Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Top 25 spotlight belonged to CAA Football and the Big Sky Conference on opening night of the 2012 FCS season Thursday.

Three of the five games within The Sports Network FCS Top 25 involved CAA teams, while the other two featured Big Sky powers.

The lone one to fall was last year's CAA champion, the No. 7-ranked Towson Tigers, whose 41-21 loss at Kent State marked the fourth time in five seasons that they opened with a defeat against an FBS opponent.

Meanwhile, 14th-ranked New Hampshire beat Holy Cross of the Patriot League, 38-17, and No. 15 Delaware topped Division II West Chester, 41-21, to extend its series win streak to 19 straight games.

Later in the night, two Big Sky teams won as No. 4 Montana State topped Division II Chadron State, 33-6, and No. 12 Eastern Washington handled FBS member Idaho, 20-3.

The Sports Network FCS Top 25

All Times ET

No. 1 Sam Houston State (0-0), Idle

Last year's Southland Conference champion and FCS runner-up hosts Incarnate Word in its season opener Sept. 8.

No. 2 North Dakota State (1-0), Robert Morris, 7 p.m. Saturday

No. 3 Georgia Southern (0-0) vs. Jacksonville, 6 p.m. Saturday

No. 4 Montana State (1-0) 33, Chadron State 6

Junior quarterback DeNarius McGhee completed 29-of-40 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns, including two to John Ellis. The Bobcats had a 401-135 advantage in total offense.

No. 5 James Madison (0-0) vs. St. Francis (Pa.), 6 p.m. Saturday

No. 6 Appalachian State (0-0) at East Carolina, noon Saturday

Kent State (1-0) 41, No. 7 Towson (0-1) 21

Towson couldn't find its run game - 2011 Jerry Rice Award winner Terrance West was held to 31 yards on 14 carries - and the Golden Flash never looked back.

No. 8 Old Dominion (0-0) vs. Duquesne, 6 p.m. Saturday

No. 9 Northern Iowa (0-0) at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

No. 10 Wofford (0-0) at Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m. Saturday

No. 11 Montana (0-0) vs. South Dakota, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

No. 12 Eastern Washington (0-0) 20, Idaho (0-1) 3

Quarterback Kyle Padron, in his first start since transferring from SMU, was 13-of-33 for 260 yards and one touchdown, completing five passes to Brandon Kaufman for 148 yards. Quincy Forte rushed for 66 yards on 17 carries and teammate Jordan Talley added another 63 yards on 18 carries.

No. 13 Youngstown State (0-0) at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m. Saturday

No. 14 New Hampshire (1-0) 38, Holy Cross (0-1) 17

Any questions the Wildcats had at the QB position were answered. Sean Goldrich and Andy Vailas combined to go 25-for-35 for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

No. 15 Delaware (1-0) 41, West Chester (0-1) 21

Too close for comfort late, but the Blue Hens gladly took the win as Bowling Green transfer Trent Hurley threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns, with three interceptions.

No. 16 Lehigh (0-0) vs. Monmouth, 12:30 p.m. Thursday

No. 17 Stony Brook (0-0) vs. Central Connecticut State, 6 p.m. Saturday

No. 18 Eastern Kentucky (0-0) at Purdue, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

No. 19 Illinois State (0-0) vs. Dayton, 2 p.m. Saturday

No. 20 Stephen F. Austin (0-0) vs. Southwestern Oklahoma, 7 p.m. Friday

No. 21 Maine (0-0), Idle

The Black Bears, coming off an impressive 9-4 season, visit Boston College in their opener Sept. 8.

No. 22 Jacksonville State (0-0) at Arkansas, 7 p.m. Saturday

No. 23 Indiana State (0-0) at Indiana, 8 p.m. Saturday

No. 24 Central Arkansas (0-0) at Ole Miss, 7 p.m. Saturday

No. 25 Harvard Crimson (0-0), Idle

When the Ivy League season begins Sept. 15, the defending champion Crimson will host San Diego in non-conference action.

08/31 07:33:08 ET