(Graphic courtesy of UNH Athletics)

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of New Hampshire football team, under the leadership of head coach Rick Santos, will kick off the 2025 season Aug. 30 at North Carolina Central and play the first of five home games Sept. 6 against College of the Holy Cross. The announcement was made Wednesday in conjunction of the release of the 2025 CAA Football schedule.

UNH advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the 16th time in 20 years when the Wildcats were awarded the 16th seed of the 2024 FCS Championships. The ‘Cats will play a 12-game schedule in 2025 with a split of five at Wildcat Stadium and seven on the road.

New Hampshire opens the 2025 season by making its first ever visit to N.C. Central; the previous meeting between the teams was at Wildcat Stadium in 2022.

UNH welcomes Holy Cross to Wildcat Stadium for the Sept. 6 home opener, and then the ‘Cats are back on the road to play FBS school Ball State University (Sept. 13).

The Granite State rivalry is renewed Sept. 20 at Dartmouth College. UNH has won each of the last two matchups to take a 21-19-2 edge in the series. The Wildcats won 24-7 in Wildcat Stadium in 2023 and prevailed 14-0 in the most recent game at DC’s Memorial Field in 2022.

UNH begins CAA conference play Sept. 27 home against UAlbany and welcomes the Wildcats of Villanova University to Durham on Oct. 4.

New Hampshire plays back-to-back road games at the University of Rhode Island (Oct. 11) and Campbell University (Oct. 18) for the 98th meeting against the Rams and first ever game against the Fighting Camels, respectively. Campbell became a CAA member in 2023.

UNH and the College of William & Mary will battle at Wildcat Stadium on Oct. 25. These programs have not met since 2017, and it will be the Tribe’s first trip to Durham since 2106. The ‘Cats prevailed in both 2017 (35-16) and 2016 (21-12).

Following an open week, New Hampshire plays consecutive road games against Monmouth University (Nov. 8) and Bryant University (Nov. 15) – it will be UNH’s first trip to Bryant’s Beirne Stadium.

UNH ends the regular season with the annual Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket – and Border Battle presented by Buffalo Wild Wings – against Maine at Wildcat Stadium on Nov. 22. New Hampshire retained the musket this past November with a 27-9 win in Orono.