New Hampshire vs. Sacred Heart Football 2026 Trends And Preview

The struggle bus will be rolling into Connecticut on Saturday, but it’ll depart as a party wagon for either UNH or Sacred Heart. Here's a preview.

Sep 24, 2026 by Matt Cannizzaro

Whos Making NOISE in D2 Football?11:41

The struggle bus will be rolling into Connecticut on Saturday, but it’ll depart as a party wagon for either the New Hampshire Wildcats or the Sacred Heart Pioneers.

The teams have combined for an 0-3 record in Colonial Athletic Association play this year, but one of the two programs will be joining the eight teams already in the CAA win column.

Their showdown at Sikorsky Credit Union Field in Fairfield, Connecticut, will be the first in history between the squads, and the action will unfold live on FloCollege and the FloSports app, beginning at noon Eastern.

Sacred Heart is new to the CAA this year, and while the team is coming off an 8-4 season and second consecutive Yankee Conference championship, the transition hasn’t been a smooth one.

The Pioneers are 0-3 overall in their new era, and that includes conference losses to Monmouth and Elon.

Both CAA defeats were close, winnable and decided in the final three minutes. So, if nothing else, the newcomers have at least proven they can hang in the talented CAA.

Now, after spending their first three weeks on the road, the Pioneers have the opportunity to log their first CAA win at home in their newly renamed and rebranded stadium, which previously was known simply as Campus Field.

New Hampshire, one of the founding members of the CAA two decades ago, is 1-3 overall this season and 0-1 in conference play, a 28-14 loss to UAlbany on Aug. 28.

The Wildcats were picked to finish fourth in the CAA this year after finishing tied for third place last season at 6-2. They also reached the FCS Playoffs in 2025 but fell to South Dakota State in the opening round, 41-3.

Statistically, Sacred Heart is outperforming New Hampshire this season in most categories, and UNH is surrendering a league-worst 40 points per game. On paper, all signs are pointing toward a breakthrough win this week for the Pioneers.

There probably are a dozen more games to watch at noon on Saturday, but this one might tug at the heartstrings a little bit, and wouldn’t it be cool to say you were tuned in for Sacred Heart’s first CAA win?

Before you make your final decision about which game to watch, check out some more info and storylines for New Hampshire and Sacred Heart:

Sacred Heart Returns Home To Host New Hampshire

Have a heart. At least drop in to watch a few minutes of the UNH-SHU game and welcome the Pioneers to FloCollege and the CAA.

You might be surprised at what the newcomers bring to the league.

Sacred Heart, picked to finish 10th in the CAA this year, was an FCS independent in 2024 and 2025 after leaving the Northeast Conference, where the Pioneers won six championships, and before joining the CAA for the 2026 campaign.

While in transition, SHU and rival Merrimack paid homage to the old Yankee Conference and agreed for their regular-season meeting in 2024 and 2025 to also serve as the Yankee Conference championship - in name and in spirit.

The Yankee Conference began in 1946 with six New England schools, including Maine and UConn. It expanded in the 1980s and 1990s with the addition of James Madison and William & Mary, before merging with the Colonial Athletic Conference in 1996.

SHU defeated Merrimack 31-20 for the 2024 title and 42-37 for the trophy in 2025 as part of an 8-4 season.

Even though the two have gone their separate ways, they’re still planning to end their regular seasons together. They’ll face off in Massachusetts on Nov. 21, with the Pioneers looking for a third consecutive win. They’ve played eight times overall, and SHU owns a 5-3 advantage in the series.

Will the continuation of that rivalry be the highlight of the Pioneers’ season, or will they be using that game as a warm-up for the FCS postseason?

New Hampshire Is A Storied Program

New Hampshire football is in its 131st season but also at the start of a new era under first-year head coach Sean Goldrich, who starred on the field for the Wildcats from 2011-2015.

