All good things must come to an end.
It’s hard to believe, but the college football season ends for a bunch of local teams this weekend. All 16 teams will be in action with some fighting for their playoff lives, some looking to clinch league titles and others just looking to build some momentum heading into the offseason.
Here’s our final full college preview for the 2024 season…
UNC @ BC (Noon)
Drake Maye’s Tar Heels visit Chestnut Hill this weekend for a game the Eagles must have. BC is 5-5 and still needs one win for bowl eligibility with Pitt visiting next weekend to close out the season. Of the two games, this is probably the one the Eagles have a better chance at getting, but it won’t be easy. UNC running back Omarion Hampton is one of the best backs in the country and BC has had a lot of trouble stopping the run lately. On the other hand, the offense looked more threatening with Grayson James at QB than it did with Castellanos, so hopefully BC’s offense can continue to put points on the board.
UMass @ Georgia (12:45)
After firing Don Brown this week, UMass has the pleasure of getting blown out by the Dogs on the road this week. You just hope guys stay healthy under new interim head coach (and OC) Shan Montgomery. Take the pay check and get back on the flight home for the season finale against UConn.
UConn @ Syracuse (Noon)
Very, very intriguing matchup for the 7-3 Huskies this weekend. UConn hasn’t really had a road test since September 14th against Duke after playing six straight home games and then coming back to beat a poor UAB team on the road last week. There’s a real shot for UConn to win nine games (8 is a lock with UMass next weekend) and get a real bowl game (let’s be honest, how many people watched The Myrtle Beach Bowl). This will be a very good test for the Huskies when it comes to noise and a little bit of adversity. Syracuse gave up 37 to BC two weeks ago, so UConn should be able to put points on the board.
Holy Cross @ Georgetown (12:30)
Must-win for Holy Cross and the Crusaders will need some help. If Holy Cross can beat the Hoyas and then get a loss from Lehigh, Holy Cross would win Patriot League title for a sixth straight year. If not, Dan Curran’s first season as head coach would have been decent, but a disappointment by his standards. After only scoring seven points two weeks ago in the loss to Lehigh, Holy Cross put up 40 last weekend against Bucknell. It’s been a roller coaster of a season for the offense, but they’ll need to score 7’s and not 3’s to have a shot vs. the Hoyas.
UNH @ Maine (1:00)
The battle for the Brice Musket Cowell is always a good one, but this one means a little bit more for both teams. Maine has a chance to finish at .500 (currently 5-6) and end any hopes UNH has of making the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats have also won the last two rivalry games, including a wild OT game in 2022. Meanwhile, the Wildcats (7-4) can have an 8-win season and with some help, possibly get an at-large bid into the 24-team FCS postseason bracket. This is usually one of the best local rivalry games of the week each year and this time should be no different with Maine looking to show it belongs in the ‘contender’ conversation and UNH looking to take care of ‘little brother’ for another year.
URI @ Bryant (1:00)
For Bryant, this will be the finale of a tough first season in the CAA. For No. 15 URI, this could be the culmination of a 39-year wait. With a win, the Rams will win 10 games and lock up an FCS playoff berth for the first time since 1985. If Richmond also loses, the Rams would clinch a share of the CAA championship too. The Bulldogs will certainly have something to say about it with the rivalry game serving as one last bit of motivation to finish out the year strong. Can Jim Fleming’s crew finally get it done?
Merrimack @ Fordham (1:00)
After losing the Yankee Conference title game against Sarced Heart at home last weekend, Mike Gennetti’s Warriors officially close out a tough season against the Rams. This is a winnable game for Merrimack, as Fordham has been brutal this year at 2-9. A win would put the Warriors at 5-6 on the season.
Duquesne @ CCSU (Noon)
Stunningly, it’s winner-take-all at home this weekend for the Blue Devils. Sitting at 6-5 overall and 4-1 in the Northeast Conference, CCSU clinches the automatic FCS qualifier with a win. A loss sends Duquesne (8-2, 5-0) to the FCS playoffs for the second straight year. Adam Lechtenberg has done a phenomenal job turning this program around. Just three years ago, the Blue Devils were a playoff team. After a couple of rough seasons, they’re a legitimate threat again. It should be a fantastic atmosphere for what amounts to a playoff game in the regular season finale.
Stonehill @ Robert Morris (Noon)
The Skyhawks limp into their season finale at 1-9 overall, looking to grab at least once NEC victory this weekend against an RMU team that has been struggling lately at 6-5. Stonehill’s offense has been disappointing this season, but a win to close out the year would be valuable heading into the offseason.
Brown @ Dartmouth (Noon)
These two longtime rival are playing for two different things this weekend. Brown (3-6, 2-4) has struggled this year after a quick 2-0 start. Jake Wilcox has been outstanding at QB, but it’s been a disappointing year for the Bears overall. Meanwhile, Dartmouth (7-2, 4-2) can still clinch a share of the league title for the second straight year with a win and a Harvard loss. No matter what happens, Sammy McCorkle has done another outstanding job.
Yale @ Harvard (Noon)
The 140th edition of ‘The Game’ should live up to the hype and then some. Yale (6-3, 3-3) can’t win a third straight crown, but they certainly can ruin the Crimson’s dream of an outright title with a win in Cambridge. Harvard (8-1, 5-1) didn’t feel like it was a co-champion last year after losing to both Princeton and Yale, so this one has even more juice than it already usually does. Andrew Aurich’s offense is the best in the Ivy League, but the Bulldogs are hot. This has all the makings of another absolute classic in front of a sold out crowd.