NORTH ANDOVER — Last fall, Merrimack College football opened its schedule with Division 1 behemoths Air Force, UConn and Bucknell University.
The schedule for this upcoming 2025 season is equally interesting and action-packed with two road games — against Kent State, to open the season on Aug. 30, and at Kennesaw (Ga.) State, sandwiched around a home game against former NE-10 rival Saint Anselm.
A noted program in previous years, Kent State didn’t win a game last fall (0-12), but their schedule featured some of the nation’s top programs including Pitt, Tennessee and Penn State.
Kent State, by the way, is alma mater of ex-New England Patriots great Julian Edelman, who played quarterback there before being moved to slot receiver by the Patriots.
The home opener for Merrimack will be on Sept. 6 against Saint Anselm (5-5). The teams have faced one another 22 times since 1999.
“I’m really excited for the 2025 season,” said second-year head coach Mike Gennetti. “Our administration put together an incredible schedule that’s filled with great teams from the Northeast. We’ll again have two FBS opponents early in the season in Kent State and Kennesaw State. I believe this schedule will challenge our players from start to finish.”
Week 3 will feature another long road trip, going to Georgia to face Kennesaw State (2-10) for the first time in program history.
The other nine games will feature some familiar foes, including Robert Morris (homecoming on Oct. 4), UMaine, Colgate, Sacred Heart, Fordham and Harvard.
The new additions to the schedule will be Central Connecticut St. and Stony Brook.
“Stony Brook finished 8-4 in the CAA last year, and Central Connecticut won the NEC championship. Harvard also was an Ivy League champion, so we have our hands full to say the least,” said Gennetti.
Merrimack beat CCSU in 2023. Last year, the Warriors defeated Colgate (51-17) and Fordham (19-3), but lost to Robert Morris (6-0), UMaine (26-15) and Sacred Heart (31-20).
Merrimack last faced Harvard in 2022, losing 28-21 in overtime after the Warriors blew a 21-7 lead late in the fourth quarter.
This year the two teams will meet again in Cambridge on Sat., Oct. 18.
The Warriors will have two byes on the weekends of Oct. 25 and Nov. 8.