Bridgewater, NJ -- Northeast Conference (NEC) football is gearing up for its annual splash on national airwaves, and for the first time, fans can also look forward to regional coverage of the action.

For the 13th consecutive season, the NEC is partnering with ESPN to deliver a four-game package on ESPN+. To enhance the coverage, select games will also be broadcast on YES Network, NESN and SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Two of these games will air exclusively on ESPN+, starting with the package opener, where NEC newcomer Mercyhurst travels to Moon Township to face Robert Morris in a noon kickoff. For longtime conference football aficionados, RMU needs no reintroduction. As a key player in launching NEC football in 1996, the Colonials won the first five conference titles and claimed their sixth NEC crown in 2010. RMU returned to the NEC as an associate member in an announcement made last November. For Mercyhurst, which was welcomed as a full-time conference member in April, this game marks their inaugural NEC matchup.

The action resumes three weeks later when Wagner visits Stonehill on October 5 for a 1:00 p.m. showdown in Easton, MA. The game will be available on ESPN+, and will also be broadcast on YES Network and the YES Network app, as well as SportsNet Pittsburgh (SNP) and NESN 360, boosting the NEC’s presence across its football footprint. With victories in three of their last four games last season, including delivering Duquesne its only conference defeat, the Skyhawks not only doubled their conference win total from 2022, but also finished tied for second place in their second year as a DI and NEC member. Coming off the program's most successful campaign since 2018, Wagner knocked off Stonehill in last year's meeting in Staten Island.

A marquee matchup awaits the following week as defending NEC champion Duquesne visits western Pennsylvania rival Saint Francis U on October 12. The ESPN+ exclusive game is set to kickoff at noon in Loretto, PA. Chosen as the prohibitve preseason favorite, the Dukes are targeting a record-breaking seventh NEC title and their ninth winning season in the last decade. Meanwhile, the Red Flash, who were picked second in the preseason rankings, finished the 2023 season tied for second place. All three of their defeats were by three points or fewer, including a narrow three-point loss to Duquesne last October.

The TV finale is set for October 26 in Brookville, with LIU playing host to CCSU at noon. The game will air concurrently on ESPN+, YES, SNP+ and NESN 360 at noon. LIU closed out its 2023 campaign on a high note, winning three of its last four outings to finish in a four-way tie for second place with a 4-3 mark. CCSU, which last claimed the NEC title in 2019, is looking to bounce back in its second year under head coach Adam Lechtenberg. The previous matchup between these teams was a nailbiter, with the Sharks narrowly posting a 24-23 over the Blue Devils in New Britain last October.

“We’re thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with ESPN and to further elevate NEC football through expanded regional coverage,” said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. “By teaming up with YES Network, NESN and SportsNet Pittsburgh, we’re not only broadening our reach but also providing more opportunities for fans to connect with our teams. We look forward to showcasing the fierce competitive spirit of our student-athletes this season as we anticipate a thrilling race to the wire for the NEC crown."

2024 NEC Football TV Schedule
Sept. 14 - Mercyhurst at Robert Morris, 12 pm - ESPN+ exclusive
Oct. 5 - Wagner at Stonehill, 1 pm - ESPN+, YES Network, SportsNet Pittsburgh, NESN 360
Oct. 12 - Duquesne at Saint Francis U, 12 pm - ESPN+ exclusive
Oct. 26 - CCSU at LIU, 12 pm - ESPN+, YES Network, SportsNet Pittsburgh+, NESN 360

Long-time play-by-play announcer Paul Dottino will be back in the broadcast booth, alongside color analyst Kevin Gilbride, a two-time Super Bowl champion coach with the New York Giants. Craig D'Amico, the host of the NEC on the Run football podcast, will also handle play-by-play duties.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ provides direct-to-consumer streaming, allowing fans to subscribe for just $10.99 a month, or $109.99 per year with an ESPN+ Annual Plan. Subscribers can also bundle ESPN+ (With Ads) with Disney+ (With Ads) and Hulu (With Ads) for $14.99 per month. ESPN+ content is available to stream in HD through the ESPN App on your favorite connected devices (living room devices, phone, tablet, computer, smart TV) and on ESPN.com.

About YES Network
The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country for 18 of the last 20 years, owns the exclusive regional media rights of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty. YES, which has earned 146 Emmy Awards since its 2002 launch, also televises original biography, interview and magazine programs, college sports and Manchester City and AC Milan soccer. YES made the list of Forbes’ top 10 most valuable sports business brands in the world for nine straight years.

About NESN
NESN is consistently one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage. NESN and NESN+ are delivered throughout the six-state New England region and are available anytime, anywhere, on any device on the NESN 360 app via direct subscription or TV authentication. The network is also distributed nationally as NESN National. NESN.com is one of the country’s most visited sports websites with dedicated digital video production and always-on news coverage. NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in the Greater Boston community. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins). 

Follow @NESN on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to stay up to date on the latest New England sports news.

About SportsNet Pittsburgh
SportsNet Pittsburgh is the television and streaming home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins, in addition to other local professional and collegiate sporting events. The network is jointly owned by the Penguins and Pirates, and daily operations of the network is managed by NESN. 

Fans can watch games with their TV provider on SportsNet Pittsburgh and SportsNet Pittsburgh+. Local fans can also access games via SportsNet Pittsburgh’s streaming service, SNP 360, by logging in with their TV provider or subscribing directly at www.GetSNP360.com.  

For the latest news and programming updates from SportsNet Pittsburgh, follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.

About the Northeast Conference
Now entering its 44th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#8). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#87). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.