Ricky Santos guided UNH football to the playoffs last season. (File photo)

DURHAM – The University of New Hampshire football team, led by fourth-year head coach Rick Santos, was picked fifth in the 2025 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish that was released by the conference prior to Media Day on Wednesday.

The Wildcats, who tied for third place in the final 2024 CAA standings and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs, received 119 points in the predicted order of finish to place behind the University of Rhode Island (163 points; eight first-place votes), Monmouth University (142; four), Villanova University (139; two) and Stony Brook University (125).

“Making the playoffs every year is one of the programmatic goals that we strive to, we want to have a national presence and we’re really excited to go into this year,” Santos stated in his opening media day remarks. “It’s probably the youngest team that I’ve ever been a part of. There are some unknowns, there is some uncertainty but I think when you go into a season like that, it’s really exciting and we look at it as an opportunity for growth.

“Through spring practice and what we’ve been doing in the summer has been elite and I’ve been really happy with it. Some young guys are gonna step up and some transfers we brought in are going to vie for meaningful positions as well.”

Senior wide receiver Caleb Burke (Johnstown, Pa.) received Honorable Mention recognition in voting for the CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team. Burke ranked second on the team in receptions, receiving yards and TD receptions, as well as third in all-purpose yards, last season.

UNH is followed in the CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish by Towson University (108), College of William & Mary (104), Elon University (98), University of Maine (71), Campbell University (53), Hampton University (50), UAlbany (47), Bryant University (32) and North Carolina A&T (23).

New Hampshire kicks off the 2025 season Aug. 30 (6 p.m.) at NC Central and the home opener is Sept. 6 (6 p.m.) against College of the Holy Cross.