The University of New Hampshire football team has proven to be a consistent playoff contender, but it has been almost a decade since the Wildcats have been past the second round of the FCS Championship.
Last season, the squad showed its mettle with a season-saving five-game winning streak that earned the Wildcats an at-large selection for the 24-team playoff bracket, but the momentum quickly came to a halt in the opening round of action.
New Hampshire’s quest to improve on its all-time playoff record will begin Aug. 28, and the contest will carry extra weight, as it also will be the start of Coastal Athletic Association play for UNH.
All of New Hampshire’s CAA games during the 2026 season can be watched live on FloCollege and the FloSports app.
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Oh, and as if the pressure of trying to make the postseason for the fourth time in five years weren’t enough, the Wildcats will be doing so with a new head coach
Luckily for the players and fans, their new leader was part of one of the most successful eras of UNH football.
As the team’s quarterback from 2012-2015, Sean Goldrich led the Wildcats to two CAA championships and four of the 19 FCS playoff appearances in program history.
The battle-tested on-the-field leader now will try to continue his success in UNH colors from the sidelines.
The first time the home fans and UNH students will get to see him at Wildcat Stadium will be in the team’s home opener against Stonehill on Sept. 12. That will come after road contests against UAlbany and FBS Syracuse.
In the meantime, here are some things to know about Goldrich and New Hampshire football heading into the 2026 season:
New Head Coach Will Lead New Hampshire Into 2026 Season
After four seasons in charge at UNH, during which he had a 31-19 record, three playoff appearances and a CAA title, Rick Santos departed Durham, New Hampshire, for the bright lights of Philadelphia and the prestige of the Ivy League.
He’ll continue his coaching journey as the head football coach at the historic University of Pennsylvania, which was America’s first university.
Award-winning associate head coach and defensive coordinator Scott James stepped in briefly in an interim role for the Wildcats, but two weeks later, former UNH quarterback Sean Goldrich officially was announced as the 21st full-time head coach following a national search.
Goldrich, who is just 33 years old, was a four-year starter for the Wildcats from 2012 through 2015 and led the team to a pair of CAA titles and four playoff appearances. In 2013 and 2014, New Hampshire reached the national semifinals, losing to North Dakota State and Illinois State, respectively.
Prior to his return to UNH, Goldrich was the quarterbacks coach, pass game coordinator and head recruiting coordinator at the University of Delaware, which recently transitioned from CAA powerhouse to FBS competitor.
James left the New Hampshire football program after Goldrich’s hiring and is putting his more than 20 years of experience to use at the helm of Anderson James Performance, an organization that helps student-athletes understand the recruiting process and helps them find the right fit for the next step in their careers.
James previously made headlines as the 2025 FBS/FCS Assistant Coach of the Year, named by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.
New Hampshire Football Has A Long History
New Hampshire’s new head football coach is just 33 years old, born in 1993.
That same year, the UNH was celebrating 100 years of football.
The Wildcats played their first game in 1893, a 10-0 loss to Newmarket. That was the only time the squad took the field during the inaugural campaign.
The five-game 1894 season opened with a 4-0 win over Exeter and finished with a 2-3 record for New Hampshire.
UNH went 4-4 in 1898 and closed the century with the first winning season in program history – a 4-2 performance in 1899.
With the exception of seasons canceled due to World War I and World War II, the Wildcats have been a regular part of the college football landscape.
Being one of the oldest programs in the country also means some storied rivalries.
For the Wildcats, their most frequent opponent has been Maine. They played for the first time in 1903, have met annually since 1922 and their 2025 matchup was their 113th meeting.
The annual showdown is known as the Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket, a flint lock rifle that was introduced as the game’s coveted trophy during the 1940s. It was named after former Maine coach Fred Brice and past New Hampshire coach William Cowell.
New Hampshire leads the series with a 60-45-8 record and has won 20 times since 2000, including their last four meetings.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats In The Playoffs
Since making the leap from NCAA Division II to the Division I-AA/FCS level in the late 1970s, the New Hampshire football team has made 19 playoff appearances, including 14 in a row from 2005-2017.
After a brief hiatus, the Wildcats have been regulars in the postseason, making the FCS bracket in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
In their FCS era, the Wildcats are 15-19 in the playoffs, including first-round losses to UT Martin and South Dakota State in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
UNH has reached the national semifinals twice, been bounced from the quarterfinals seven times, lost in the second round four times and been ousted from the first round six times overall.
During a short stint in Division II, from 1973-1977, New Hampshire made the playoffs twice and posted a 1-2 record across those two opportunities.
How Did The New Hampshire Wildcats Perform Overall In 2025?
UNH entered the 2025 season with only one returning starter and put together another memorable run to the playoffs.
The Wildcats opened the campaign with two wins but quickly fell to 3-4, including a pair of conferences losses.
The squad rallied from there, winning five consecutive games – all CAA matchups – to at least have an outside chance at a playoff berth.
The season-defining moment for the Wildcats came in a 34-13 win over Monmouth on Nov. 8.
