Central Connecticut State University’s football team is aiming to repeat as the Northeast Conference champions following their impressive run last year. But after posting an undefeated conference record, the Blue Devils have a target on their backs.

Though only in-conference record determines who wins the conference, non-conference games are crucial for team-building in order to vie for the NEC crown.

Central has had a rocky start to the season as they are 1-2 but they are in a similar situation as last year, where they began 0-3 before they went on an eight-game winning streak to win the conference.

The Blue Devils are led by senior quarterback Jacob Dolegala who is close to 600 yards through three games and has thrown three touchdowns. If they hope to repeat as champions, they will have to play better on all aspects of the game.

Other teams in the conference are off to a good start, like the Sacred Heart Pioneers, who were projected to finish sixth in the NEC.

Although they did not have a game week three, they are undefeated at 2-0 on the season.

Led by a dominant offense that is averaging over 400 yards per game, and more specifically led by senior running back Jordan Meachum who has 310 yards on 45 carries and a touchdown so far.

The Pioneers are not too shabby on defense as well as they are only allowing 10 points per game through their first two games.

They look to kick off conference play in week four against the Wagner Seahawks, who are not off to a hot start as their defense has allowed 44 points per game through three games and they are 1-2 as a result. One expected loss came at the hands of FBS opponent Syracuse.

The two other teams who sit atop the standings currently are the Duquesne Dukes and Bryant Bulldogs, with Duquesne sitting at 3-1 and Bryant at 2-1.

Duquesne has already played four games and has won three of them, led by their offense and a heavy focus on the running game.

They were projected to finish second in the conference this year and they are looking like they are the real deal.

Bryant, on the other hand, is led by a lethal passing attack who has already put up 889 passing yards and nine touchdowns. If a team hopes to beat Bryant, redshirt senior quarterback Price Wilson is going to be the focus of its defensive game plan.

A real threat to the crown this season comes in the form of Saint Francis University.

The Red Flash are 1-2 but could easily be 3-0 as they have lost two games by a total of just 10 points.

Led by a veteran graduate transfer quarterback Bear Fenimore, who is in his second year with the Red Flash, previously with the University of Houston, they have put up 30.33 points per game while only allowing 23.33.

Fenimore being a big contributor to the offense as he has 651 yards passing, five touchdowns to just two interceptions, all while completing 58.24 percent of his passes.

Robert Morris is the team who is struggling the most so far as they are 1-2 while allowing 525 yards to opposing offenses and 47 PPG through three games.

Conference play has yet to kick off, but with most teams playing at least three games, there is already an idea of what to expect. The race to the NEC championship begins shortly and time will tell who rises to the challenge.