Sacred Heart and Merrimack jointly announced today their football programs will compete for the inaugural Yankee Conference Championship on Nov. 16 at Merrimack.

While there currently is no Yankee Conference per say, the two schools released statements and are excited for the opportunity to play for a championship.

 “We are excited to be a part of The Yankee Conference Championship game,” said Sacred Heart Director of Athletics Judy Ann Riccio. “It will be a wonderful experience for our student-athletes to compete for the historic trophy. We have developed a great rivalry with Merrimack College, having several significant and exciting games in recent years. This game will be a monumental conclusion to the 2024 football season.”

Merrimack Athletic Director Jeremy Gibson shared Riccio’s sentiment. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Merrimack College football program,” Gibson said. “We are proud to be able to compete against Sacred Heart University for The Yankee Conference Championship, a brand that carries such strong history and tradition in Division I college football.”

Sacred Heart and Merrimack both left the NEC last season and went independent in football. They will be playing in the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) in the majority of other sports. 

The game keeps the rivalry between the two schools going and it ups the ante with a championship on the line. 

Merrimack kicks off their season on August 31st at Air Force while Sacred Heart kicks off the season at home against Delaware State on the same day.