2020–21 Colonial Athletic Association football season

The 2020–21 Colonial Athletic Association football season was the fourteenth season of football for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and part of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The entirety of the season was completed in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and Towson opted to not participate in the season. Albany opted out on March 31 after playing 4 games, with New Hampshire following on April 6 and Rhode Island opting out the next day.

2020–21 CAA football season
League	NCAA Division I Football Championship
Sport	Football
Duration	February 20, 2021 – April 17, 2021
Number of teams	11
CAA football seasons
← 2019 2021 →

2020 Colonial Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
North Division
No. 4 Delaware x$^		4	–	0					7	–	1
No. 18 Rhode Island †		2	–	1					2	–	1
No. 16 Villanova		2	–	2					2	–	2
Maine		2	–	2					2	–	2
Stony Brook		1	–	3					1	–	3
Albany †		1	–	3					1	–	3
New Hampshire †		0	–	1					0	–	1
South Division
No. 3 James Madison x^		3	–	0					7	–	1
No. 15 Richmond		3	–	1					3	–	1
William & Mary		1	–	2					1	–	2
Elon		0	–	4					1	–	5
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions ^ – FCS playoff participant Notes: Due to COVID-19, the CAA suspended the fall 2020 football season. Towson opted out of the spring football season. † – Albany, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island opted out of the remainder of the spring season on March 31, April 6, and April 7 respectively. Rankings from STATS Poll

Previous season

Main article: 2019 Colonial Athletic Association football season

James Madison won the CAA championship outright with a conference record of 8–0. They were joined in the FCS playoffs by Albany and Villanova.

In the playoffs, Albany defeated Central Connecticut in the first round before falling to Montana State. Villanova fell to Southeastern Louisiana in the first round. James Madison had a first round bye before defeating Monmouth, Northern Iowa, and Weber State on route to the National Championship game, where they fell to North Dakota State.

Head coaches

Team	Coach	Season	Overall Record	Record at School	CAA Record
Albany	Greg Gattuso	7th	130–69 (.653)	33–37 (.471)	18–30 (.375)
Delaware	Danny Rocco	4th	109–57 (.657)	19–16 (.543)	39–26 (.600)
Elon	Tony Trisciani	2nd	5–6 (.455)	5–6 (.455)	4–4 (.500)
James Madison	Curt Cignetti	2nd	81–28 (.743)	14–2 (.875)	18–5 (.783)
Maine	Nick Charlton	2nd	6–6 (.500)	6–6 (.500)	4–4 (.500)
New Hampshire	Sean McDonnell	21st	154–95 (.618)	154–95 (.618)	98–65 (.601)
Rhode Island	Jim Fleming	7th	36–54 (.400)	15–53 (.221)	9–39 (.188)
Richmond	Russ Huesman	4th	74–56 (.569)	15–19 (.441)	10–14 (.417)
Stony Brook	Chuck Priore	15th	128–82 (.610)	89–74 (.546)	28–28 (.500)
Villanova	Mark Ferrante	4th	19–16 (.543)	19–16 (.543)	10–14 (.417)
William & Mary	Mike London	2nd	67–68 (.496)	5–7 (.417)	16–8 (.667)

Regular season

Index to colors and formatting
CAA member won
CAA member lost
CAA teams in bold

All times Eastern time.

Weeks labeled by the associated Saturday.

Rankings reflect that of the STATS FCS poll for that week.

February 20

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
February 20	noon	Morehead State	James Madison	Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA	W 52–0	250	^[1]
February 20	1:30 p.m.	Davidson	Elon	Rhodes Stadium • Elon, NC	W 26–23	980	^[2]

February 27

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
February 27	noon	Robert Morris	James Madison	Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA	W 36–16	250	^[3]
February 27	3:00 p.m.	Elon	Gardner–Webb	Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC	L 20–42	2,700	^[4]
February 27	TBD	Rhode Island	Bryant	Beirne Stadium • Smithfield, RI	Canceled		^[5]

March 6

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
March 5	7:00 p.m.	Albany	New Hampshire	Wildcat Stadium • Durham, NH	ALB 24–20	0	^[6]
March 6	noon	Maine	Delaware	Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE	DEL 37–0	0	^[7]
March 6	noon	Villanova	Stony Brook	Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium • Stony Brook, NY	VILL 16–13	0	^[8]
March 6	1:00 p.m.	William & Mary	Richmond	E. Claiborne Robins Stadium • Richmond, VA	RICH 21–14	1,000	^[9]
March 6	1:300 p.m.	James Madison	Elon	Rhodes Stadium • Elon, NC	JMU 20–17	1,147	^[10]

Players of the week:

Offensive		Defensive		Rookie		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team

March 13

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
March 13	noon	Albany	Maine	Alfond Stadium • Orono, ME	MAINE 38–34	0	^[11]
March 13	noon	Stony Brook	Delaware	Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE	DEL 31–3	1,800	^[12]
March 13	1:00 p.m.	Richmond	Elon	Rhodes Stadium • Elon, NC	RICH 38–14	1,137	^[13]
March 13	1:30 p.m.	Rhode Island	Villanova	Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA	URI 40–37^OT	193	^[14]
March 13	4:00 p.m.	William & Mary	James Madison	Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA	Canceled		^[15]

Players of the week:

Offensive		Defensive		Rookie		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team

