There’s no doubt that getting to play in a bowl game at the end of the college football season is special, but it’s not the playoffs.

The wait is almost over, and the 2025 college football season is nearly here. To make sure fans are primed for an exciting year, preseason coaches polls are being published every week for conferences across the nation.

In two seasons of action in the new Landmark Conference, Lycoming is 6-6, while going 9-12 overall.

With their head coach, Mike Gutelius, falling ill and working through surgeries and treatment for a type of brain cancer during the 2024 college football season, the Catholic University Cardinals understandably could’ve been distracted and had a down year.

The Lycoming football team rebounded from the COVID-canceled 2020 season with a memorable 8-3 campaign in 2021, but the Warriors haven’t had a winning season since.

Can you feel it in the air? College football is upon us!

Springfield Pride head coach Mike Cerasuolo outdid himself once again in 2024 by taking the Pride to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III National Championships, an undefeated regular season schedule, and the team's fourth consecutive NEWMAC title.

The Salve Regina Seahawks are heading into their 13th season under their winningest head coach to date, Kevin Gilmartin, and look to pick back up after an unfortunate turn to the 2024 season.

Coming off the high of a 9-2 overall record in 2023, the Salve Regina Seahawks hoped to continue their success under starting quarterback Jake Stack in 2024. However, fate had different plans, as Stack did not appear for the Seahawks halfway through the season, leaving the team with a 6-4 record and third in the conference.

The Springfield Pride will be entering the 2025 season riding on the high of its fourth consecutive NEWMAC Championship title and first undefeated regular season since 2017. The Pride looked primed to become the NCAA Division III National Champions, but was stopped in its tracks during the quarterfinal match against North Central when it posted its worst score of the season in a 3-27 loss.

There’s no doubt that Western Connecticut State University’s recent success on the gridiron should have the Wolves optimistic about the 2025 college football season, but there also are some pretty big unknowns.

The Salve Regina Seahawks managed to remain within the top three teams in NEWMAC despite using this season to regain their footing. Following an outstanding 9-2 showing in 2023, the Seahawks were hopeful after retaining starting quarterback Jake Stack, but fell short with a 6-4 record.

Through two seasons in the new Landmark Conference, Catholic University has been a middle-of-the-pack performer, quietly hiding in the vast shadow of a dominant Susquehanna team.

The Springfield Pride have been at the head of the NEWMAC Conference for over five years now, capping off their fourth consecutive season undefeated in conference play and making it all the way through the regular season undefeated as well.

The Ohio Northern Polar Bears are looking to improve on the 5-5 2024 season in 2025 and have several returning veterans leading the charge. Led by head coach Andy Fries, who is going into his second year in charge of the Polar Bears, Ohio Northern is set up for success. In one of the premier conferences in Division III, Freis is looking to establish himself and his program as one of the best not only in the Ohio Athletic Conference, but the country.