If you're looking for the Holy Cross football team on a Saturday afternoon, you won't find them in the SEC. You won't see them grinding it out in the Big Ten either. But don't let the lack of massive TV deals fool you. The Holy Cross university football division is a very specific, high-stakes corner of the college sports world known as the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Specifically, they play in the Patriot League.
It's a weird spot to be in sometimes. You've got a program with a national championship history—way back in 1946—playing in a league that prides itself on "academic integrity" as much as it does on touchdowns. For a long time, the Patriot League didn't even allow athletic scholarships. That changed around 2013, and honestly, it saved the program from fading into total obscurity.
Understanding the Holy Cross University Football Division Hierarchy
Let's get the technical stuff out of the way. When we talk about the Holy Cross university football division, we are talking about Division I. However, Division I is split. You have the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivison) where the Alabamas and Texas Longhorns of the world live. Then you have the FCS.
Holy Cross is a powerhouse in the FCS.
The difference isn't just about the size of the stadium or the amount of NIL money floating around. It's about the playoff structure. While the FBS spent decades arguing over polls and four-team brackets, the FCS—and by extension, Holy Cross—has always used a 24-team bracket to decide a champion on the field. It’s gritty. It’s authentic. It feels like real football.
The Patriot League Grind
Playing in the Patriot League means Holy Cross squares off against schools like Lehigh, Lafayette, Colgate, and Bucknell. These are high-academic institutions. For a student-athlete at Worcester, the "student" part isn't just a marketing slogan. They have to actually go to class.
Former head coach Bob Chesney, who recently moved on to James Madison, really put this program back on the map. He proved that you could win at a high level without compromising the school's rigorous standards. Under his tenure, the Crusaders ripped off five straight Patriot League titles. Five. That’s dominance in any division.
Why Not Move Up to the FBS?
You hear this question a lot in Worcester bars. Why doesn't Holy Cross just jump to the FBS? Other schools have done it. Look at James Madison, Coastal Carolina, or Liberty.
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It’s about money and identity.
The Holy Cross university football division choice is intentional. Fitton Field holds about 23,500 people. To compete in the FBS, you need massive infrastructure, a significantly larger athletic budget, and a willingness to play games on Tuesday nights for ESPN2 viewership. Holy Cross seems comfortable where they are. They prioritize the rivalry with Boston College—which they played annually for decades—and the traditional feel of New England football.
Besides, being a big fish in the FCS pond has its perks. When you're winning conference titles every year and making deep playoff runs, your recruitment stays hot. High school kids want to play for winners. They also want a degree from a school that carries weight on a resume.
The Scholarship Shift that Changed Everything
Before 2013, the Patriot League was strictly "need-based" financial aid. It was basically Ivy League Lite. This meant Holy Cross was often losing out on top-tier talent because they couldn't offer a full ride.
Once the league pivoted to allow athletic scholarships, the quality of play skyrocketed.
Suddenly, Holy Cross could go head-to-head with programs in the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) for recruits. You started seeing guys like dual-threat quarterback Matthew Sluka or linebacker Jacob Dobbs—players who could have easily played at a "higher" level—choosing Worcester. These players became the backbone of a team that wasn't just good for the Patriot League, but was nationally ranked in the FCS Top 10.
Life in the FCS Top 25
Being a top-ranked team in the Holy Cross university football division means you're often the hunted. In 2022, the Crusaders went undefeated in the regular season. That’s incredibly hard to do, regardless of what division you're in. They beat an FBS opponent (Buffalo) on a literal Hail Mary.
That game against Buffalo is the perfect example of why the FCS vs. FBS distinction is sometimes blurry. On any given Saturday, a well-coached FCS team with a veteran quarterback can wreck a mid-tier FBS team's season.
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The Challenges of the Transfer Portal
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. The transfer portal.
Because Holy Cross is in the FCS, they have become a "scouting ground" for bigger schools. When a player shines at Holy Cross, the big Power 4 programs come calling with NIL deals. It’s frustrating for fans. You watch a kid grow for three years, and then he leaves for his final year of eligibility to play in the ACC or Big 12.
Matthew Sluka is the prime example. After becoming one of the most exciting players in Holy Cross history, he headed to UNLV. It’s a reality of the modern Holy Cross university football division experience. The school has to constantly rebuild and find "diamonds in the rough" who can play at an elite level but were overlooked by the recruiting giants.
The New Era Under Dan Curran
With Bob Chesney heading south, the program is now under the guidance of Dan Curran. Curran came over from Merrimack, and he knows the New England recruiting landscape better than almost anyone.
The transition is a pivot point.
Will Holy Cross maintain its stranglehold on the Patriot League? Or will the loss of a generational coaching staff and key players to the portal lead to a regression? Most experts think the foundation is too strong to crumble. The culture at Fitton Field is built on a specific type of toughness that doesn't just disappear overnight.
What to Expect If You're Following the Crusaders
If you're new to following the Holy Cross university football division, here is what the calendar looks like. The season starts in late August or early September. The "Holy Grail" of the schedule is usually the game against Lafayette or the occasional "home" game at Polar Park in downtown Worcester.
- The Patriot League Schedule: This is the meat and potatoes. Winning the league gets you an automatic bid to the playoffs.
- The FCS Playoffs: This happens in late November and December. It’s a single-elimination tournament. It is brutal, cold, and amazing.
- The Rivalries: Keep an eye on the Fordham game. It’s often a shootout and usually has massive implications for the conference standings.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Students
If you're trying to navigate the world of Holy Cross football, keep these three things in mind.
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First, don't sleep on the FCS playoffs. It is arguably the most "pure" playoff system in college football. If Holy Cross is in it, clear your Saturday. The atmosphere at Fitton Field during a playoff game is electric, even if it's 20 degrees out.
Second, pay attention to the recruiting classes. Because of the scholarship rules, Holy Cross is now pulling kids who have 3-star ratings and multiple FBS offers. The talent gap between the bottom of the FBS and the top of the Holy Cross university football division is basically non-existent.
Third, understand the academic commitment. If you're a student-athlete or a parent, know that Holy Cross has one of the highest Graduation Success Rates (GSR) in the country. They aren't just "playing school."
The Crusaders are in a unique position. They are a small, Jesuit liberal arts college that happens to play a brand of football that can compete with almost anyone. They’ve embraced the FCS identity, and honestly, it’s the best thing they ever did. They aren't trying to be something they aren't. They are just trying to be the best in their division, and lately, they've been doing exactly that.
The move to add Dan Curran and the continued investment in the program suggests that Holy Cross isn't looking to slow down. They are the standard-bearer for the Patriot League. If you want to see what high-level, disciplined, and passionate college football looks like without the corporate sheen of the NFL-lite conferences, this is where you find it.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal entries this spring and the early season non-conference matchups. Those games will tell you everything you need to know about whether the Crusaders can maintain their dominance in the FCS world.
Next Steps for Following the Crusaders
- Check the NCAA FCS Rankings: Use the Stats Perform or AFCA Coaches Poll to see where Holy Cross sits nationally.
- Monitor the Patriot League Standings: The path to the playoffs always runs through the league title.
- Visit Fitton Field: If you’re in New England, catching a game in person is the only way to truly understand the scale of the program.