The 2025 FCS football season is fast approaching, so we’re going inside each conference race. With Central Connecticut State and Duquesne out in front. here’s our NEC football preview.
The people who say a preseason poll doesn’t mean anything forget about the motivation it provides many teams.
Central Connecticut State was picked seventh and last by the Northeast Conference coaches before last season, then it went out and earned a share of the title and the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.
Yeah, being underrated in the preseason poll meant a little something to the Blue Devils.
NEC coaches didn’t want to make the same mistake twice, this year installing CCSU as their preseason favorite.
Mercyhurst has joined the conference schedule one year after its move into the league; This year’s newcomer, New Haven, has to wait out the same scenario this year (it will face only four NEC opponents) after joining the NEC on July 1. Chicago State will be a startup program next year.
Following is a preview of the upcoming NEC football season.
Predicted Order of Finish
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier
1. *Duquesne (8-3, 5-1) – The Dukes, under coach Jerry Schmitt, have been a part of eight NEC title seasons since 2011, but last season marked the fifth time it didn’t include the automatic playoff bid. In trying to get back them back to the postseason, former ETSU and Gardner-Webb quarterback Tyler Ridell (7,996 passing yards and 55 TD passes in his career) will be at the controls of an offense that averaged 36.7 in conference games. He has offensive weapons in running back Taj Butts and wide receiver Joey Isabella, who enters the season with a TD catch in eight straight games. Defensive end Jack Dunkley is the NEC’s top pass rusher, while defensive back Antonio Epps went from being second on the team in tackles in 2023 to first last season.
Expected win-loss projections for Northeast Conference football teams in the 2025 regular season, according to Opta Analyst advanced data. (Graphic by Graham Bell)2. Central Connecticut State (7-6, 5-1) – Coach Adam Lechtenberg’s squad boasts the last two NEC offensive players of the year in RB Elijah Howard (2024) and WR/KR Donovan Wadley (2023), a transfer from former conference member Merrimack. That seems like plenty for returning QB Brady Olson (17 TD passes to 12 interceptions), who also has offensive linemen Precious Ekah and Isaiah DeLoatch on the NEC preseason team. Cornerback Christopher Jean had a whopping eight takeaways while earning NEC rookie of the year, and linebackers Malachi Wright and Jack Stoll combined for 160 tackles.
3. Robert Morris (7-5, 4-2) – The Colonials have the advantage of facing CCSU and Duquesne at home, but their lineup will be so different from last season. The defense that posted three shutouts lost its top 10 tacklers, with DL Trey Woods the leader among returnees with 28 stops. On offense, last year’s backup QB Zach Tanner will take over the top job. Tight end Chaz Middleton and place-kicker Jayson Jenkins were named to the NEC preseason team. Plus, RB Donta Whack (UMass), WR Tyler Evans (West Virginia) and LB Jakari Patterson (Austin Peay) should be impactful transfers.
4. LIU (4-8, 3-3) – Quarterback Ethan Greenwood, who the Sharks utilize as a passer, rusher and receiver, was the second-team all-purpose selection on the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team. Behind Greenwood, the Sharks led NEC football in rushing, but WR Cory Nichols will keep getting better after catching 20 passes as a freshman. The defense features edge rusher DQ Watkins (8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks) and DB Todd Bowles Jr., the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles. The Sharks didn’t just beat CCSU last year, they have won the last four meetings.
5. Wagner (4-8, 2-4) – A gritty defense, which limited opponents to just 322.0 yards per game, fuels Wagner. The unit is anchored by LB Jordan Johnson (51 tackles) and DE Logan Barnes (7.5 TFLs), but the Seahawks also are experienced on the back end with CBs Jayden Brown and Reilly Dravet and strong safety Sam Martin. Center Brady Anderson will help lead the way for bruising RB Andre Hines Jr. (6-foot-2, 235 pounds). A new QB will target Teree McDonald (five TD receptions).
