By Ryan Barry
NEFJ Correspondent
While you might not be able to find us on Doordash or Ubereats, the New England College Football Restaurant is fully open for business.
As one of the chefs here, I understand it can be hard to pick out what to eat, which is why I’ve developed a menu so perfect that even Bill Belichick couldn’t help but crack a smile to.
With that, please enjoy this season’s finest New England college football games within each matchweek, so crack open a fresh Sam Adams and let’s see what’s on the menu:
Week 1
Thursday, 8/29 – Saturday, 8/31
Appetizer – UMass* vs. Eastern Michigan
Year three of the Don Brown experience kicks off in Amherst with some of the highest expectations in years. This is a totally winnable game for the Minutemen, and could help set the tone for the rest of the season.
Main – Rhode Island* vs Holy Cross
Two of New England’s most consistent programs in the past few years meet under the lights to kick-off week one. You can’t ask for anything better than that.
Dessert – Boston College @ Florida State
The Eagles hit the spotlights of college football in this week one rematch of last year’s shootout loss at Alumni Stadium. Bill O’Brien has a chance to show the football world he still has his fastball.
Week 2
Thursday, 9/5 – Saturday, 9/7
Appetizer – Rhode Island @ Minnesota
Former UNH star quarterback Max Brosmer meets old pals Rhode Island in what should be his second start for the Golden Gophers. He went 1-1 vs. the Rams in two years as a Wildcat, so it’ll be interesting to see how he fairs with a more well rounded squad.
Main – Holy Cross* vs. New Hampshire
What I love about Holy Cross is how they don’t back down from a challenge. The Wildcats arrive to take on Dan Curran in his first ever home game as head coach of the Crusaders. This should be a blast.
Dessert – Central Connecticut* vs. Fordham
The Blue Devils welcome one of the Patriot League’s best to New Britain in a nighttime matchup. This will be a difficult match-up for head coach Adam Lechtenberg, but it’s a tremendous opportunity to show how much his team has developed in year two.
Week 3
Thursday, 9/12 – Saturday, 9/14
Appetizer – Maine* vs. Monmouth
Head coach Jordan Stevens enters year three needing to show he’s growing the program to where Maine used to be. A match-up against a solid Monmouth program to open CAA play is an exciting spot to do that.
Main – Bryant* vs. Holy Cross
Man do I love Holy Cross keeping their non-conference games all in New England this year. It’s exactly what the sport needs in this region to grow, and this game is a perfect example of that. A quick trip down Route 146 should draw a huge crowd for what will be a fun game.
Dessert – UConn @ Duke
UConn kicks off the first of three ACC match-ups this year under the lights in North Carolina. The Blue Devils have a new head coach, and aren’t exactly coming in the same consistent team they’ve been in years past. The Huskies might be able to sneak up on them and keep this close.
Week 4
Thursday, 9/19 – Saturday, 9/21
Appetizer – Dartmouth* vs Fordham
Well hello there Ivy League, nice to see you guys again. Dartmouth kicks their season off with an awesome game against a tough Fordham team at home in year two of the Sammy McCorkle era. This will be a close but exciting game for sure.
Main – Boston College* vs. Michigan State
The Red Bandanna Game typically falls on the calendar against a good opponent every season. Hosting it against a Big Ten club with presumably good weather in early September? Now you’re talking. The Heights will no doubt be packed and rocking for this game.
Dessert – Holy Cross* vs. Yale
Did I mention I love Holy Cross? Another huge New England non-conference game to open Yale’s season is simply too perfect. The Bulldogs are on tap for another high stakes season, and have the chance to kick-off 2024 with a statement win on the road.
Week 5
Thursday, 9/26 – Saturday, 9/28
Appetizer – Merrimack* vs Dartmouth
One of the biggest games to ever come to the Merrimack campus will be one of their hardest challenges to date. The Big Green are a talented club and will come into this game well rested, whereas the Warriors will have already played a quarter of their season.
Main – UMass @ Miami (OH)
Simply because I couldn’t pick Holy Cross for a fifth straight time, in a sort of down week five slate the Minutemen travel to Ohio for a rematch of last year’s marathon game caused by weather. The Redhawks are favorites in the MAC, but if the Minutemen can improve on last year’s performance, it’ll be a huge sign of progress.
Dessert – Brown* vs. Harvard
Brown’s Jake Willcox, who was named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, welcome the Crimson to Providence for an awesome Ivy league fixture that could have massive divisional implications. The Bears nearly edged the Crimson last season, so they’ll be out for revenge.
