The Waterbury Times|The New England Saturday|Sept 10, 2026
Connecticut- Week 2 brings another full Saturday of New England college football, with nine games involving teams from across the region — plus a Friday night matchup that gets the weekend started.
There are unbeaten teams trying to stay that way, winless teams looking for a breakthrough, and several programs facing opponents from outside the region.
And then there is the matchup we’re watching closest:
Sacred Heart at UMass — The New England Saturday Game of the Week.
Here’s the weekend map.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Rutgers at Boston College
Friday, Sept. 11 — 7:30 p.m.
Alumni Stadium — Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Boston College opens Week 2 at home against Rutgers in the annual Red Bandanna Game, one of the most significant nights on the Eagles’ calendar.
BC enters 0-1 after a 34-15 loss at Cincinnati. Rutgers is also 0-1 after its season-opening loss to UMass.
Rutgers will turn to freshman quarterback AJ Surace after Dylan Lonergan was injured.
For Boston College, it is an opportunity to get back on track at home — and it comes on a night when the football game carries a significance beyond the scoreboard. The Red Bandanna Game honors Welles Crowther, the Boston College alumnus remembered for helping others to safety during the Sept. 11 attacks.
SATURDAY
New Haven at No. 2 South Dakota State
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 7 p.m. ET
Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium — Brookings, South Dakota
The Chargers head west for one of the biggest challenges on their schedule.
New Haven is 1-1 after beating Marist and then falling to Stonehill 21-3 in its NEC opener. South Dakota State is 1-1 after a 34-18 loss to Northwestern.
The Jackrabbits remain one of the premier programs in the FCS, making this a major measuring-stick game for New Haven.
A.J. Duffy enters the matchup after throwing for 173 yards against Stonehill, while Zaon Laney rushed for 114 yards.
New Haven cannot qualify for the 2026 FCS playoffs during its reclassification period, but the Chargers can compete for the NEC championship. That makes every conference game especially important — while games like this provide an opportunity to measure the program against one of the FCS’s best.
Stonehill at New Hampshire
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 6 p.m.
Wildcat Stadium — Durham, New Hampshire
Stonehill enters the weekend with momentum.
The Skyhawks are 1-1 and 1-0 in NEC play after their 21-3 victory over New Haven.
Jack O’Connell has completed 70 percent of his passes through two games, throwing for 394 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
New Hampshire, meanwhile, is searching for its first victory after opening 0-2 with losses to UAlbany and Syracuse.
It’s an intriguing early-season contrast: Stonehill trying to build on its conference-opening win, while New Hampshire looks to reset at home.
Bryant at Hampton
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 6:02 p.m.
Armstrong Stadium — Hampton, Virginia
Bryant and Hampton both enter Week 2 at 1-1.
The Bulldogs opened the season by beating Stonehill before suffering a 59-3 loss at Army.
Hampton opened with a 45-0 victory over Virginia-Lynchburg before running into Maryland and falling 62-0.
Both teams now have an opportunity to put a difficult Week 1 result behind them and move above .500.
Merrimack at Maine
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 5 p.m.
Morse Field — Orono, Maine
Maine enters Week 2 at 1-1, while Merrimack is 0-2.
The Black Bears opened the season by beating Towson before suffering a 55-3 loss at Appalachian State.
Merrimack, meanwhile, has dropped both of its games, including a 34-7 loss to Rhode Island and a Week 1 defeat.
The matchup also continues a series that has become increasingly familiar, with Merrimack noting that this will be the fourth meeting between the programs in six seasons.
For Maine, the objective is straightforward: protect home field and get back above .500.
For Merrimack, it’s about getting that first win.
THE NEW ENGLAND SATURDAY GAME OF THE WEEK
Sacred Heart at UMass
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 3:30 p.m.
McGuirk Alumni Stadium — Amherst, Massachusetts
ESPN+
Sacred Heart Has Nothing to Lose. UMass Has Everything to Prove.
This is the matchup that gets our full attention in Week 2.
It is also a first meeting between the two programs.
UMass enters its home opener at 1-0 after stunning Rutgers 37-21 on the road, snapping a 16-game losing streak and earning its first FBS victory since 2023.