6. Saint Francis (4-7, 2-4) – This is the Red Flash’s final season in the NEC before their athletic program drops back to the Division III level, but that didn’t stop veteran coach Chris Villarrial from signing a contract extension in the offseason. They utilized three QBs last season, and each one returns, with Nick Whitfield Jr. (1,471 career passing yards) the most experienced of the trio. Like the signal-caller, RB Markell Holman (578 rushing yards, six TDs; 20 receptions) will operate behind OL Mason Imbt. Linebacker Geno Calgaro was one of the NEC’s top freshmen a year ago.
7. Mercyhurst (4-7, 0-0) – The Lakers join the NEC schedule for the first time, while their nonconference schedule is among the toughest in the FCS. They will challenge that with one of the conference’s top offensive talents, lefty QB Adam Urena, who had staggering overall numbers, although it was 250 passing yards per game with 14 TD passes against seven Division I opponents. He has a solid receivers unit with his brother Austin Urena, Rylan Davison and Chaz Davis, and leading rusher Brian Trobel also is back. D-end Jonas King hopes his production matches his 6-5, 290 size; LB Anthony Mackey is coming off a 42-tackle season.
8. Stonehill (1-10, 0-6) – The Skyhawks went 4-3 in NEC football in 2023, so last season was a step backward. Cornerback Mo Siede was this year’s lone selection on the conference preseason team after he had four interceptions and a fumble recovery a year ago. Actually, the defense returns its top five tacklers, including DB Jordan Irvine (75) and LB Charles Battaglia (70). In the 129-member FCS, the Skyhawks offense ranked 125th in both points (15.2) and yards (253.7) per game. The QB position needs settling before the season, but leading rusher Jerel Washington and leading receiver Brigham Dunphy return.
New Haven (8-3 Division II; not title-eligible) – The Chargers have entered their first D-I season off 10 straight winning seasons, but they’re under an interim coach, defensive coordinator Mark Powell. They’re facing four NEC programs, and it will become a full conference schedule next year. Transfer WR Josh Tracey (Division II Post) and RB Zaon Laney provide strength in the offensive skills positions. Defensive back Chima Opara anchors the defense, which added an influential transfer in LB Sebastian Conwell (Presbyterian).
How the NEC Predicted the Race
The 2025 @NECFootball preseason poll. pic.twitter.com/lUSOnQ4XZI
— FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) August 4, 2025Five Players to Watch
Geno Calgaro, LB Saint Francis – Averaged 8.9 tackles against NEC opponents, with a career-high 13 against CCSU. Jack Dunkley, DE, Duquesne (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – In a breakout sophomore season, Dunkley tied for the conference high with 12.5 TFLs and was second with 9.5 sacks while playing in just 11 games. Ethan Greenwood, QB, LIU (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – Posted a true slash line of 921 passing yards/913 rushing yards/144 receiving yards with 13 combined TDs. Elijah Howard, RB, Central Connecticut State (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – Was a workhorse with 19+ carries in nine of 11 games while going over 900 rushing yards for the second consecutive season. Donovan Wadley, WR, Central Connecticut State – Scored 11 TDs, including three on kick returns, while receiving 2023 NEC offensive player of the year at Merrimack. An injury limited him to four games last season.Must-See Matchups
NEC: Central Connecticut State at Duquesne (Nov. 15) – Duquesne already owned a share of the NEC title when CCSU took away the automatic playoff bid on the final Saturday of the regular season. Took away as in forcing eight turnovers. Nonconference – Lehigh at Duquesne (Sept. 13) – In a first-time matchup, Lehigh’s nationally ranked squad will be Duquesne’s first nonconference FCS opponent at Rooney Field since 2018. FBS: Wagner at Central Michigan (Sept. 20) – The Seahawks are the NEC’s most-experienced program with FBS games. They hope to catch the Chippewas napping in between matchups against Michigan and rival Eastern Michigan.NEC Football Fast Fact
In the competitive NEC, seven different programs have represented the conference in the FCS playoffs since it gained an automatic bid in 2010, with Wagner (2012) and Duquesne (2018) posting first-round wins.
(Here’s an index page to the 2025 FCS Conference Previews)
Graphic by Matt Sisneros.Top photo, from left, from Duquense, LIU and CCSU Athletics.
For more FCS football coverage, follow on social media at X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
NEC Football Predictions: Defending Champs CCSU, Duquesne Lead the Way Again Opta Analyst.
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