The 33-year-old graduated from UNH in 2015 and left the program ranked fifth in career passing yards (7,536), passing touchdowns (47) and attempts (1,068), and third in completions (654).

In his final year under center, he threw for 1,867 yards and nine passing touchdowns, while running for another three scores.

Goldrich helped New Hampshire to a record 12 wins in 2014 and finished his career by leading the team to its 12th consecutive postseason appearance in 2015. The historic 2014 campaign concluded in the national semifinals, where the Wildcats lost to Illinois State, 21-18.

As the new man in charge, Goldrich inherited a UNH team coming off back-to-back 8-5 seasons and consecutive playoff appearances.

His squad was picked to finish fourth in the CAA this year but entered the season with a new starting quarterback for the fourth consecutive year.

So far, Wingate transfer Brooks Bentley has accounted for 104 of the team’s 117 pass attempts in 2026. He has completed 62 passes for 686 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks seventh in the CAA this year with 171.5 passing yards per game.

New Hampshire is 10th in the CAA in rushing (81 ypg) and passing (178.8 ypg), 11th in scoring (16.5 ppg) and last in total offense (259.8 ypg) and scoring defense. The Wildcats are giving up 40 points per game.

Can Goldrich get comfortable and return New Hampshire to the level of success he enjoyed as a player? Does the upturn begin Saturday with a less-than-warm welcome to the CAA for Sacred Heart?

What Did New Hampshire And Sacred Heart Football Do In Week 3?

Both teams are coming off Week 3 losses and looking for some redemption, as well as a boost out of the CAA cellar.

New Hampshire lost to Harvard, 31-7. It was the first game of the year for the Crimson and the rest of the eight-team Ivy League, and it got out of hand early for the Wildcats.

Harvard used a 21-point second quarter to build a 21-7 halftime lead and then added 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Brooks was 18 for 37 in the loss for 186 yards, and he scored New Hampshire’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run in the second quarter that tied the game at 7.

Last week, the Pioneers also gave up 21 points in the second quarter, allowing Elon to build a 21-14 halftime advantage.

The difference in the game ended up being a 52-yard field goal from the Phoenix with just over a minute left in the contest.

Sacred Heart scored once in each of the first three quarters but failed to add any points in the final stanza. The result was a 24-21 Elon victory.

SHU’s other conference loss also was a nailbiter that was tied at 24 with eight minutes to play but ended 31-24 after a 7-yard Monmouth touchdown pass five minutes later.

How To Watch New Hampshire vs. Sacred Heart Football

The New Hampshire vs. Sacred Heart football game is streaming live on FloCollege and the FloSports app.

Highlights, replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms.

UPCOMING

2026 New Hampshire vs Sacred Heart

Sat, Sep 26 · 4:00 PM UTC

WATCH

Division I FCS Football Week 4 Schedule On FloCollege

Here’s every FCS football game happening on FloFootball this week:

Saturday, Sept. 26

New AFCA FCS Rankings After Week 3 Of 2026

As of Sept. 19

Montana State (4-0) – 649 – Prev. 1
South Dakota State (3-1) – 598 – Prev. 3
Tarleton State (4-0) – 566 – Prev. 5
Illinois State (4-0) – 561 – Prev. 4
Montana (3-1) – 561 – Prev. 2
Stephen F. Austin (4-0) – 480 – Prev. 8
Lehigh (4-0) – 461 – Prev. 7
North Dakota (3-1) – 459 – Prev. 6
UC Davis (3-1) – 439 – Prev. 11
Tennessee Tech (3-0) – 415 – Prev. 10
Austin Peay (3-1) – 378 – Prev. 14
South Dakota (3-1) – 366 – Prev. 12
Youngstown State (2-2) – 363 – Prev. 9
South Carolina State (4-0) – 303 – Prev. 16
Lamar (2-1) – 296 – Prev. 15
Idaho St. (3-0) – 273 – Prev. 18
Northern Arizona (3-1) – 228 – Prev. 19
Yale (1-0) – 188 – Prev. 20
Richmond (3-1) – 104 – Prev. NR
West Florida (2-1) – 97 – Prev. 17
Rhode Island (2-2) – 93 – Prev. 13
Villanova (2-2) – 85 – Prev. 23
Colgate (3-1) – 71 – Prev. NR
Mercer (2-2) – 71 – Prev. 22
Harvard (1-0) – 50 – Prev. NR

