WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley football team is selected to place second in the Northeast-10 in fall, according the conference's preseason coaches' poll that was released Tuesday afternoon.

Bentley received 55 points in the poll, trailing only New Haven's 64.

Head coach Saj Thakkar enters his second year with Bentley after an outstanding debut season in 2023. Last year, the Falcons posted a 6-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the NE10.

Bentley entered the season finale tied with New Haven for the conference's best record. The two teams went head-to-head in Connecticut for the final game of the regular season, but the Falcons came up just short of claiming the conference crown, 24-17.

Conference coaches haven't forgotten how close Bentley is to obtaining a championship ring. The Falcons return six All-NE10 selections from 2023: defensive linemen Herve Tshibamba and Zachary Goodwin, running back Vinnie Holmes, offensive lineman Joe LoChiatto, wide receiver Rashon Bradford, and kicker Mason Campbell.

The 2024 season kicks off at West Chester, Sept. 7. The first NE10 game of the year is also the home opener, Sept. 20, against Southern Connecticut. Bentley is formally dedicating the football field to legendary coach Peter Yetten before the start of that game.

Bentley's rematch against New Haven is Sept. 27 during Falcon Weekend. The regular-season finale is at home against Saint Anselm, Nov. 16.