UMass Keeps Rolling, Central Connecticut Nearly Stuns Montana State, and the Ivy League Arrives

The Waterbury Times|The New England Saturday|Sept 20, 2026

Waterbury- Week 3 brought the full New England college football landscape into focus.

The Ivy League officially joined the conversation.

Programs faced major tests.

And several teams showed that they are ready to be part of the regional story moving forward.

From Amherst to Bozeman, Week 3 gave us statement wins, close calls and plenty of questions heading into the heart of the season.

This is The New England Saturday: Final Whistle.

UMass Is Becoming The Story

UMass 36, Stonehill 14

The Minutemen are no longer just the surprise team of September.

They are becoming the team everyone in New England is watching.

After opening the season with wins over Rutgers and Sacred Heart, UMass continued its undefeated start by defeating Stonehill 36-14.

The biggest question entering Week 3 was simple:

Could UMass handle expectations?

The answer was yes.

Good teams find ways to win the games they are expected to win.

UMass did exactly that.

The Minutemen move to 3-0, and the conversation continues:

How far can this team go?

Stonehill Shows It Belongs

The final score did not go the Skyhawks’ way, but Stonehill continues to show growth.

This was another opportunity for a developing program to measure itself against one of the hottest teams in the region.

Stonehill’s challenge now becomes consistency.

The talent is there.

The experience is coming.

The next step is turning competitive performances into victories.

Maine Gives Boston College A Fight

Boston College 22, Maine 16

Boston College left Alumni Stadium with a win, but Maine made sure it was anything but easy.

The Black Bears pushed the Eagles for four quarters before falling 22-16.

For Boston College, it was another win and another step forward.

For Maine, it was proof that this team can compete against higher-level opponents.

The Black Bears may not have left with the victory, but they showed they belong in these regional conversations.

Central Connecticut Nearly Creates The Upset Of The Season

Montana State 35, Central Connecticut State 30

Sometimes a loss tells you more about a program than a win.

Central Connecticut State traveled across the country and nearly shocked one of the top teams in the FCS.

The Blue Devils pushed Montana State to the final whistle before falling 35-30.

That performance changes the conversation around CCSU.

The result was not what the Blue Devils wanted.

But the message was clear:

Central Connecticut can compete with anyone.

The Ivy League Has Arrived

The oldest traditions in New England football returned to the field.

And they made an immediate impact.

Harvard 31, New Hampshire 7

Harvard opened its season with a statement victory over New Hampshire.

The Crimson showed why Ivy League football remains one of the region’s strongest brands.

Yale 38, Holy Cross 28

Yale opened its season with a road victory over Holy Cross.

The Bulldogs made an early statement, while Holy Cross continues searching for its first breakthrough of the season.

Brown 17, New Haven 10

Brown opened its season with a hard-fought win over New Haven.

The Chargers continue facing one of the toughest early schedules in the region, but these challenges are building valuable experience.

Dartmouth Falls At Lehigh

Dartmouth opened the season with a close loss at Lehigh, falling 24-20.

The Big Green showed they can compete, but the road ahead in Ivy League play will demand consistency.

Week 3 Takeaways

UMass is no longer a sleeper

The Minutemen are 3-0, and the expectations are changing.

Central Connecticut belongs in the conversation

Nearly defeating Montana State on the road was one of the biggest performances of the weekend.

Maine continues to improve

The Black Bears showed they can challenge an FBS opponent.

The Ivy League changes the landscape

With Harvard, Yale, Brown and Dartmouth entering the season, New England football is officially at full strength.

Final Whistle

Three weeks into the season, the picture is becoming clearer.

Some teams are building.

Some teams are searching.

Some teams are announcing themselves.

And in New England, the story is just getting started.

The New England Saturday

From the first kickoff to the final whistle.

The New England Saturday: Week 3 Kickoff Preview

The New England Saturday: Week 3 Game of the Week Stonehill at UMass