William “Pop” Watson III completed 19 of 22 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Curtis Kimmons IV rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, while the Minutemen defense intercepted Rutgers three times.
Sacred Heart comes in at 0-1 after a 31-24 loss to Monmouth in its first game as a CAA Football member.
But the Pioneers showed plenty offensively.
Sacred Heart outgained Monmouth 408-350, recorded 26 first downs and rushed for 217 yards. Quarterback Poochie Snyder threw three touchdown passes, while Dean Hangey caught eight passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
That creates an interesting dynamic.
UMass has the momentum, the home crowd and the confidence that comes with knocking off an FBS opponent.
Sacred Heart has an opportunity to spoil the home opener — and prove that its first CAA season can be about more than simply adjusting to a new conference.
This is the Week 2 Game of the Week.
Elon at Rhode Island
Saturday, Sept. 12 — Noon
Centreville Bank Stadium — Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Rhode Island gets one of the region’s more intriguing early-season tests.
The Rams are 1-1 after opening with a victory over Merrimack before falling to Temple.
Their opponent, Elon, enters at 2-0 after victories over Glenville State and Davidson.
For Rhode Island, the goal is to protect home field and get back into the win column.
Maryland at UConn
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 3:30 p.m.
Pratt & Whitney Stadium — East Hartford, Connecticut
CBS Sports Network
UConn gets one of the biggest home games of its early season.
The Huskies are 1-0 after opening with a dominant 56-7 victory over Lafayette.
Maryland also enters 1-0 after shutting out Hampton 62-0.
UConn quarterback Kalieb Osborne was one of the standout performers in the region during Week 1, throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns while adding 90 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Now comes a much bigger test.
Maryland arrives with an ACC-caliber roster and a dominant opening performance of its own, giving UConn an early opportunity to show how far the program has progressed.
Central Connecticut State at Toledo
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 3:30 p.m.
Glass Bowl — Toledo, Ohio
ESPN+
Central Connecticut State hits the road looking for its first victory.
The Blue Devils opened the season with a 59-20 loss to South Dakota.
Toledo is also 0-1 after falling to Michigan State 30-20.
That gives both programs something to prove.
For CCSU, it’s an opportunity to bounce back against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent.
Holy Cross at Miami (Ohio)
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 1 p.m.
Yager Stadium — Oxford, Ohio
ESPN+
Holy Cross is still looking for its first win.
The Crusaders enter 0-2 after consecutive 35-10 losses to Lehigh and Colgate.
David Lynch has thrown for 577 yards through two games, but five interceptions have made life difficult for the Holy Cross offense.
Miami (Ohio) enters at 0-1 after a 59-14 loss to Pittsburgh.
Both programs are looking for a reset, making this an important opportunity for Holy Cross to get its season moving in the right direction.
WEEK 2 AT A GLANCE
Friday, Sept. 11
- Rutgers at Boston College — 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12
- Holy Cross at Miami (Ohio) — 1 p.m.
- Elon at Rhode Island — Noon
- Maryland at UConn — 3:30 p.m.
- Sacred Heart at UMass — 3:30 p.m.
- Central Connecticut State at Toledo — 3:30 p.m.
- Merrimack at Maine — 5 p.m.
- Bryant at Hampton — 6:02 p.m.
- Stonehill at New Hampshire — 6 p.m.
- New Haven at South Dakota State — 7 p.m.
What We’re Watching
Can UConn make another statement?
The Huskies opened with 56 points. Maryland presents a completely different level of competition.
Can UMass follow up the Rutgers upset?
The Minutemen finally have a home game — and suddenly expectations are different.
Can Sacred Heart pull off another upset?
The Pioneers showed against Monmouth that they can move the football. UMass will be the biggest test yet.
Can Stonehill build on its New Haven win?
The Skyhawks are already 1-0 in NEC play.
Can Maine get back on track?
The Black Bears are 1-1 and return home against a winless Merrimack team.
Can New Haven handle the road challenge?
South Dakota State represents one of the toughest opponents on the Chargers’ schedule.
Can Holy Cross and New Hampshire find their first wins?
Both programs enter the weekend at 0-2.
That’s Week 2.
The games are set. The questions are ready.
The New England Saturday is back.
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