This is the teams’ first meeting
Coastal Carolina
Strength: Defensive line. Coastal has experience and talent on the defensive line with the return of Marcus Williamson, Ja’Ree Tolbert, Dwayne Price and Myles White.
Weakness: Quarterback. The Chanticleers have six listed as potential starters on the depth chart, including 2016 season-opening starter Josh Stilley and Myrtle Beach High product Tyler Keane, but none have won the job outright.
Massachusetts
Strength: Head coaching experience. Mark Whipple is in his 10th season at Massachusetts and 20th season as a head coach overall, and is 57-55 at UMass and 129-87 including stints at New Haven and his alma mater Brown.