Dropped Out: William & Mary (21), Furman (24), Southern Illinois (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Southern Illinois, 45; Campbell, 41; Jackson St., 39; Elon, 38; Furman, 37; Alabama St., 14; Prairie View A&M, 12; Stony Brook, 12; Bryant, 7; Central Connecticut St., 6; Dartmouth, 6; UIW, 6; William & Mary, 6; ACU, 5; Monmouth (N.J.), 5; Southeastern Louisiana, 4; Southeast Missouri St., 3; UT Rio Grande Valley, 3; Robert Morris (Pa.), 2; San Diego, 2; Chattanooga, 1; St. Thomas (Minn.), 1.

Week 4 Schedule For FCS Top 25

*Based on latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll

All Times Eastern

No. 1 Montana State (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky) vs. No. 17 Northern Arizona (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), 10:30 p.m.
No. 2 South Dakota State (3-1, 1-0 MVFC) vs. Eastern Illinois (1-3), 7 p.m.
No. 3 Tarleton State (4-0, 0-0 UAC) – BYE
No. 4 Illinois State (4-0, 0-0 MVFC) at Northern Iowa (1-2), 5 p.m.
No. 5 Montana (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky) at No. 9 UC Davis (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), 10 p.m.
No. 6 Stephen F. Austin (4-0, 2-0 Southland) vs. Northeastern State (3-1), 6 p.m.
No. 7 Lehigh (4-0, 3-0 Patriot) at Penn (1-0), 1 p.m.
No. 8 North Dakota (3-1, 0-0 MVFC) at Indiana State (2-2), 1 p.m.
No. 10 Tennessee Tech (3-0, 1-0 SoCon) at Wofford (2-2), 1:30 p.m.
No. 11 Austin Peay (3-1, 1-0 UAC) vs. UT Martin (1-3), 2 p.m.
No. 12 South Dakota (3-1, 0-0 MVFC) at No. 13 Youngstown State (2-2, 0-1 MVFC), 2 p.m.
No. 14 South Carolina State (4-0, 0-0 MEAC) at Bethune-Cookman (2-1), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Lamar (2-1, 0-0 Southland) at Nicholls (2-2), 4 p.m.
No. 16 Idaho State (3-0, 0-0 Big Sky) at Southern Utah (1-3), 8 p.m.
No. 18 Yale (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) at Cornell (0-1), 1 p.m.
No. 19 Richmond (3-1, 2-0 Patriot) vs. Furman (2-2), 2 p.m.
No. 20 West Florida (2-1) at Southeast Missouri State (2-2), 7 p.m.
No. 21 Rhode Island (2-2, 1-1 CAA) at North Carolina A&T, 4 p.m.
No. 23 Colgate (3-1, 2-0 Patriot) at No. 22 Villanova (2-2, 1-1 Patriot), 2:30 p.m.
No. 24 Mercer (2-2, 0-1 SoCon) at Abilene Christian (1-3), 8 p.m.
No. 25 Harvard (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) at Brown (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday.

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.

Hampton vs. Bryant Football Highlights | CAA Football Highlights

Check out the highlights from Bryant’s 31-3 win over Hampton on Sept. 12.

Bryant was 0-8 in its CAA debut in 2024 and 1-7 in 2025.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Watch The 2026 College Football Season On FloCollege

FloCollege is the home of the best FCS, Division II and Division III football action all season long.

Don’t miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games.

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