The Black Bears finished the 2018 season 10–4, 7–1 in CAA play to be crowned CAA champions. They received the CAA's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where, after a first round bye, they defeated Jacksonville State in the second round, and Weber State in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to Eastern Washington.
Preseason[]
CAA poll[]
In the CAA preseason poll released on July 23, 2019, the Black Bears were predicted to finish in third place.[1]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
James Madison
238 (20)
2
Towson
217 (3)
3
Maine
201 (1)
4
Elon
164
5
Delaware
162
6
Stony Brook
151
7
New Hampshire
109
8
Rhode Island
104
9
Villanova
84
10
Richmond
62
11
William & Mary
58
12
Albany
34
Preseason All–CAA team[]
The Black Bears had six different players selected to the preseason all-CAA team.[1]
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.