BEVERLY, Mass. – Executive Director of the NEWMAC, Patrick B. Summers, and Commissioner of the Conference of New England (CNE), Patrick Colbert, are excited to announce further information regarding the NEWMAC-CNE Alliance postseason bowl game.

The stage is set for the Fusion Bowl, a premier NCAA Division III football game celebrating the alliance between the CNE and the NEWMAC. This year's Fusion Bowl will take place either Friday, November 22, 2024 or Saturday, November 23, 2024. This exciting annual event will bring together top teams from the Northeast region.

The term “Fusion” encapsulates the spirit of this bowl game, uniting diverse teams and institutions through a shared commitment to excellence, leadership, and fierce competition. It represents the blending of traditions, values, and competitive spirits from both conferences, showcasing a collaborative partnership that enhances the student-athlete experience both on and off the field. This alliance not only fuels intense rivalries but also reflects a strategic effort by both conferences to provide stability in the region, ensuring a strong future for Division III football in the Northeast.

With a focus on sportsmanship, collaboration, and regional pride, the Fusion Bowl is more than just a game; it is a celebration of unity and athletic achievement in one of the most storied regions of college football.

“The Fusion Bowl is a continued evolution of the CNE and NEWMAC Football Alliance that was announced in February,” said Summers. “The goal of the alliance was to expand opportunities and experiences for our football institutions through regular season scheduling and post season play. We are excited to release the new marks for the event with the CNE and continue to grow this partnership.”

Colbert echos the sentiment from Summers. 

"An important element to our partnership was always the commitment towards providing expanded postseason opportunities for CNE and NEWMAC football programs," expressed Colbert. "The announcement of the Fusion Bowl is just a first step as we continue to operate creatively in how our bowl game can create a memorable and comprehensive experience for our student-athletes. I look forward to continuing to leverage the successes of our leagues as we work to elevate our Bowl game experiences each year." 
 
The Fusion Bowl marks were developed by New Jersey-based Skye Design Studios (SDS), a national leader in sport branding. Both conferences have a long-standing collaborative relationship with SDS, who recently completed a conference rebrand with the CNE (formerly the Commonwealth Coast Conference).

The Fusion Bowl will feature the first available team from each league, pending NCAA automatic qualifiers and at-large selections. Host sites will be determined by the conferences.

The NEWMAC has eight football members in MIT, Norwich University, Salve Regina University, Springfield College, SUNY Maritime College, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and WPI.

Currently, the CNE includes six football institutions: Curry College, Endicott College, Husson University, Nichols College, University of New England and Western New England University. Maine Maritime Academy and New England College will join the Conference as associate members for football in 2025, bringing the total to eight members.

ABOUT THE NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE OF NEW ENGLAND 
 
Originally founded in 1984 as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), and reconstituted as the Conference of New England (CNE) in 2024, the CNE is an NCAA Division III athletic conference composed of 10 full member and five associate member institutions throughout the New England region. Its membership aims to provide student-athletes with a positive experience in their pursuit of excellence through high academic standards, quality competition, and a meaningful student life. The Conference administers championships in 20 intercollegiate sports.