CAA boasts stiff competition

While baseball recovers from the dog days of August, and NFL fans continue patiently waiting for the start of the regular season, Villanova football fans can take comfort in knowing their season kicks off tomorrow against city rival Temple. Yes, college football is upon us. 

It's no secret that the Wildcats are the favorites to defend their first national title in school history. The team captured the majority of the first place votes and sits comfortably on top of both the FCS Coaches' Poll and The Sports Network Poll. But where does that leave 'Nova's conference rivals?

Entering this season, the CAA, a perennial FCS powerhouse, has a new look with the closing of the Northeastern and Hofstra programs. 

And while it's sad to see two universities say goodbye to college football due to budget issues, their departure will do little in terms of upsetting the balance of power in the conference and across the FCS. Of the 10 teams remaining, four find themselves in the top-10 of the major polls, while six in total are ranked. 

With a target on its back as big as Howie Long's head, the Wildcats' road to a repeat run starts in the CAA. Here's a look at their biggest competition.

Delaware

The Blue Hens haven't had much to cheer about since their national championship appearance back in 2007. For a program with such a storied history, one can be sure its fan base is desperate to get back to the postseason. 

This year, they may just get there. The team has a preseason top-20 ranking after a 6-5 season, mostly due to the return of quarterback Pat Devlin, the Blue Hens' greatest threat.

 Since transferring from Penn State prior to last season, Devlin, a preseason Walter Payton Award candidate, has established himself as one of the elite passers in the league. 

In just one season under center for the Blue Hens, Devlin finds himself near the top-10 in several of the school's passing records. His ability to throw the ball downfield has professional scouts keeping an eye open. Add 14 players with starting experience into the mix, and the Delaware offense could be difficult to handle. 

James Madison

JMU has been the model of consistency under Head Coach Mickey Matthews, but last year was disappointing with major injuries and no playoff appearance. Entering this season, the Dukes are ranked No. 15 in both preseason polls, but that doesn't mean there aren't question marks, especially on offense.