Just as the 2023 college season came locally, it went.

13 of the 16 local teams wrap up the regular season this weekend with a number of teams vying for a share of or outright league titles. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got headed into another great weekend of games with a ton on the line…

WEEK 12 (November 16th-18th)

BC @ Pitt (7:00 PM) (11/16)

The Eagles kick off the final full slate locally on Thursday night with a massive game against Pitt. It’s no longer the Phil Jurkovec Revenge Game, but there are still huge implications for BC as they try to earn a better bowl bid and push for eight wins for the first time in a long time. After the horrendous performance against VT at home last weekend that ended ‘The Path’ talk, it’ll be interesting to see how the team responds on an even shorter week than the one it had against Syracuse a couple weeks ago. If BC loses this one we’re probably looking at a trip to the useless ‘Fenway Bowl’ instead of a warm weather or well-known destination. A win over Pitt makes that Miami game the day after Thanksgiving must-see TV for Eagles’ fans. 

UMass @ Liberty (1:00 PM) (11/18)

It’ll be a tall order for UMass to take down 10-0 and 25th-ranked Liberty on the road, but with all the momentum in the world on its side coming out of a bye week after two straight wins, who knows? Don Brown’s team is as confident as any Minuteman team has been in years and while Liberty’s talent is probably a notch or two better than UMass’, they could get caught overlooking the Minutemen with hopes of a big bowl game on its radar. This is a ‘house money’ scenario if there ever was one for UMass with the rivalry game against UConn looming next weekend.

Sacred Heart @ UConn (Noon) (11/18)

Speaking of UConn, the Huskies should be able to get a second win on Saturday when hosting a struggling in-state rival in Sacred Heart. If Jim Mora’s squad can’t get this one against an FCS opponent playing out the string, then something is seriously wrong with the program. As bad and as disappointing as this year has been after the bowl bid a year ago, losing to Sacred Heart is inexcusable.

Georgetown @ Holy Cross (Noon) (11/18)

Could be quite a day at Fitton Field as Holy Cross has a shot to lock up at least a share of its fifth straight Patriot League title. No matter what happens Saturday, this year has been a struggle by HC standards and given just how successful the team has been the last couple seasons. If not for a couple of single-digit losses to FBS opponents BC and Army and a rough day against Lafayette, this team would be looking at hosting another home playoff game instead of entering the season finale with some uncertainty. Georgetown will present a tough test, but it’s hard to imagine this roster goes down at home with so much on the line. The atmosphere should be electric as well.

Maine @ UNH (1:00 PM) (11/18)

The battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket takes place this weekend as both the Wildcats and Black Bears look to finish on a high note. Last year’s meeting was a wild overtime affair that ultimately put UNH in the FCS postseason as co-champs of the CAA. This year UNH can’t make the playoffs, but will most certainly be looking to go out on a high note. Meanwhile, the fight Maine showed in this game last year ultimately propelled them into the offseason and has led to a slow step forward with two wins on the year under Jordan Stevens. Win No. 3 to end the year against a rival for what basically amounts to their national championship at this point would be another huge boost heading into the offseason. We’d expect another shootout like the 42-41 game we got almost 365 days ago.

URI @ Towson (1:00 PM) (11/18)

Hanging on to the slimiest of hopes that they can earn an at-large bid into the FCS postseason, URI absolutely has to win this game if they want to have any sniff. Even if they don’t, getting a win on the road against a decent Towson team would put the Rams at 7-4 overall on the year. That magic number of eight wins is the one that usually gets teams in, but after receiving a few votes in the FCS Top 25 Coaches Poll this week, you never know how they might decide if Jim Fleming’s crew can get a decisive win on the road.

Duquesne @ Merrimack (Noon) (11/18)

Stunningly, the NEC title and an automatic bid into the FCS playoffs is on the line in North Andover on Saturday. Thanks to Stonehill beating Duqense last week with the Warriors’ victory over CCSU, it’s winner-take-all at Duane Stadium. This is Merrimack’s first official year of eligibility for the playoffs since moving up and now, Dan Curran’s team can celebrate making history on its home turf with the win. It won’t be easy though as the Dukes have sat atop the conference for just about the entire season. If you’re in the area and looking to do something Saturday, we can guarantee you the atmosphere at Duane will be incredible.

LIU @ Stonehill (1:00 PM) (11/18)

Stonehill showed quite a bit of character when they went on the road and beat Duquesne last week to keep them from clinching the conference title. It was a huge upset but also a huge statement that the Skyhawks will be a player in this conference for years to come. In just year two, Eli Gardner’s club can finish 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the conference if they can take down a 4-6 (but 4-2 in the NEC) LIU team in Easton on Saturday.

St. Francis PA @ CCSU (Noon) (11/18)

Another tough season for CCSU wraps up on Saturday. The Blue Devils enter the season finale at 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the conference, hosting the defending league champs who have also struggled a bit this year at 3-6 overall. This is one of those ‘get out healthy and hopefully build some momentum heading into the offseason’ spots for both teams.

Semo @ Bryant (1:00 PM) (11/18)

Bryant looks to close out its brief two-year stint in the Big South with a win to finish over .500 and also build some momentum heading into the CAA last year. The Bulldogs have shown they’re more than capable of competing in big time conferences and a win against a very good SEMO team would add to that narrative. Bryant has a very, very, very outside shot of making the FCS postseason if things fall absolutely perfectly, but for Chris Merritt’s team, this is a day about finishing strong.

Harvard @ Yale (Noon) (11/18)

The 139th edition of ‘The Game” in New Haven this weekend has plenty of intrigue. The Crimson have already clinched a share of the Ivy League title for the first time since 2015, but a win would give them the outright title and allow them to dance on Yale’s 50 just like the Bulldogs did a year ago in Harvard Stadium. Dartmouth also has an outside shot at clinching a share if Yale does win, but either way, one of the most historic games in the country and most well-documented games in all of football will have another special chapter to add at about 4 PM on Saturday.

Dartmouth @ Brown (Noon) (11/18)

The job Sammy McCorkle has done to even have Dartmouth in a position to talk about clinching a share of the league title is remarkable. Dartmouth’s emotional season officially ends in a. rivalry game with Brown that’s been taking place since 1894. The Bears offense has been incredible this season too, but sort of tapered off late in the year. This should be a hard-hitting, physical, emotional game down in Rhode Island where both teams leave it all out there in typical Ivy League fashion.