Week 6
Thursday, 10/3 – Saturday, 10/5
Appetizer – UConn* vs Temple
The Huskies welcome their former AAC rivals to Pratty & Whitney Stadium for a game they absolutely have to win. The Owls have been down in recent years, giving UConn a prime opportunity to snag a win and demonstrate that they’ve officially won the divorce.
Main – Harvard* vs. UNH
I’ve had this game highlighted on my NEFJ calendar for a while now. Two traditional New England FCS powerhouses clash for the first time since 1939 in Cambridge for what’s sure to be an excellent game. If UNH wants any outside chance of an NCAA playoff berth, they’ll need to win this one.
Dessert – Brown* vs. Bryant
Last season the Bears opened their season with a four point win over the Bulldogs in Smithfield. This all Ocean State battle figures to be another close game, and with a tough opening slate for Bryant, could be a shot in the arm needed to resurrect their season with a win.
Week 7
Thursday, 10/10 – Saturday, 10/12
Appetizer – Rhode Island* vs. Brown
Back to back weeks of Rhode Island rivalries? You bet I’m in. The Bears lead the Governor’s Cup all-time series by a staggering 73-32-2 margin, but the Rams have won the last five match-ups. Look for a physical game that has an exciting finish.
Main – UMass* vs. Mizzou
I stopped and started this sentence ten times because I didn’t know what to write. It’s just so unfathomable that an SEC team is coming to McGuirk Alumni Stadium. It’s true sicko mode college football that I am so unbelievably here for. The Tigers will roar and road loud, but for better or worse, they will be doing so in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Dessert – Holy Cross* vs. Fordham
I teetered between this game and Yale-Dartmouth, but ultimately chose this because of its significance. Holy Cross were the darlings of the Patriot League under former head coach Bob Chesney. If Dan Curran can win this game, that’ll put the whole league on notice they’re still here.
Week 8
Thursday, 10/17 – Saturday, 10/19
Appetizer – Harvard* vs. Holy Cross
If your eyes rolled because I picked another Holy Cross game I wouldn’t blame you, but really it just shows how awesome their AD is for scheduling such great games. A win for the Crusaders adds a massive tally to their NCAA tournament hopes, whereas for Harvard it cements their status as one of the regions best.
Main – UConn* vs. Wake Forest
UConn’s second ACC fixture comes at home for a lunchtime venture against the Demon Deacons. Similar to the Duke game, the Huskies get Wake Forest at a time of rebuilding, making this a potentially winnable game should all their cards fall into place.
Dessert – UNH* vs. Rhode Island
Last season this game derailed the Wildcats chances at an NCAA tournament berth, but legitimized the Rams odds after a thrilling win in Kingston. With this game in Durham, which had a similarly awesome finish in 2022’s match-up, this will be one of the weekend’s best.
Week 9
Thursday, 10/24 – Saturday, 10/26
Appetizer – Boston College* vs Louisville
Friday night under the lights of Alumni Stadium is one of the best places to be for college football in New England every season. Picked nine places ahead of the Eagles in the ACC preseason poll at five, the Cardinals enter 2024 with darkhorse college football playoff aspirations. The Eagles have the opportunity to play spoiler, as well as beef up their chances for a bowl berth.
Main – Harvard* vs. Princeton
These two teams have been the thorn in one anothers side the past few years, with each playing spoiler to their Ivy League dreams seemingly every other year. A win for Harvard should help them keep pace for winning the league, making this a hugely important game for them.
Dessert – Yale @ Penn
Ivy League preseason favorites Yale head to Philadelphia to take on a Quakers team hoping to finally get over the conference hump. Luckily for the Bulldogs this game comes sandwiched between two relatively easy fixtures in Lehigh and Columbia.
Week 10
Thursday, 10/31 – Saturday, 11/2
Appetizer – Merrimack @ Robert Morris
The Warriors travel to the land of three rivers to take on the very team that replaced them in the Northeast Conference after departing this offseason. With former Merrimack star running back Tyvon Edmonds Jr. now donning a Colonials uniform, this game should feature plenty of heat.
Main – Dartmouth* vs Harvard
For the first time since 2005, neither Harvard’s Tim Murphy or Dartmouth Buddy Teeven’s, who unfortunately passed away in 2023, will be on either sideline for this game. It’ll be interesting to see the feel of this game with so much change, but should live up to its usual hype.
