Welcome to the CAA, Sacred Heart. After a bye week in Week 0, SHU lines up for its first CAA matchup against Monmouth University. The two are set to play on September 5th at 2:00 pm ET.
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Sacred Heart Plays First Game in CAA
After two years as an independent FCS school, Sacred Heart is welcomed into the CAA with its inaugural game on September 5th against Monmouth. While they may be new to the conference, they are no stranger to Monmouth football. They have played each other 15 times over their program's history, with their most recent matchup in 2013. Sacred Heart has a 5-10 record against the Hawks, but they won the 2013 matchup 24-21.
They also have a long history against UAlbany, Bryant, and Stony Brook.
Preseason Honors Preview: Strong Players on Both Sides
In the 2026 CAA preseason poll, the Pioneers were set to finish 10th in the conference, with Monmouth finishing second.
Inside the preseason poll, both Monmouth and Sacred Heart have players on the All-Conference Awards list. Sacred Heart places one name on the list, with their running back Mitch Summers being named on the offensive side alongside Monmouth's Marcus Middleton and Gavin Nelson.
While Summers is the solo Pioneer on the awards list, Monmouth continues its dominance with Jaeden Jones named on both the defensive team and special teams list. Jones was also awarded the 206 CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after a stellar sophomore season, taking on 74 solo tackles and 118 total tackles.
First 2026 CAA Conference Matchup For SHU & Monmouth
Monmouth's season has already started with a loss to #14 Tennessee Tech, 14-38. This loss took the Hawks off the FCS top 25 list, where they were previously ranked 22nd.
The September 5th matchup will serve as both teams' first conference play of the 2026 season and will serve as an important marker for the final placements.
Preseason AFCA Division I FCS Coaches Poll For 2026 Season
As of Aug. 29
Team (2025 Record) – Points – 2025 Final Ranking
- Montana State (1-0) – 1425 – 1
- South Dakota State (1-0) – 1333 – 3
- Montana (1-0) – 1303 – 2
- Illinois State (1-0) – 1228 – 4
- Tarleton State (1-0) – 1163 – 5
- Rhode Island (1-0) – 1070 – 7
- UC Davis (1-0) – 1006 – 6
- North Dakota (1-0) – 1004 – 10
- Youngstown State (1-0) – 981 – 9
- Lehigh (1-0) – 927 – 11
- South Dakota (1-0) – 860 – 12
- Tennessee Tech (1-0) – 810 – 14
- Stephen F. Austin (1-0) – 806 – 13
- Lamar (1-0) – 626 – 20
- Austin Peay (1-0) – 574 – 17
- Yale (0-0) – 415 – 18
- William & Mary (1-0) – 408 – NR
- Villanova (0-1) – 406 – 8
- Mercer (1-0) – 381 – 21
- Abilene Christian (0-1) – 282 – 15
- South Carolina State (1-0) – 247 – 24
- Northern Arizona (1-0) – 217 – 25
- Idaho State (1-0) – 184 – NR
- Western Carolina (1-0) – 165 – NR
- West Florida (1-0) – 110 – NR
Archived Footage On FloCollege
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