Obviously, it was just a stepping stone at the time, but it ended up being the difference in making the playoff bracket and watching from home, which is what Monmouth had to do.
New Hampshire followed that win with victories against Bryant (42-14) and Maine (33-27) and ended up as an at-large selection, joining CAA champion Rhode Island and Villanova in the playoffs. It was the 18th time in 20 years at least three CAA programs were among the advancing teams.
UNH entered the playoffs ranked No. 1 in the nation in fourth down conversion defense by limiting the opposition to 30% success rate (6 for 20), but that did not carry over into the postseason.
On the way to a lopsided 41-3 win over the Wildcats in the opening round, SDSU converted on all three of its fourth-down attempts.
The game actually was out of reach early, however, with the Jackrabbits leading 14-0 after the first quarter and 27-3 at halftime.
New Hampshire finished the year at 8-5 overall and 6-2 in CAA play, which was tied for third-place in the 14-team conference.
South Dakota State, the FCS national champion in 2022 and 2023, bowed out of the next round with a 50-29 loss to eventual semifinalist Montana.
Within the CAA last year, New Hampshire's defense ranked second in passing defense (180.1 yards per game) third in scoring defense (22.8 ppg) and fourth in total defense (341.5 ypg).
Following the season, 11 New Hampshire players earned All-CAA honors, but like many other CAA schools, all but a couple of those players have left the program due to graduation or transferring.
2025 CAA Award Winners From New Hampshire
- Peyton Strickland, FB/HB, Jr. – First-Team Offense
- Tolu Olajide, OL, Gr. – First-Team Offense
- Nick Reed, PK, So. – First-Team Offense
- Justice Akinmoladun, DL, Gr. – Second-Team Defense
- Matt Vezza, QB, So. – Third-Team Offense
- Caleb Burke, WR, Sr. – Third-Team Offense
- Jordan Mcallister, DL, So. – Third-Team Defense
- *Darren Burton II, LB, Jr. – Third-Team Defense
- *Myles Thomason, RB, Gr. – Honorable Mention
- Chase Wilson, WR, Gr. – Honorable Mention
- Duncan Moreland, S, Gr. – Honorable Mention
*On 2026 roster
Additionally, Reed was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Fred Mitchell Award, which recognizes kickers for their outstanding performances. He entered the postseason No. 1 in the country for field goals per game (2.0).
Reed and Strickland later were named to the 2025 New England Football Writers Association All-New England team.
The honors continued to roll in for Reed, who was named to the 2025 Stats Perform All-America first team, Associated Press FCS All-America first team, Phil Steele All-America first team and the FCS Football Central All-America third team.
Reed will play his 2026 season at SMU.
Redshirt freshmen Trevor Barry and D.J. Johnson were selected to the 2025 Phil Steele Freshman All-America second team.
2025 New Hampshire Football Results
- Aug. 30 (Sat): New Hampshire 27, North Carolina Central 10 (W)
- Sept. 6 (Sat): New Hampshire 19, Holy Cross 16 (W)
- Sept. 13 (Sat): Ball State 34, New Hampshire 29 (L)
- Sept. 20 (Sat): Dartmouth 27, New Hampshire 20 (L)
- Sept. 27 (Sat): New Hampshire 24, UAlbany 6 (W)
- Oct. 4 (Sat): No. 18 Villanova 37, New Hampshire 7 (L)
- Oct. 11 (Sat): No. 17 Rhode Island 38, New Hampshire 27 (L)
- Oct. 18 (Sat): New Hampshire 24, Campbell 10 (W)
- Oct. 25 (Sat): New Hampshire 34, William & Mary 24 (W)
- Nov. 8 (Sat): New Hampshire 34, #6 Monmouth 13 (W)
- Nov. 15 (Sat): New Hampshire 42, Bryant 14 (W)
- Nov. 22 (Sat): New Hampshire 33, Maine 27 (W)
- Nov. 29 (Sat): No. 14 South Dakota State 41, New Hampshire 3 (L)
A Look At The CAA And New Hampshire Football In 2026
New Hampshire will begin the 2026 season with a new head coach and limited returning standouts, but that’s really not that out of the ordinary for FCS and CAA teams, especially when they have a track record of success.
From the early signing period in December, outgoing coach Rick Santos locked in nine recruits split pretty evenly between offense and defense.
With some significant uncertainties for UNH, it’s easy to understand why the conference’s coaches selected the Wildcats to finish fourth in the conference, but that’s just an educated guess. What’s important is what happens on the field from August to November.
As one of New Hampshire’s two returning All-CAA players, a lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Thomason, who earned a spot on the 2026 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team and was selected to the Phil Steele FCS 2026 Preseason All-America fourth team.
A slew of UNH players also earned honorable mentions from the CAA:
- Drew Danson, FB/HB, Sr.
- Colby Ramshaw, TE, Sr.
- Beau Riley, OL, Gr.
- Darren Burton II, LB, Sr.
