CFB Zeitgeist
June 22, 2026 · Dead Period · Heritage Window · 2026 Outlook

New Haven

5-5 2025 final

New Haven is the Chargers climbing into FCS for the first time — a Northeast Conference newcomer proving that the jump from D-II can be navigated with discipline and time.

The Chargers keep the faith.

Record
5-5
win% .500
D2 Top 25
Conf Standing
Playoff Path
Building résumé
Dead PeriodOffseasonPatientPost-win — basking
The Long Wait·Offseason

New Haven is the Chargers climbing into FCS for the first time — a Northeast Conference newcomer proving that the jump from D-II can be navigated with discipline and time.

Title DroughtSince 2025

New Haven's 2025 inaugural FCS season ended 5-5 overall (0-0 in conference play — still finding its footing in the NEC structure). Head coach Mark Powell established a defensive foundation in his first year. Year two will test whe…

low signal
Read the full program story ↓

Offseason

69 days

until kickoff · Sun Aug 30 · 17:00 UTC

Act I

The 2026 Outlook

The Pulse on New Haven

Quiet · dead period heritage · signal ramps back in camp
The Chargers keep the faith.

What moved it — offseason · last 30 days

June Dead-period quiet — official-visit + heritage window
Camp Fall camp ~40 days out
"Go Chargers." — New Haven fanbase · recurring line
3 mentions · awaiting signal

Aspiration Ladder

Brief Part III §33.4 · New Haven

Winning record

The baseline for a successful season.

Conference title

Earns a Super Region playoff qualifier bid.

Super Region qualifierLocked

Entry into the 32-team national bracket.

McKinney, TXLocked

The Division II national championship game.

New Haven · Next-Season Outcome Band

Floor / Base / Ceiling

floor3-9Rebuild year. Below .500.
base5-7Mid-table finish.
ceiling8-4Conference title race. Bracket qualifier in range.

Variance assumed at ±2 wins from last-season record. Replace with the season-path projection once preview data is built.

Act II

Who We Are

D2 Program Prestige · New Haven

Power Program

D2 Perennial Power — McKinney contender, defines the conference landscape.

T1Regional
T2Mid-Major
T3Power
T4National
T5Blue Blood
T6Dynasty
T7All-Time

Fanbase Health Index · New Haven · medium confidence

Stable (49)

DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 5-5 (50% win rate)58
Volume — 3 effective signal-N40

Home-Field Advantage · New Haven · 2018-present

Elite

88% home win rate vs 53% on the road. margin runs +20.8 better at home.

Home23-3Away15-13
Act III

Last Season Reviewed

2025 season · tap to expand

Recent Form · last 10 games

Mixed

Three of five. Trending up, not yet hot.

Streak W1Last 5 · 3-2Last 10 · 5-5

Northeast 10 Standing · 2025

4th in the Northeast 10

New Haven sits 4th of 9 in the Northeast 10 at 5-5. Mid-conference — moves up or down depend on rivalry results and the late-season closing run.

#ProgramRecord
1Assumption9-3
2Bentley7-4
3Franklin Pierce6-4
4New Haven5-5
5St. Anselm5-5
6Post University4-6
7Southern Connecticut State4-6
8American International2-8
9Pace0-11

Schedule Strength · New Haven · 2025

Soft

Average opponent win rate 41% across 10 finalized games. Lighter schedule — the committee weighs wins against strength of field.

Opp Win %0.413

Moment of the Year · New Haven · 2025

Won 28-14 vs Pace

Week 6 of 2025. The single game that defined the season's arc.

Decisive Margin

Postseason History

Recent postseason (2023): 0-1

Most recent: 2023 — loss 52-44 (away). Last 5 postseason: 0-1.

2023

From the Archive — New Haven

2025: Lost 14-48 at Mercyhurst

In 2025, the program lost 14-48 at Mercyhurst — a stinging road result, 34 points either way.

Go Chargers.