The Top CAA Football Programs in Recent Memory, Counted-Down

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This is the sixteenth post in our 24-part Super Squad Series, recognizing the best programs over the last three years in every single Division I FBS & FCS Conference, as well as the upperclassmen & staff who’ve anchored them.

Jump to this week’s countdown

Full updated rankings after last week‘s rundown of Mountain West programs:

Week 15 Super Squad Poster

About Super Squad Rating

Super Squad Ratings range 0-100, heavily-weighed toward zero. A 100.0 rating is only achievable for a team that finishes #1 in College Football all three years, with a 100+ power rating each year. The top three 2020 Super Squads rate in at 78, 57, and 47, respectively.

Best thought of as a notoriety score:
“How many normal people out of 100 should recognize this program’s success the last three years?”

EXAMPLE
Consider an SSR (Super Squad Rating) of 78 to abstractly mean that program deserves 78% of Americans’ attention.
Conversely a program with a 1.1 SSR would be worth the attention of only 11 out of 1,000 Americans.


We’re back to the FCS after two weeks with FBS squads, to celebrate one of the winningest teams in recent College Football history.

This week’s #18 overall Division I football program on our list has a history of conference domination, and almost-perpetually makes it to the Big Show at the Division I-AA level (and unfortunately drop it each time to another of our obvious yet-unnamed winners).

Congratulations James Madison University Dukes for your persistent dominance of the Colonial Athletic Association, and for being our 2020 CAA Super Squad! Kudos to your core squad of 48 young men who were on the roster each of these three years – 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20:

CONGRATULATIONS Dimitri Holloway, Ron’Dell Carter, Jamir Hudson, Riley Stapleton, Bryce Maginley, Cole Johnson, Gage Moloney Kyndel Dean, Tabb Patrick, Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, Adam Smith, Eric Kirlew, Rashad Robinson, Charles Tutt, D’Angelo Amos, Taurus Carroll, Wesley McCormick, Percy Agyei-Obese, MJ Hampton, Sam Kidd, Clayton Cheatham, Mike Cobbs, Michael Johnson, Garrett Groulx, Kyle Davis, Landan Word, Joe Fishpaw, Kelvin Azanama, Jahee Jackson, J.T. Timming, Zaire Bethea, Truvell Wilson, Will Clevinger, Mac Patrick, Jake Glavin, Liam Fornadel, Raymond Gillespie, Nick Carlton, Josh Sims, Daniel Adu, Jake Brown, Ethan Ratke, Semaj Sorhaindo, Mike Greene, Adeeb Atariwa, John Daka, Harry O’Kelly, Isaac Ukwu.

Before getting too caught-up in their accolades, these are the runners-up, from worst-to-first:


12th

#186 William & Mary Tribe

3.1 Super Squad Rating

William & Mary Tribe logo

Record:

9-20 Overall
8-19 CAA

Average Power:

41.8

Yearly Finish:

#193, #189, #159


11th

#165 Rhode Island Rams

3.6 Super Squad Rating

Rhode Island Rams

Record:

11-23 Overall
6-18 CAA

Average Power:

45.1

Yearly Finish:

#171, #127, #190


10th

#142 Albany Great Danes

3.6 Super Squad Rating

Albany Great Danes logo

Record:

16-20 Overall
9-15 CAA

Average Power:

48.0

Yearly Finish:

#148, #198, #79


9th

#138 Richmond Spiders

4.4 Super Squad Rating

Richmond Spiders logo

Record:

15-19 Overall
10-14 CAA

Average Power:

49.1

Yearly Finish:

#69, #186, #155


8th

#125 Maine Black Bears

4.8 Super Squad Rating

Maine Black Bears logo

Record:

20-16 Overall
14-10 CAA
1 CAA Title (2018)

Average Power:

52.1

Yearly Finish:

#141, #87, #134


7th

#124 Villanova Wildcats

4.8 Super Squad Rating

Villanova Wildcats logo

Record:

19-16 Overall
10-14 CAA

Average Power:

51.9

Yearly Finish:

#112, #147, #98


6th

#117 Towson Tigers

4.9 Super Squad Rating

Towson Tigers logo

Record:

19-16 Overall
12-12 CAA

Average Power:

52.3

Yearly Finish:

#168, #99, #82


5th

#116 Elon Phoenix

4.9 Super Squad Rating

Elon Phoenix logo

Record:

19-15 Overall
14-9 CAA

Average Power:

52.8

Yearly Finish:

#109, #109, #124


4th

#115 Stony Brook Seawolves

5.0 Super Squad Rating

Stony Brook Seawolves logo

Record:

22-15 Overall
14-10 CAA

Average Power:

52.3

Yearly Finish:

#71, #114, #169


3rd

#111 New Hampshire Wildcats

5.1 Super Squad Rating

New Hampshire Wildcats logo

Record:

19-17 Overall
13-11 CAA

Average Power:

60.5

Yearly Finish:

#90, #135, #110


2nd

#110 Delaware Blue Hens

5.1 Super Squad Rating

Delaware Blue Hens logo

Record:

19-16 Overall
13-11 CAA

Average Power:

53.1

Yearly Finish:

#76, #102, #163


WINNER

#18 James Madison Dukes

15.0 Super Squad Rating

James Madison Dukes logo

Record:

37-7 Overall
22-2 CAA
2 CAA Titles
(2017, 2019)

Average Power:

73.9

Yearly Finish:

#12, #52, #18.

It was never even really a question. With four of the last five Colonial Athletic Association Titles and two of the last three times as national FCS Runner-Up, the Dukes have had this one on lock for a long time.

As testaments to James Madison’s dominance – they scored more than any CAA team each of the last three years – and each year also allowed the least CAA opponent points too.

Congratulations all JMU coaches, staff, administrators, players, and especially the 48 young men present on the roster all three years to earn this title!

JMU Plaque Image

Super Squad Rankings

These are our up-to-date Division I Super Squad rankings after this week’s announced winner. Follow along as each Sunday we fill in more teams and announce our next Super Squad!

Week 16 Super Squad Poster


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