For the majority of the 17 local Division 1 schools, we’ve hit the halfway point of the regular season. The Ivy League combatants are a little behind.
Still, we’re starting to see a much clearer picture in terms of where things might stand in a month or so when both the FBS and FCS seasons are done. We’ve got a few playoff contenders, a bunch of teams struggling to find consistency and a couple others looking to avoid a downright disaster of a season.
This weekend, three of the 17 teams are on byes. Here’s a look at Saturday’s slate:
Merrimack @ Harvard (Noon)
It’s an interesting ‘double local’ matchup when the Crimson host the Warriors.
On paper, Harvard has a talent advantage and is simply playing at a different level than Merrimack right now. The Crimson come in at 4-0 and ranked No. 15 in the latest FCS Coaches Poll. Andrew Aurich’s squad has scored 193 points, with two 59-point games and 41 and 34 scored in the other two wins. Jaden Craig is getting some NFL buzz with 1,010 yards, 10 touchdowns and just one interception so far this season. The defense has given up 41 points total.
Meanwhile, Merrimack is 3-4, showing some signs of growth this season. But, the Warriors are also coming off a loss to Maine at home last weekend, their second loss in the last three games. The Warriors scored 23 points combined in the two losses and put up 24 in a win against Robert Morris.
If Ayden Pereira, DeMarcus McElroy, Aveon Smith and Brendon Wyatt – among others – can control the clock on the ground, then Merrimack might have a shot, but Harvard should probably still be unbeaten after this one.
Stonehill @ Yale (Noon)
Yale isn’t in a must-win situation since this is a non-conference game, but the Bulldogs could really use this one.
Yale is coming off a heartbreaking 17-16 Ivy League loss to Dartmouth last weekend on a last second field goal. At 2-2 and losers of two straight (31-10 loss to Lehigh), the Bulldogs need to get some momentum back heading into the rest of Ivy League play. South Carolina transfer QB Dante Reno has thrown for 448 yards and six touchdowns with four picks this season. Nico Brown leads the receivers with 20 catches and 317 yards with four touchdown. Josh Pitsenberger has been a beast on the ground with 470 yards (106 carries) and six touchdowns.
Stonehill is sort of in the same boat. The Skyhawks are 2-4 and losers of two of the last three game. The first loss may actually be a sign of things to come this weekend, as Stonehill hung with Penn before falling 24-21. After beating LIU 10-3 in a rough offensive game, Duquesne blew out Eli Gardner’s team 34-14 last week. Senior QB Jack O’Connell has been very good with 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns. The problem has been the protection in front of him, taking 12 sacks on the year.
We expect the Skyhawks to hang around in this one before Yale pulls away in the second half.
Princeton @ Brown (Noon)
The Rhode Island state champs are hot right now.
James Perry’s Bears are 3-1 and just swept their in-state rivals Rhode Island and Brown in back-to-back weeks. Unfortunately, Brown’s only loss this year was in a blowout to Harvard, which makes every Ivy League game from here on out must-win. The offense has relied heavily on running back Matt Childs early, giving him 66 carries for 237 yards and four touchdowns. Qwentin Brown also has 147 yards and three TDs. QB James Murphy has led the way, tossing for 855 yards and six touchdowns. He does have five picks and he’s been sacked eight times.
The Tigers are 2-2, but 1-0 in the league and looking to keep pace with Harvard. Should be a typical physical, gritty Ivy League game that comes down to the wire, hopefully the Bears can pull it out.
Dartmouth @ Fordham (1:00)
Sammy McCorkle’s Big Green are riding high after the win over Yale in Hanover last weekend thanks to Owen Zalc’s late field goal. Dartmouth is now 3-1 and 1-1 in the Ivy League.
Grayson Saunier (951 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT) hasn’t been consistent as fans would like, but he’s been a weapon in the running game. Saunier is second on the team in rushing with 203 yards and five touchdowns on 38 rushes. D.J. Crowther (79 carries, 378 yards, 6 TDs) leads the team.
This is a great opportunity for the Big Green to make it three in a row. Fordham is 1-5 and have given up 40+ points in four of the losses.
Holy Cross @ Richmond (2:00)
Is this the week?
Holy Cross is still in search of its first win at 0-6 and it doesn’t get easier this weekend. The Crusaders are also 0-1 in the Patriot League while Richmond is 4-3 overall and 1-2 in its new league.
Dan Curran’s offense has struggled to find consistency, averaging only 16.8 PPG and scoring 101 points total in six games. Curran assured that Cal Swanson (1,021 yards, 5 touchdowns, 5 interceptions) is still the team’s starting quarterback this week, but also said that Braden Graham (9-16, 57 yards, 1 interception) could see action in various packages. Jayden Clerveaux (69 carries, 249 yards, 3 touchdowns) has led the ground attack. Max Mosey has had a great year so far with 25 catches for 288 yards.
The defense has been shaky lately after a fantastic start. In the first three games, the Crusaders gave up 19 points twice in two and three-point losses and then held nationally-ranked URI to nine points, but still lost. Yale (28-10), Fordham (26-21) and Harvard (59-24) had an easier time scoring.
At some point, the magic carpet ride that was six straight Patriot League titles was going to end. It feels like this is the year as the Crusaders try to evolve into their next stage. Richmond most likely handles business, but Holy Cross keeps it close.
UConn @ BC (Noon)
UConn has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this one. Quite the contrary for Boston College.
The Huskies are 4-2, feeling good after a bye week and a 51-10 beat down of FIU two weeks ago. Two wins from a third bowl game in four years, Jim Mora has the Huskies out of the FBS laughing stock pile and firmly in the well-respected pile.
