Week #1

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Game of the Week

WESLEYAN at MIDDLEBURY   1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 31, Middlebury 17 @Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

When Middlebury has the ball: With the Panthers breaking in a new QB, they will likely feature RB Connor McClellan, who is the league returning rushing leader.  Can the new faces on the Wesleyan front seven control the Panther running game?

When Wesleyan has the ball: The Cardinals return the offensive player of the league at QB and two 1^st team wideouts, so expect Wesleyan to attack the Panthers through the air.  Can the Middlebury secondary, which finished 8^th in pass yardage yielded in ’25, slow the Cardinal passing game?  

Bigger picture: This match-up is between the last three champions in the NESCAC, with Wesleyan winning in ’24 and ’25, and Middlebury taking the crown in ’23.  This game is a key early test for both teams.

The Rest of the Slate

COLBY at TRINITY   1pm

Last Game: Colby 13, Trinity 6 @Colby  

Last Five: Trinity 4-1 

When Trinity has the ball: The Bantams will likely attack Colby on the ground, leveraging a host of talented backs against an inexperienced Colby front.  Can Colby’s front seven, which returns just two starters, hold up against the Trinity rushers?

When Colby has the ball:  Trinity’s deep and talented front seven poses a tough match-up the Mules, who would ideally like to be run heavy.  Can Colby’s quarterback find some level of success through the air?     

Bigger Picture: Last season, Colby beat Trinity in the opener and snapped a 13-game losing streak that dated back to 1995.  Trinity will be looking to return the favor in their way to a title chase, while Colby will look to build on their successful ’25 season.

BOWDOIN at WILLIAMS at 1 pm

Last Game: Williams 35, Bowdoin 17 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Williams 4-1

When Bowdoin has the ball: Expect the Polar Bears to attack Williams through the air, with experience back at quarterback and wide receiver.  Can the Ephs, who struggled with pass defense ’25, show improvement in the opener?

When Williams has the ball: Williams has been a “run heavy” offense, so expect a healthy dose of running plays in their opener.  Can the new feature back for the Ephs continue their running success against an experienced Bowdoin front seven?

Bigger Picture: Williams has beaten Bowdoin in 7 of their last 8 meetings, and a win is paramount in their championship quest.  For Bowdoin, the opener provides a good barometer of the growth of their young corps of starters.

BATES at AMHERST  1pm

Last Game: Bates 26, Amherst 23 (2OT) @ Bates

Last Five: Amherst 3-2

When Amherst has the ball: One would expect the Mammoths to favor the running game against Bates, as Amherst is breaking in new wideouts and the Bobcats have a veteran secondary.  Can the Bates defensive line limit the Mammoth run game?

When Bates has the ball: Bates leans heavily on the running game, but Amherst has a strong front seven.  Can the Bobcats find an effective and efficient passing game against the new starters in the Amherst deep patrol?

Bigger Picture: Amherst has historically been dominant against Bates but lost to the Bobcats in double overtime last year.  The game will gauge the improvement of two key NESCAC storylines: the talented Amherst QB Marek Hill and an improving and experienced Bates defense.

HAMILTON at TUFTS   1pm

Last Game: Tufts 38, Hamilton 28  @ Hamilton

Last Five: Tufts 4-1

When Hamilton has the ball: Expect Hamilton to lean heavily on dual threat QB Luke Kurzum.  Can Tufts’ front seven, which finished 7^th in rushing yards yielded in ’25, slow Kurzum and the Continental rushing offense?

When Tufts has the ball: The Jumbos feature a balanced attack with a mobile QB, a top running back and productive wideouts.  Can Hamilton show improvement on the defensive side of the ball in the opener?

Bigger Picture: Tufts win just 4 games a year ago after several impressive seasons, so this game is critical to win to start the season.  Hamilton will look to build on its offensive improvement in ’25 in this opener.

Week #2

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Game of the Week

TUFTS (1-0) at WESLEYAN (1-0)  1:30pm

Last Game: Tufts 22, Wesleyan 20 @ Tufts

Last Five: Wesleyan 3-2

When Tufts has the ball: Tufts showed a balanced attack against Hamilton, so will likely take that approach against Wesleyan.  Can Tufts find success on the ground against a Cardinal defense that limited Middlebury a week ago?

