# 2021 Richmond Spiders football team

The 2021 Richmond Spiders football team represented the University of Richmond as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Spiders, led by fifth-year head coach Russ Huesman, played their home games at E. Claiborne Robins Stadium.

## Preseason
### CAA poll

In the CAA preseason poll released on July 27, 2021, the Spiders were predicted to finish in fourth place and received two first-place votes.
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | James Madison | 231 (15) |
| 2 | Delaware | 222 (7) |
| 3 | Villanova | 194 |
| 4 | Richmond | 169 (2) |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 135 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 121 |
| 7 | Towson | 115 |
| 8 | Albany | 114 |
| 9 | Maine | 99 |
| 10 | Stony Brook | 73 |
| 11 | William & Mary | 61 |
| 12 | Elon | 50 |

### Preseason All-CAA team

Graduate student tight end John Fitzgerald, senior offensive lineman Clayton McConnell, senior defensive lineman Kobie Turner, graduate student linebacker Tyler Dressler, and sophomore linebacker Tristan Wheeler were named to the CAA preseason all-conference team. Junior kick returner Aaron Dykes was named honorable mention for the all-conference team.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 2:00 p.m. | Howard* | | E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA | FloSports/NBCS WA | W 38–14 | 7,048 |
| September 11 | 2:00 p.m. | Lehigh* | No. 25 | E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA | FloSports/NBCS WA | W 31–3 | 6,003 |
| September 18 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 12 Villanova | No. 21 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA | FloSports | L 27–34 | 12,001 |
| September 25 | 12:00 p.m. | at Virginia Tech* | No. 24 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN | L 10–21 | 53,174 |
| October 2 | 2:00 p.m. | Elon | No. 22 | E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA | FloSports/NBCS WA | L 7–20 | 8,217 |
| October 16 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 8 James Madison | | E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA (rivalry) | FloSports/NBCS WA | L 3–19 | 7,809 |
| October 23 | 3:30 p.m. | at Stony Brook | | Kenneth P. LaValle StadiumStony Brook, NY | FloSports | L 14–27 | 10,250 |
| October 30 | 1:00 p.m. | at New Hampshire | | Wildcat StadiumDurham, NH | FloSports | W 35–21 | 6,341 |
| November 6 | 2:00 p.m. | Towson | | E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA | FloSports/NBCS WA | W 28–17 | 6,457 |
| November 13 | 2:00 p.m. | Delaware | | E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA | FloSports/NBCS WA | W 51–27 | 6,104 |
| November 20 | 3:30 p.m. | at William & Mary | | Zable StadiumWilliamsburg, VA (Capital Cup) | FloSports | W 20–17 | 7,125 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Ranking movements

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | RV | 25 | 21 | 24 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | — |
| Coaches | 22 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 21 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |