We made it.
College football officially kicks off locally on Thursday night with three teams in action. The slate this weekend is pretty interesting with some intriguing matchups.
Without further adieu, here’s our first weekly preview of the 2024 season:
Thursday 8/29
UNH @ UCF (7:00)
The Wildcats hit the road for a very difficult first test at ‘The Bounce House’ down in Florida. New QB Seth Morgan is in a tough spot replacing Max Brosmer who is now at Minnesota. UNH is a whopping 41.5-point underdog, but as head coach Rick Santos said during his CAA call on Monday, all the pressure is on UCF. Even if the Wildcats lose this game, there could be plenty of positives to take out of it.
Bryant @ Delaware (7:00)
The Bulldogs are now in the CAA and immediately have a tough conference matchup against the Blue Hens. Delaware is a perennial CAA title contender and Bryant has a brand new roster. Roughly 50-60% of the 2024 Bulldogs were not here a year ago. Not only that, but Chris Merritt and his staff are replacing star QB Zevi Eckhaus. One big positive Bryant can carry into this year is that in 2023 they lost a handful of one possession games and had some really bad luck in OT games. If that goes the other way this season, Bryant could end up surprising people. This is a difficult task to go get a road win against Delaware though.
CCSU @ Central Michigan (7:00)
Looking to regain some respect locally – not just in CT but New England – Adam Lechtenberg and his staff are trying to change the culture. This is obviously a very difficult way to start the year on the road against a strong FBS opponent, but the Blue Devils don’t need to win this game to start building positive momentum. CCSU are 32.5-point ‘dogs, but a competitive showing and a few big plays here and there could provide a springboard of sorts for the rest of the season, even with a loss.
Friday 8/30
Colgate @ Maine (7:00)
Jordan Stevens and his Black Bears feel like they’re turning a corner here in the rebuild. A home game on a Friday night to open the year – which also happens to be the first day students are back on campus – should provide a phenomenal atmosphere under the lights in Orono. Colgate is no pushover and has given local FBS and FCS teams trouble over the last few years, but if this Black Bears program is in fact starting to build something special, this is a game they have to win to get off on the right foot.
Saturday 8/31
Eastern Michigan @ UMass (3:30)
Simply put, it’s must-win for the Minutemen. This is the first time UMass has opened the season at home since 2018 and the buzz is back once again. If Taisun Phommachanh can stay healthy we all saw what this offense could be capable of in the opener last year. With new OC Shane Montgomery now running the show, if Don Brown can get his defense back to where it was in 2022, this team can make a run at bowl eligibility. This is also an opportunity for an also statement to the rest of the MAC for when UMass heads back into the conference in 2025.
UConn @ Maryland (Noon)
The Huskies are pretty heavy underdogs (+20) and heading down to face the Terrapins isn’t an easy task, but UConn could have a shot in this game if they can run the ball and use their workhorse Victor Rosa to kill clock. Not only that, but new QB (and Wisconsin transfer) Nick Evers is the new man under center. After the debacle that was 2023, Jim Mora and his staff desperately need a bounce back season. Locking up a bowl bid in his first year may have actually been a bit of a detriment because expectations rose exponentially. 2023 was full of injuries and just a lack of overall enthusiasm around the program. If UConn can pull the upset or at least keep this game close into the fourth, it should provide a spark the rest of the way.
Holy Cross @ URI (7:00)
Fantastic local matchup to open the season. Dan Curran begins his first season with Holy Cross after building the Merrimack program from the ground up. URI and head coach Jim Fleming are still on a quest for a playoff berth for the first time in 35+ years. This is going to be a very, very physical game and is the definition of a ‘toss up’ game. A loss won’t kill either team since it’s an out of conference game, but getting a statement win over a local rival will be big for recruiting and momentum wise heading into the rest of the season.
Merrimack @ Air Force (3:30)
With Curran gone long time assistant Mike Gennetti is now running the ship. There’s a bit of an unknown with the Warriors right now as they go through a complete change both in regime and in conference. Merrimack is no longer in the NEC and will be living life as an independent this year. Obviously, facing an FBS team on the road is a tough opening test and the Air Force option may give Merrimack some fits. But, there’s still a lot of talent left over and it’s not like Gennetti hasn’t been around, that familiarity with the program might make this transition a little easier than expected, but it’d be a shocker if they’re able to pull an upset this weekend.
Delaware State @ Sacred Heart (6:00)
Many forget that just three years ago, Sacred Heart was force in the NEC and were a miracle last-second Jalen Coker TD catch away from beating Holy Cross in the first round the FCS playoffs and who knows what happens with the program if they make a deep run that season. After some issues with the program, the Pioneers are sort of in the same boat as CCSU when it comes to the culture shifting. This is a winnable game at home to open the year and could go a long way in helping steer things back in the right direction.
Monday 9/2
BC @ FSU (7:30)
The main event of the weekend. The Eagles travel to Tallahassee as the only show in town on Labor Day night. After Georgia Tech provided the blueprint last weekend, can the Eagles pull the upset? This season rides on the idea that Tommy Castellanos is able to take the next step and become a better overall quarterback instead of just an electric threat with his legs. BC’s running back and wide receiver room is as deep as it’s ever been. The O-line is a bit banged up and there’s some questions there. Defensively. BC’s front four could be as good as any in the ACC. Linebacker depth is a question but the secondary is solid. This is a game BC doesn’t necessarily have to win, but they absolutely cannot get blown out 35-10 or like 42-17. Currently, the Eagles are 17-point underdogs. This game needs to be (and should be) one that comes down to the wire in the fourth quarter. The question is, can the now Bill O’Brien-led Eagles start to win this type of marquee matchup instead of just being competitive? The world will be watching.