If you were looking for a "business as usual" year in Hamilton, you clearly weren't paying attention to the Colgate football schedule 2025. Honestly, this season felt like a fever dream for Raiders fans. It wasn't just about the games; it was about a massive identity shift. We had a new head coach, Curt Fitzpatrick, stepping in from SUNY Cortland with a national championship ring still shiny on his finger. We had a schedule that looked like a gauntlet. And we had some Friday night lights that Hamilton hadn't seen in over forty years.
Basically, if you tried to predict how 2025 would go, you probably got it wrong.
The Brutal Opening Act
The season kicked off with a literal bang. On August 29, Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium hosted a Friday night game for the first time in over four decades. It was a thriller against No. 22 Monmouth, but it ended in a heart-breaker: 42-39. The defense struggled to contain the Hawks, a theme that sorta haunted the Raiders early on.
Then came the road trip from hell.
First, a trip to Villanova on September 6. That one was a grind, ending in a 24-17 loss. But the real "welcome to the big leagues" moment was September 12 at the JMA Wireless Dome. Playing Syracuse is always a tall order, but a 66-24 blowout is a tough pill to swallow regardless of the paycheck the university gets for the appearance.
✨ Don't miss: Kurt Warner Height: What Most People Get Wrong About the QB Legend
Turning the Corner (Kinda)
Things finally clicked during Homecoming. On September 20, the Raiders took it out on Fordham, winning 44-21. It was the first sign that Fitzpatrick’s high-powered offense—the one that broke records at Cortland—could actually translate to the FCS level.
Then came the Cornell game on October 4. Is there anything better than beating Cornell in Ithaca? A 41-21 victory kept the Empire State bragging rights in Hamilton. At this point, the Colgate football schedule 2025 actually looked like it might lead to a winning record.
The New Kid on the Block: Richmond
One of the weirdest parts of the 2025 season was seeing the University of Richmond on the conference schedule. The Spiders officially joined the Patriot League this year, and their visit to Hamilton on October 11 was a defensive slugfest. Colgate lost 24-19, which really stung because it was a game they probably should have won.
The middle of October was a bit of a rollercoaster:
🔗 Read more: Juan Carlos Gabriel de Anda: Why the Controversial Sportscaster Still Matters
- Oct 18: A frustrating 21-17 loss at Georgetown.
- Oct 25: A massive 29-28 comeback win against Holy Cross in Worcester.
- Nov 1: A weirdly intense overtime win (23-20) against Merrimack for Family Weekend.
The Final Stretch and the Reality Check
November is when the cold sets in at Hamilton, and the schedule didn't get any easier. The trip to Lafayette on November 8 was a shootout that the Raiders just couldn't keep up with, falling 59-42.
Then came the Lehigh game on November 15. Lehigh was a juggernaut this year, ranked No. 4 at the time, and they absolutely stifled Colgate in a 27-7 win. It was a reminder of how far the Raiders still have to go to reach the top of the Patriot League mountain again.
However, they finished on a high note. Senior Day on November 22 against Bucknell was a clinic. A 38-19 win to cap off a 5-7 season.
Why the Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story
Looking at a 5-7 record (3-4 in conference), you might think it was a failure. It wasn't.
💡 You might also like: Ja Morant Height: Why the NBA Star Looks Bigger Than He Actually Is
Under Fitzpatrick, the offense actually moved the ball. They averaged over 400 yards per game. The problem? The defense gave up over 410 yards per game. It was "all gas, no brakes," but sometimes the brakes are actually important when you're trying to win a football game.
What Most People Got Wrong About This Season
People thought the transition from Division III to Division I FCS would be a disaster for Coach Fitzpatrick. It wasn't. The offensive schemes were brilliant. What people actually underestimated was how much the Patriot League changed with the addition of Richmond and the rise of Lehigh. The conference is deeper now.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The 2025 season was basically the foundation. If you're a Raiders fan, you're looking at that 2026 schedule with a mix of dread and excitement. Villanova joins the conference next year, which only makes the path to a title harder.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Secondary: The biggest off-season priority is fixing the pass defense. If they don't find some ball-hawking safeties in the portal, 2026 will look a lot like 2025.
- Check the 2026 Non-Conference: Keep an eye on the newly announced 2026 schedule; the Raiders are already slated to open at Fordham on August 29, 2026.
- Support the Portal: Coach Fitzpatrick has already brought in a massive recruiting class. Keep an eye on how many of those 20+ signees from December make the two-deep roster by spring ball.
The Colgate football schedule 2025 is officially in the books. It was messy, it was high-scoring, and it was never boring. That's about all you can ask for in the first year of a new era.