Saint Francis enters the 2019 football season with the bitter taste of an overtime national semi-final loss that halted the Cougars’ pursuit of a third consecutive NAIA championship. That defeat has served as offseason motivation for USF, which finds itself at No. 3 in the preseason polls. On offense, quarterback Matt Crable returns, as does an experienced wide receiver corps that can rack up yards. The defense lost significant contributors on last year’s team to graduation; but high expectations and continued development have helped newer, younger guys get up to speed. Saint Francis opens the season with an away game at St. Francis of Illinois, a bye week, on the road at Robert Morris, then the home opener September 28.