The 2026 season marks the 39th year of football for the Stonehill Skyhawks as they continue to build their identity in NCAA Division I FCS and the Northeast Conference (NEC). Coming off a 4-8 campaign (3-4 in the NEC) in 2025, Eli Gardner—the Paul Finn ’71 Head Football Coach—enters his 11th season leading the program, making him the longest-tenured head coach in Skyhawks varsity history.
ALBANY, N.Y. — Despite senior quarterback Brooks Bentley passing for 230 yards and two touchdowns, the University of New Hampshire football team suffered a 28-14 loss to UAlbany on Friday night at Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium.
The New Haven Chargers head into the 2026 football season poised to build upon their identity as a physical and disciplined program. Under the leadership of head coach Mark Powell and newly appointed offensive coordinator Brian Scott, the Chargers enter the season focused on fundamental execution, and establishing control at the line of scrimmage. With a blend of seasoned veterans and explosive underclassmen on both sides of the ball, New Haven aims to establish momentum early in non-conference play and maintain high-level execution through every quarter of the regular season.
For high school quarterbacks in Massachusetts, pressure comes with the job description. But when you step under center at Walpole High School, you are not just managing the huddle—you are steering one of the most storied traditions in Commonwealth football history.
For Timberwolves quarterback Blake Pileski, that standard is secondary nature. Raised in a household where gridiron toughness was taught before primary school, Pileski carries both a rich family legacy and the lofty expectations of a traditional football powerhouse onto the turf every week.
The Central Connecticut State University football program has established itself as an undeniable powerhouse, entering the season as the two-time defending Northeast Conference champions. Following back-to-back league titles and consecutive FCS playoff appearances under back-to-back NEC Coach of the Year Adam Lechtenberg, the league’s coaches once again tabbed the Blue Devils as the preseason favorite, collecting six first-place votes. Central Connecticut State returns ten Preseason All-NEC selections across its…
The Rhode Island Rams enter the 2026 season riding considerable momentum following a deep FCS playoff run and an eleven-win campaign. Ranking among the top programs in FCS football entering the fall, Rhode Island will navigate an intriguing slate that features five home contests played at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket during ongoing facility upgrades at Meade Stadium. Leadership remains a clear strength for the program, highlighted by the election of fifth-year wide receiver Marquis Buchanan and fourth-year defensive lineman Case Mankins as team captains following vote by their teammates. With high expectations across the Coastal Athletic Association, the Rams possess the veteran experience and transfer portal additions needed to challenge for a conference championship and make another extended postseason push.
AP Photo/Charles Krupa The optimistic narrative surrounding contract extension talks between the Patriots and star cornerback Christian Gonzalez hit a jarring wall after ESPN insider Adam Schefter dumped a heavy dose of reality on the situation. Despite public assurances from executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf that momentum was building, Schefter reported on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday that the two sides haven’t been close to a…
Opening Drive: The New England Patriots line up against the Cleveland Browns with a focused objective: sharpen execution and lock in operational discipline before the regular season grind kicks into full gear. 1st Down: Who Starts at Quarterback? Are the Patriots going to start Tommy DeVito or are they going to start Behren Morton and play him the entire game? Expect DeVito to play but I would not be surprised…
The 2026 Merrimack Warriors enter a vital third season under Head Coach Mike Gennetti as they navigate life as an FCS Independent. Following a transition out of the NEC, the program continues to test itself against high-caliber regional and national opponents. The Warriors face a demanding 12-game slate featured around tests against FBS programs Delaware and Wake Forest, alongside a full run of regional Northeast powers like Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Monmouth, and Yale. With a deep roster blending proven regional veterans and high-level FBS transfer additions, Merrimack aims to construct a physical, fast brand of football that can hold up under a grueling travel and non-conference schedule.
The New Hampshire Wildcats football program enters the 2026 season with a new era underway, as former UNH standout Sean Goldrich takes the reins as head coach. Goldrich brings fresh energy to a program built on deep-rooted Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) tradition. The Wildcats face a challenging 2026 schedule, kicking off early with a Friday night CAA showdown at UAlbany on August 28, before taking on an FBS opponent in the Syracuse Orange on September 5. The home slate at Wildcat Stadium features critical non-conference and conference matchups against Stonehill, Harvard, and Elon, forcing the Wildcats to balance out-of-league tests with a grueling conference gauntlet. With a mix of veteran returning talent and emerging underclassmen, New Hampshire looks to establish Goldrich’s culture immediately and compete for an FCS playoff spot.