NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – Merrimack and Sacred Heart jointly announced today their football programs will compete for The Yankee Conference Championship presented by LEONA during the November 16th matchup hosted at Merrimack.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for the Merrimack College football program," said Merrimack Director of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. "We are proud to be able to compete against Sacred Heart University for The Yankee Conference Championship, a brand that carries such strong history and tradition in Division I college football."
"We are excited to be a part of The Yankee Conference Championship game," said Sacred Heart Director of Athletics Judy Ann Riccio. "It will be a wonderful experience for our student-athletes to compete for the historic trophy. We have developed a great rivalry with Merrimack College, having several significant and exciting games in recent years. This game will be a monumental conclusion to the 2024 football season."
Originally formed in 1946 and later transitioning to a football-only league in 1976, The Yankee Conference consisted of various members spanning the New England to Mid-Atlantic region competing at the Division I-AA level, now known as the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Throughout its 50-year history, The Yankee Conference crowned 10 different football champions, with Massachusetts Amherst claiming the most out-right and co-championships (17), while William & Mary is the defending champion after its 28-13 victory over Richmond on November 16, 1996.
Scheduled for a Noon Eastern Time kickoff at Duane Stadium, the winner will be crowned as The Yankee Conference Champion and claim possession of the historic trophy until the 2025 matchup at Sacred Heart.
"We're thrilled to be the title partner of The Yankee Conference Championship game," said LEONA President Dan Gale. "Being from South Jersey and growing up listening to Yankee Conference games on the radio, it's an honor to play a role in the revitalization of such history. It's great to support these student-athletes as they work tirelessly all season long and give their teams an opportunity to play for a championship."
Ticket information will be released at a later date. Be sure to follow @Merrimack_FB and @SHU__Football on X throughout the season in preparation for and more updates on The Yankee Conference Championship presented by LEONA.
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