Note: Due to COVID-19, the Northeast suspended the 2020 football season. * – Merrimack ineligible for NEC title and FCS postseason play due to transition to NCAA Division I Central Connecticut and Saint Francis (PA) opted out of the spring season.
Sacred Heart entered the game with a 3–1 record. Sacred Heart had been the Northeastern Conference champions 4 times prior in 2001, 2013, 2014, and 2018.[2]
Duquesne entered the game with a 4–0 record, claiming home field advantage in the game by virtue of their better record.[3] Sacred Heart had been the Northeastern Conference champions 5 times prior in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2018.[4]