BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University football team has been picked to finish in second place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) standings as the 2024 MASCAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll was released today by conference director of media relations, Emily Loux.

The Bears received 68 points in the poll including one first-place votes.Three-time defending MASCAC champion UMass Dartmouth is the preseason favorite to capture the conference title. The Corsairs paced the field with 81 points and nine first-place votes. The Buccaneers of Massachusetts Maritime Academy rounded out the top three teams in the poll with 56 points.

Under the guidance of head coach Joe Verria (9th Year), the Bridgewater State football team will look to improve upon on a .500 2024 campaign. The Bears went 5-5 last season and tied for third in the MASCAC standings with a 5-4 conference mark.

Returning All-MASCAC selections Brandon Medeiros (Sr., DB, Somerset, Mass.), Joey Naso (Sr., K, Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) and Matthew Rinta (Sr. FB, West Wareham, Mass.) will help lead the Bears in 2024. Medeiros and Naso each garnered All-MASCAC First Team accolades a year ago, while Rinta was a second team honoree.

The 2025 campaign gets underway on Friday, September 5th when the Bears travel to Curry College for a six o'clock non-conference game with the Colonels.

Bridgewater State will begin MASCAC play on Saturday, September 13th as the Bears welcome Westfield State University to Mazzaferro. Kick-off for the home opener is slated for 2:30.

The 2025 Homecoming Game on Saturday, October 18th (4:00 PM) will feature MASCAC opponent Dean College.

The regular season culminates with the annual Cranberry Bowl game versus conference rival Mass. Maritime. The 46th version of the Cranberry Bowl will take place at Clean Harbors Stadium in Buzzards Bay on Saturday, November 15th at noon.

Please check the Bears' online schedule for Live Stats and/or Webcast links for all games.