Dessert – Maine @ Oklahoma
This game is on here strictly for looks. I’d love to see the Black Bears be the wind that comes sweepin’ down the plain and roll to victory over the SEC’s newest sellouts, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen. If this was a match-up of whose state was better to visit though, the Pine Tree State takes this in a landslide.
Week 11
Thursday, 11/7 – Saturday, 11/9
Appetizer – Stonehill* vs. CCSU
I hope Skyhawks fans didn’t think I forgot about them! This was one of the best games in not just New England last season, but the entire FCS, as Stonehill’s Perry Shelbred nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired to beat CCSU 33-30. No doubt the Blue Devils will want revenge, but will have to do so this time on the road in Easton.
Main – Boston College* vs. Syracuse
It’s tough to tell who the ACC has tried to sell as BC’s rival, but I guess you could make the argument for the Orange. Somewhat geographically close, and similar in many profiles, this game is a must win for both programs who’ll need a favorable outcome for bowl eligibility.
Dessert – Maine* vs. Bryant
Two straight weeks of Maine for dessert? Sign me up, as long as it features blueberry ice cream with a side of Jamie Lamson and Montigo Moss. Both teams were picked at the bottom of the CAA, making this a huge game for both programs looking to prove doubters wrong.
Week 12
Thursday, 11/14 – Saturday, 11/16
Appetizer – Harvard @ Penn
One of the most crucial match-ups of the Ivy League calendar falls before the last week of the regular season. The implications of this outcome are massive, with either team putting the fate of their conference title hopes in their own hands. This will be a tough one for the Crimson.
Main – Merrimack* vs Sacred Heart
In the words of Poe Dameron from the Star Wars franchise, “somehow the Yankee Conference title returned.” With the Warriors and Pioneers dropping the NEC for independent football, through the powers of trademark law they acquired the rights of the old Yankee Conference for their now annual fixture on the calendar. It’ll be interesting to see who blows the dust off the trophy.
Dessert – Boston College @ Southern Methodist
A rematch of last year’s Fenway Bowl sees the Eagles travel to Dallas to take on the Mustangs. A litany of SMU fans called their loss illegitimate in what was basically a home game with back-ups spread across both teams. If I’m the Eagles, I have all the motivation I need to get up for a win.
Week 13
Thursday, 11/21 – Saturday, 11/23
Passed Hors d’oeuvres: UMass @ Georgia
Let’s pretend this is a wedding weekend, so enjoy these Western Mass inspired passed apps before the sit down meal. Similar to Maine/Oklahoma, this game is on here purely for aesthetic purposes, as the Minutemen travel to Athens to take on arguably the best team any New England school could ever face. It’s not going to be pretty, but it’ll be between the hedges.
Appetizer – Bryant* vs URI
What used to be a non-conference match-up is now a permanent CAA fixture with the Bulldogs and Rams meeting in what many consider to be “rivalry week” on the FCS calendar. Rhode Island has won all four meetings in program history, so it’s hard to call this a rivalry other than it being in-state. Either way, this game needs a name, so how about the Coffee Milk Bowl?
Main – Harvard* vs. Yale
The hottest ticket in town will be hard to come by when the top two preseason favorites meet in “The Game” to close out the Ivy League season. By far one of the most anticipated match-ups in series history, here’s to hoping this becomes the de facto championship game.
Dessert – Maine* vs UNH
The battle for the “Brice–Cowell Musket” will be as contentious as ever this season. The Black Bears could come into this game reeling, and with so much change in Durham, who knows where the Wildcats will be at. Either way, this is going to be exciting, as Maine looks to snap a two game losing skid.
Week 14
Thursday, 11/28 – Saturday, 11/30
Appetizer – Boston College* vs Pitt
Perhaps it’s Pitt who the ACC wants to be the Eagles rival? Sure as heck is better than newly arrived Cal or Stanford. The Eagles might need this game to get bowl eligible, which sets up a potentially meaningful game in the last week of the regular season.
Main – UMass* vs. UConn
This game was supposed to be at Fenway Park or Gillette Stadium, but disappointingly returns to Amherst for a second straight year. The rivalry has grown over the years beyond each school’s natural distance and constant fan chatter on social media, so this should be a fun game.
Dessert – Chef’s Choice
Here’s to hoping this week features a few New England teams in the FCS postseason tournament. Holy Cross probably has the best odds of getting in, with URI and UNH possibly sniffing a bid if they turn things around quickly.