjacent action at Davidson. Circle the weekend — we’ll have a full preview before kickoff.
One of the Deepest Leagues in FCS
From New England to the Carolinas, the CAA combines major markets, academic tradition, and an NFL pipeline that keeps scouts in the stands every Saturday. Its blend of historic programs, rising HBCU powers, and an ambitious newcomer in Sacred Heart makes it unlike any conference in the country. Explore the CAA conference hub to browse verified athletes across the league, follow your favorites, and back them directly. Ninety percent of every contribution goes straight to the athlete, refunded if conditions aren’t met. And before you lock in your picks, settle the debates with the School Rivalry tool, where you can compare any two schools side by side on NIL, fan engagement, rankings, and championships. Tigers vs Black Bears? Rams vs Warriors? See how they stack up before you vote.
Make Your Picks
Conference stakes in Week 1, HBCU tradition in Greensboro, and rivalries up and down the coast. The CAA’s opening slate is live right now. Tap into any matchup above, cast your vote for +20 RallyFuel points, drop a comment for your squad, and turn your fandom into direct support for the athletes who keep the CAA a standard-bearer in FCS football.
Get your predictions in before kickoff.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this preview included Villanova, William & Mary, and Richmond, which now compete in the Patriot League for football. This story has been updated to reflect 2026 CAA Football membership.