New Hampshire Football Schedule For 2026
All Times Eastern
- Aug. 28 (Fri): 7 p.m. at UAlbany*
- Sept. 5 (Sat): Noon at Syracuse
- Sept. 12 (Sat): 6:03 p.m. vs. Stonehill
- Sept. 19 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Harvard
- Sept. 26 (Sat): Noon at Sacred Heart*
- Oct. 3 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Elon*
- Oct. 10 (Sat): Noon at North Carolina A&T*
- Oct. 17 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Monmouth*
- Oct. 24 (Sat): TBA at Merrimack
- Nov. 7 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Rhode Island*
- Nov. 14 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Stony Brook*
- Nov. 21 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Maine*
*CAA games
Predicted Order Of Finish For CAA Teams In 2026
- Rhode Island (12 first-place votes), 144
- Monmouth, 119
- Elon, 115
- New Hampshire, 106
- Stony Brook (1 first-place vote), 105
- Towson, 93
- Maine, 88
- Campbell, 56
- Bryant, 50
- Sacred Heart, 49
- UAlbany, 35
- North Carolina A&T, 28
- Hampton, 26
*Villanova and William & Mary left the CAA for the Patriot League, and Sacred Heart joins the CAA for the 2026 season.
Order Of Finish For CAA Teams In 2025
CAA (Overall)
- Rhode Island: 8-0 (11-3)
- Villanova: 7-1 (12-3)
- New Hampshire: 6-2 (8-5)
- Monmouth: 6-2 (9-3)
- William & Mary: 6-2 (7-5)
- Maine: 5-3 (6-6)
- Elon: 4-4 (6-6)
- Stony Brook: 4-4 (6-6)
- Towson: 4-4 (6-6)
- Campbell: 2-6 (2-10)
- North Carolina A&T: 2-6 (2-10)
- Bryant: 1-7 (3-9)
- UAlbany: 1-7 (2-10)
- Hampton: 0-8 (2-10)
Final AFCA Division I FCS Coaches Poll For 2025 Season
- Montana St. (14-2)
- Illinois St. (12-5)
- Montana (13-2)
- Villanova (12-3)
- North Dakota St. (12-1)
- Tarleton St. (12-2)
- Stephen F. Austin (11-3)
- UC Davis (9-4)
- Lehigh (12-1)
- Rhode Island (11-3)
- South Dakota (10-5)
- ACU (9-5)
- Yale (9-3)
- South Dakota St. (9-5)
- Tennessee Tech (11-2)
- North Dakota (8-6)
- Youngstown St. (8-5)
- Mercer (9-3)
- Southeastern Louisiana (9-4)
- Monmouth (N.J.) (9-3)
- Lamar (8-5)
- Jackson St. (9-3)
- Harvard (9-2)
- West Georgia (8-3)
- South Carolina St. (10-3)
Dropped Out: Southern Illinois (25)
Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire, 35; Lafayette, 30; Southern Illinois, 29; Drake, 20; UT Rio Grande Valley, 20; Prairie View A&M, 16; Central Connecticut St., 15; Richmond, 15; Alabama St., 10; Presbyterian, 10; Southern Utah, 5; Austin Peay, 2.
Some Things To Know About FCS Football
The FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) is the second tier of NCAA Division I football, with the top tier being the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision).
While the FBS determines its national champion through a 12-team, committee-selected College Football Playoff, the FCS Championship includes 24 teams.
The FCS conference champions automatically qualify for the playoffs, and the remaining spots are filled via at-large selection.
This season, there will be 128 programs across 13 conferences. The regular season will begin in late August, and the playoffs will get underway at the end of November.
Who Won The Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?
- Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
- Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
- Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
- Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14
When Do The 2026 NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Start?
The first round of the 2026 NCAA FCS Playoffs will be Nov. 28.
The format includes 24 teams and five rounds of play – first round, second round, quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship game. Everything through the semifinals will be played at the site of the participating schools.
Round 2 is set for Dec. 5, the quarterfinals will be held Dec. 11 (one game) and Dec. 12 (three games) and the semifinals will take place Dec. 19.
The 2026 FCS national championship will be determined Jan. 11, 2027, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Music City first hosted the title tilt in 2025 after 15 consecutive visits to Frisco, Texas.
Every game will be broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks.
How Do The FCS Playoffs Work?
The 24 FCS teams that advance to the playoffs are situated into a single-elimination bracket.
The top 16 teams are seeded, with the first eight earning byes into the second round. Seeds 9-16 must play in the opening round of action, but they get to play host, as do the higher seeds in each game through the semifinals.
The two semifinal winners then make the trip to Nashville to play for the national championship.
In 2025, Montana State defeated Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim the trophy.
Since 2011, North Dakota State had been dominating the FCS landscape, winning 10 national titles, but the Bison have now moved to a bigger pasture – the FBS level as part of the Mountain West Conference.
Throwback - Tap The Rock: University Of New Hampshire Football
Even though he may forget what it says sometimes, we promise Dylan Laube doesn’t forget what to do on game day.
FloFootball caught up with the University of New Hampshire in 2023 to hear more about one of their coveted team traditions.
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