Meanwhile, BC is 1-5 and Bill O’Brien had to adamantly defend his players and staff this week with the fan base ready to completely jump ship. The Eagles have lost five straight, each in uglier fashion than the next. The latest loss was a 41-10 blowout against Clemson at home on ACC Network.
No matter how different UConn may be now, the notion that BC can lose to them is unfathomable to many (even though it happened 2022), which makes this a no-lose situation for UConn. If the Eagles win at home, it’s what they were supposed to do.
With so many injuries on defense, UConn QB Joe Fagnano (1,556 yards, 11 TDs, 0 INTs) could have some fun against the Eagles’ defense. Skyler Bell is getting national attention at receiver with 48 catches, 562 yards and six touchdowns. Cam Edwards is a problem at running back with 637 yards and seven touchdowns on just 101 carries.
BC’s offense has completely sputtered out. Dylan Lonergan has struggled to find consistency ever since the Michigan State loss, due in large part to a regression from the offensive line, being sacked 10 times. The running game has been non-existent as well. The team has only 510 yards total among 10 players with at least one carry.
It’s a true toss up this weekend.
Buffalo @ UMass (2:30)
What else can be said?
It’s been another abysmal start for the Minutemen (0-6, 0-2 MAC) and being blown out by another disastrous program in Kent State last weekend certainly didn’t help. First-year head coach Joe Harasmyiak has assured there will be changes, but it probably won’t help very much.
Buffalo is 3-3 (2-0 MAC) and hoping to keep pace with Western Michigan and Miami of Ohio for first place.
UMass hasn’t been able to land on a QB with any consistency between AJ Hairston (517 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs), Brandon Rose (289 yards, 2 INTs) or Grant Jordan (278 yards, 1 INT). The Minutemen have just 350 yards rushing between 10 players. Rocko Griffin leads the way with 35 carries for 166 yards and one TD. Brandon Hood has 39 carries for 106 yards. Jacquori Gibson has had a decent season with 36 catches for 358 yards.
All signs point to another rough day at McGuirk, but at least it’ll be good tailgating weather.
URI @ Albany (3:30)
The 15th-ranked Rams head out to New York to face a much different Albany team than the one many people are accustomed to.
Rhody got a huge comeback win over UNH last Saturday. The Rams (5-2, 3-0 CAA) trailed 27-17 in the fourth before stunning the Wildcats with 21 unanswered. It was a major bounce-back win coming off an ugly loss to rival Brown in the Governor’s Cup. URI still sits atop the CAA along with Monmouth as the only teams without a conference loss yet.
The Rams’ defense has given up 20 or fewer points in five of the seven games. Offensively, Devin Farrell (1,801 yards, 10 touchdowns, 6 INTs, 112 rushing yards, 2 TDs) makes everything go. Marquis Buchanan (39 catches, 683 yards, 4 touchdowns) is his top target. Antwain Little has been Mr. Reliable on the ground (135 carries, 577 yards, 6 touchdowns).
Albany is going through some rough times at 1-5. Championship-caliber teams handle games like this relatively easily. URI should be able to do so.
UNH @ Campbell (3:30)
The Wildcats will have to bounce back from a brutal loss to URI and head out on the road to face a better-than-its-2-5-record Campbell team.
UNH (3-4, 1-2) probably can’t afford another conference loss – or any loss – if they truly want to contend for an FCS playoff spot.
Matt Vezza has been very good, with 1,348 yards and seven touchdowns (5 INTs), but he’s been sacked 18 times. He’s also been a serious dual-threat, rushing for 307 yards on 89 carries with five touchdowns. Myles Thompson has led the running backs (98 carries, 308 yards, one touchdown). Chase Wilson (29 catches, 471 yards, 3 TDs) leads the receivers.
On paper, this should be a Wildcats’ win, but UNH has been extremely inconsistent this year. We’re calling this one another tossup.
CCSU @ Wagner (5:00)
Sitting on top of the NEC standings, the defending champs have a chance to keep pace with Duquesne and Mercyhurst against a 1-5 Wagner team.
CCSU is 4-3 and 2-0 in the conference. Last year’s run to the automatic playoff berth was stunning, but teams aren’t taking the Blue Devils lightly this season. Adam Lechtenberg’s team has had to earn everything its gotten.
Former Milford standout Brady Olson (481 yards passing, 5 touchdowns, 44 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD) has led the way. Elijah Howard has been phenomenal with 87 carries for 481 yards and five touchdowns. Donny Marcus has 53 for 142 yards and three touchdowns. Howard also has 24 catches for 198 yards and three scores. Dave Pardo leads the receivers with 21 grabs, 290 yards and two touchdowns.
Simply put, if the Blue Devils are going to make a run at another NEC title, this is one they can’t give up. We expect a solid CCSU win.
Sacred Heart @ Montana (3:00)
Mark Nofri’s Pioneers are living the independent life this season before moving into the CAA in 2026. That means that despite sitting at 5-2, Sacred Heart isn’t ranked and won’t be making any playoff appearance. Which, may be why guys have been playing at such a high level.
Jack Snyder has 1,042 yards passing with five touchdowns and two picks. He’s also got 75 rushes for 345 yards and four TDs. That’s second on the team only behind Mitchell Summers. Summers has been extremely reliable with 638 yards on 109 carries and five touchdowns. Kevin McGuire (24 catches, 269 yards), Payton Rhoades (23 catches, 295 yards, 2 TDs) and Jason Palmeri (15 catches, 196 yards, 3 TD) lead the receivers. Dean Hangey also has 16 grabs for 173 yards.
Most impressively, SH has been able to win in all different ways, whether it be blowouts, defensive battles or shootouts.
Having said all of that, this’ll be a tough, maybe close-to-impossible test against perennial national championship contender Montana. The Grizzlies are 6-0 and ranked No. 4 in the country.
New Haven, Maine and Bryant have byes.