March 20

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
March 20	noon	Delaware	New Hampshire	Wildcat Stadium • Durham, NH	Canceled		^[16]
March 20	noon	Maine	Stony Brook	Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium • Stony Brook, NY	MAINE 35–19	0	^[17]
March 20	1:00 p.m.	Rhode Island	Albany	Bob Ford Field • Albany, NY	URI 17–10^OT	0	^[18]
March 20	4:00 p.m.	Elon	William & Mary	Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA	W&M 31–10	0	^[19]
March 20	4:00 p.m.	Richmond	James Madison	Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA	Canceled		^[20]

Players of the week:

Offensive		Defensive		Rookie		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team

March 27

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
March 27	noon	Delaware	Rhode Island	Meade Stadium • Kingston, RI	DEL 35–21	500	^[21]
March 27	1:00 p.m.	James Madison	William & Mary	Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA	JMU 38–10	1,000	^[22]
March 27	1:00 p.m.	Stony Brook	Albany	Bob Ford Field • Albany, NY	SBU 21–7	0	^[23]
March 27	1:00 p.m.	New Hampshire	Villanova	Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA	Canceled		^[24]
March 27	4:00 p.m.	Elon	Richmond	E. Claiborne Robins Stadium • Richmond, VA	RICH 31–17	1,000	^[25]

Players of the week:

Offensive		Defensive		Rookie		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team

April 3

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
April 3	noon	Villanova	Maine	Alfond Stadium • Orono, ME	VILL 44–17		^[26]
April 3	noon	James Madison	Richmond	E. Claiborne Robins Stadium • Richmond, VA	Canceled		^[27]
April 3	noon	Albany	Delaware	Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE	Canceled		^[28]
April 3	1:00 p.m.	New Hampshire	Rhode Island	Meade Stadium • Kingston, RI	Canceled		^[29]
April 3	4:00 p.m.	William & Mary	Elon	Rhodes Stadium • Elon, NC	Canceled		^[30]

Players of the week:

Offensive		Defensive		Rookie		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team

April 10

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
April 10	noon	Stony Brook	New Hampshire	Wildcat Stadium • Durham, NH	Canceled
April 10	noon	Maine	Rhode Island	Meade Stadium • Kingston, RI	Canceled
April 10	1:00 p.m.	Villanova	Albany	Bob Ford Field • Albany, NY	Canceled
April 10	1:00 p.m.	Richmond	William & Mary	Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA	Canceled
April 10	4:00 p.m.	Elon	James Madison	Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA	Canceled
April 10	6:00 p.m.	Delaware	Delaware State	Alumni Stadium • Dover,DE

Players of the week:

Offensive		Defensive		Rookie		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team

April 17

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
April 17	noon	Rhode Island	Stony Brook	Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium • Stony Brook, NY
April 17	1:00 p.m.	Delaware	Villanova	Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA
April 17	2:00 p.m.	New Hampshire	Maine	Alfond Stadium • Orono, ME
April 17	2:00 p.m.	Richmond	James Madison	Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA

Players of the week:

Offensive		Defensive		Rookie		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team

FCS playoffs

Main article: 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season § NCAA FCS Playoff bracket

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Round	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Reference
April 24		VMI	James Madison	First Round	Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA	ESPN3
April 24		Sacred Heart	Delaware	First Round	Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE	ESPN3

References

1. "Morehead State vs. James Madison - Game Summary - February 20, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
2. "Davidson vs. Elon - Game Summary - February 20, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
3. "Robert Morris vs. James Madison - Game Summary - February 27, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
4. "Elon vs. Gardner-Webb - Game Summary - February 27, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
5. "Rhode Island vs. Bryant - Game Summary - February 27, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
6. "Albany vs. New Hampshire - Game Summary - March 5, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
7. "Maine vs. Delaware - Game Summary - March 6, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
8. "Villanova vs. Stony Brook - Game Summary - March 6, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
9. "William & Mary vs. Richmond - Game Summary - March 6, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
10. "James Madison vs. Elon - Game Summary - March 6, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
11. "Albany vs. Maine - Game Summary - March 13, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
12. "Stony Brook vs. Delaware - Game Summary - March 13, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
13. "Richmond vs. Elon - Game Summary - March 13, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
14. "Rhode Island vs. Villanova - Game Summary - March 13, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
15. "William & Mary vs. James Madison - Game Summary - March 13, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
16. "Delaware vs. New Hampshire - Game Summary - March 20, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
17. "Maine vs. Stony Brook - Game Summary - March 20, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
18. "Rhode Island vs. Albany - Game Summary - March 20, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
19. "Elon vs. William & Mary - Game Summary - March 20, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
20. "Richmond vs. James Madison - Game Summary - March 20, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
21. "Delaware vs. Rhode Island - Game Summary - March 27, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
22. "James Madison vs. William & Mary - Game Summary - March 27, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
23. "Stony Brook vs. Albany - Game Summary - March 27, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
24. "New Hampshire vs. Villanova - Game Summary - March 27, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
25. "Elon vs. Richmond - Game Summary - March 27, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
26. "Villanova vs. Maine - Game Summary - April 3, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
27. "James Madison vs. Richmond - Game Summary - April 3, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
28. "Albany vs. Delaware - Game Summary - April 3, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
29. "New Hampshire vs. Rhode Island - Game Summary - April 3, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
30. "William & Mary vs. Elon - Game Summary - April 3, 2021 - ESPN". Retrieved April 3, 2021.