Image courtesy of Sophie Weller
Ready or not, the New England college football season has arrived.
With a whopping nine of the 17 D1 teams in the region kicking off during Week 0, it’s officially go time for 2026.
Here’s our first weekly preview breaking down the local action…be sure to tune in to our College Football Preview Show (presented by Sonic Boom Football) on Wednesday night at 8:30 too. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Twitch or YouTube!
Thursday
Maine @ Towson (6:00)
The Black Bears get it all started a couple hours before the Patriots’ final preseason game on Thursday night. It’s not an easy first test either, with a CAA opponent on the road right out of the gate.
Jordan Stevens’ team finished 6-6 last season. Maine started 0-4, won six straight and then dropped its last two to the eventual CAA champs URI and a playoff team in UNH. After a few years of building, it’s a ‘take the next step’ season for the Black Bears, which means competing in the top of the CAA and maybe even pushing for a postseason spot.
Towson also finished 6-6 and is in the same boat as Maine as far as trying to get back into true connection in the conference.
Maine is a three-point underdog, which basically means this is a tossup.
Friday
(8) URI @ Merrimack (6:00)
With legitimate national championship aspirations, Rhode Island enters this season ranked No. 8 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The two-time defending CAA champs have a ton of returners, including QB Devin Farrell, possible NFL draft pick Marquis Buchanan at wide receiver and others. While nothing is official yet, veteran linebacker AJ Pena could be back on defense as well, which would add a whole new element on that side of the ball.
The Rams went 11-3 in 2025, finishing unbeaten in the CAA (8-0). After grinding out a playoff win over CCSU, URI fell to UC Davis in the second round. Rhody is the preseason favorite to win the CAA again and there’s a reason Jim Fleming’s team is starting the season in the Top 10.
Over in North Andover, Mike Gennetti’s team will be looking to stun the FCS world right out of the gate.
Merrimack is still living the non-conference life, which makes things even more difficult when it comes to competing with schools like Rhode Island, but the Warriors were no pushover last season. Gennetti’s team finished 4-8, but five losses were just seven points or less.
Duane Stadium is an underrated atmosphere for college ball in this area, so this should be a fantastic opener for both squads. Don’t be surprised if it’s closer than the 20.5-point line favoring the Rams.
UNH @ Albany (7:00)
A new era for the Wildcats begins with a CAA road matchup on Friday night.
Former New Hampshire quarterback Sean Goldrich has taken over after Ricky Santos departed for Penn and while it’s certainly a different looking staff now in Durham, the standard remains as high as its ever been for the program. Last season, UNH finished 8-5 (6-2 in the CAA) and made it to the FCS postseason for the 19th time in school history and the third time in four years.
Albany was once a powerhouse in the CAA, but has fallen on hard times. The Great Danes went 2-10 last year and lost 24-6 in Durham.
The Wildcats are currently 22.5-point favorites. While early season games always present plenty of challenges, UNH should be able to get off to a strong start and get Goldrich his first win as a head coach of his alma mater.
Marist @ New Haven (6:00)
New Haven made its FBS debut in 2025 with a 10-game schedule and went 5-5.
Things will get much tougher this year though, as the Chargers played some familiar D2 opponents still. The biggest victory in the program’s history to this point came against Albany on the road (24-17). Mark Powell leads a group that is out to prove they’re going to be able to compete in the Northeast Conference earlier than most expect.
New Haven opened at Marist last season and lost 31-14, but the Chargers are just 1.5-point underdogs at the time this is being published, which means Vegas is giving them a legitimate shot to get 2026 off on the right foot.
Saturday
CCSU @ South Dakota (2:00)
The two-time defending Northeast Conference champs have an absolutely brutal test to open the season.
South Dakota went 10-5 last year and made it all the way to the FCS Quarterfinals before bowing out to Montana.
CCSU finished 8-5 a year ago and went 5-1 in the NEC en route to a second straight playoff berth. Unfortunately, for the second straight year, Adam Lechtenberg’s team ran into Rhode Island in the first round.
The Blue Devils are 22.5-point underdogs on the road, but we’d be shocked if this one isn’t closer than that. Speed, size and experience are all there for CCSU, who was picked to finish first once again in the preseason poll.
Lehigh @ Holy Cross (3:30)
Talk about getting thrown right into the fire.
The 11th-ranked team in the country and one of the Crusaders’ primary rivals visits Fitton Field to kick off the season with a massive Patriot League showdown on Saturday.
After winning a share of a sixth straight Patriot League title in Dan Curran’s first season, year two didn’t go very well as Holy Cross finished 3-9. Four of those losses were by three points or less. Holy Cross’ biggest struggle last season was scoring points due to inconsistent quarterback play. That won’t be the case this season, regardless of who starts.
There’s a ton of size and skill on the outside and former BC running back Datrell Jones adds an explosive element to the offense. The offensive and defensive lines are chock full of experience now and there’s a renewed sense of optimism in Worcester.
Lehigh had a ridiculous 12-1 season last year, going 7-0 in the league for the outright Patriot League title, hammering HC 38-3 at home in the process. Villanova ended up ending their magical season in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Holy Cross is currently a 15.5-point underdog at home, but Fitton Field should be rocking on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
Bryant @ Stonehill (6:00)
Two teams looking to start going in the right direction square off in what amounts to a huge early opportunity.
Stonehill has struggled to find consistency since joining the NEC, finishing 4-8 (3-4 NEC). The Skyhawks’ offense will need to be better this season if things are going to turn around. Eli Garner’s crew mustered 20 points or more four times in 2025.
Meanwhile, Bryant has now established its residence as a CAA team and believes it finally has the kind of roster that can compete in one of the best conferences in the country.
Chris Merritt’s Bulldogs went 3-9 (1-7 CAA). The odd thing about Bryant’s year is that they made a little bit of history, earning both the program’s first FBS opponent win (UMass) and conference win (Albany), but couldn’t sustain any momentum.
Points weren’t a problem, with the Bulldogs scoring 25+ points five times and dropping three of those by seven points or less.
This is a tossup in our view. Bryant enters as a 4.5-point favorite.