When UNH travels to Orono this weekend, the Wildcats and Black Bears will be playing for the same trophy, but two very different things as well.

Rick Santos’ team enters with a chance to finish the season with eight wins and maybe an at-large FCS playoff berth if enough teams in the Top 25 slip up on the final weekend of the season. Meanwhile, Maine’s resurgence under Jordan Stevens could be completed with a 6-6 season and an entire offseason knowing the ended any slip playoff hopes their rivals had.

Both guys have been a part of this rivalry game as players and as coaches and can’t overstate how much it means.

“It’s everything,” Santos said during the CAA Coaches Zoom call. “This is the most important game on our schedule and obviously, it’s historically been the last game of the year. You can’t get too far ahead of yourself in-season, but it’s here. It’s upon us. The moment is now. We’ve gotta take full advantage of this. It’s sharing with the seniors, letting them talk about kind of their experience with the Maine game and what it means to them. That’s one of the coolest things we do, one of the best traditions here at UNH. Allowing those guys to talk to the rest of the team and how important this game is.

“I’m excited to give those guys that platform this week and we’re ready to role.”

Controlling emotions for both players and coaches is going to be one of the biggest keys, as it is with any rivalry game.

“I think the game provides that,” said Stevens. “That’s provided. So, like, I think it comes down to getting our guys focused and prepared and ready to play. Stay in process. Stay focused in on one play at a time. No matter what happens, just get into the next play. This is a game that demands mental toughness, even more so because of some of the emotions involved. Trying to keep those in check and measured, knowing that ultimately it’s going to come down to who executes the best.

“When you look at this game, this is a program goal of ours. It’s a rivalry game. We’re fortunate to be a part of this game. I have a ton of respect for New Hampshire and what they continually do every year. We’re approaching the game like we do every game, with a level of humility and a level of preparation and respect for our opponent. We’ll certainly have that at the forefront.”

This will be the 114th meeting between the schools, with UNH holding a 59-46-8 advantage all-time. The Wildcats have also won the last two Brice Cowell Musket games. The Black Bears haven’t captured The Musket at home since 2018. Since 2004, the game has been decided by one possession 10 times, including a wild 42-21 OT game in 2022 the last time the game was in Maine.

Given what’s at stake for the Wildcats and what a win would mean for the Black Bears, this one has all the makings of another instant classic between the two schools that have been playing against each other since September of 1903.