The Holy Cross football team enters the 2026 season facing one of the most formidable conference schedules in program history. The Patriot League has officially ushered in a new era, expanding into a 10-team conference with the arrivals of CAA heavyweights Villanova, William & Mary, and Richmond. With a grueling nine-game round-robin league schedule on the horizon, head coach Dan Curran and his squad know the path to the top will require an entirely new level of effort and execution.

Image courtesy of SHU Athletics Sacred Heart doesn’t plan on just easing into the CAA. The Pioneers expect to compete in the program’s first season as a member of the conference. Head coach Mark Nofri and his squad have been living the rough independent life for the last two seasons after leaving the NEC. That didn’t stop Nofri from making sure his program was still playing elite talent. Last year,……