When Wesleyan has the ball: Wesleyan has a very efficient and potent passing attack, so expect them to attack through the air.  Can The Jumbos quality corners keep pace with the Cardinal receivers?

Bigger Picture: Tufts has had success against Wesleyan including beating the Cardinals a year ago in Somerville.  This game provides a good measuring stick on where Tufts stands as Wesleyan looks to defend their crown.

The Rest of the Slate

MIDDLEBURY (0-1) at BOWDOIN (0-1)  1pm

Last Game: Middlebury 31, Bowdoin 10 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 5-0

When Middlebury has the ball: One would expect the Panthers to lean on their running game, but Bowdoin’s defense looked solid against Williams.  Can Connor McClellan get on track against a decorated Polar Bear front?

When Bowdoin has the ball: Bowdoin’s offense struggled against Williams.  Can the young Polar Bear offense generate an effective passing game against the Panther secondary?

Bigger Picture:

The Panthers currently enjoy an 11-game win streak over Bowdoin, with the Polar Bears winning last in 2009.  Middlebury needs to get a win in Brunswick to improve on last season’s win total, while Bowdoin will get an opportunity to show growth from their young team.

WILLIAMS (1-0) at COLBY (0-1)  1pm

Last Game: Williams 38, Colby 0 @ Williams

Last Five: Williams 4-1

When Williams has the ball: With QB Owen Johansen out, QB Owen McHugh, who played in 17 games over the ’23 and ’24 seasons, is back from injury to take the reins for the Ephs.  Can McHugh make plays when needed through the air against a strong Mule secondary?

When Colby has the ball: The Mules offense struggled in their opener with a new quarterback facing a stingy Trinity defense.  Can Colby show improvement on offense in their home opener?

Bigger Picture: Williams entered the year with title aspirations in large part due to Johansen’s strong play at QB and now pivots to an experienced option in McHugh.  Colby will look for improvement from their slew of new starters.

AMHERST (1-0) at HAMILTON (0-1)  1pm

Last Game: Amherst 23, Hamilton 13 @ Amherst

Last Five: Amherst 4-1

 When Hamilton has the ball: The Continentals lean heavily on their passing game, coming off a 346 passing yard day against Tufts.  Can Amherst’s strong pass rush and secondary slow Hamilton’s aerial assault?

 When Amherst has the ball: The Mammoths’ offense was underwhelming against Bates and needs to be more efficient in the passing game.  Will Amherst’s offense show improvement against a struggling Hamilton defense?

 Bigger Picture: Amherst found a way to beat Bates, and a win over Hamilton is critical if they have sights on a winning season.  The Continentals will be looking to find improvement in their running game and defense in their home opener.

TRINITY (1-0) at BATES (0-1)  1pm

Last Game: Trinity 30, Bates 13 @ Bates

Last Five: Trinity 5-0

When Trinity has the ball: The Bantams showed a very efficient and balanced attack last week, and one would expect more of the same Saturday.  Can Bates, with an improved defense, slow Trinity’s offense?

When Bates has the ball: The loss of RB Ryan Lynskey to injury will hamper the Bobcat offense.  Can Bates find offensive success with a young QB against a veteran Trinity front seven?

Bigger Picture:

Trinity has a 29-game winning streak against Bates, with the Bobcats last winning in 1979.  This game appears to be tall order for Bates as the Bantams look make a run at the NESCAC crown.

Week #3 

Saturday, October 3, 2026

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week #2

1. 1. Wesleyan (2-0)
   2. Trinity (2-0)
   3. Amherst (2-0)
   4. Williams (2-0)
   5. Middlebury (1-1)
   6. Tufts (1-1)
   7. Colby (0-2)
   8. Bowdoin (0-2)
   9. Hamilton (0-2)
   10. Bates (0-2)

1-Wesleyan (2-0)

The Cardinals have been as dominant as expected in their opening games, beating Middlebury and Tufts handily.  The passing game which features the league’s returning Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback and two first team wide receivers has been potent and efficient: QB Matt Fitzsimons has completed a ridiculous 78.9% of his passes in the first two contests.  RB Matt Diaz is emerging to provide the Cardinals with yet another threat; he had 98 yards rushing against Tufts.  The defense has complimented the offense well and sits in the top three in the league in scoring and yardage yielded after facing two talented offenses.  DB Tommy Kilroy is emerging as an impactful defender: he has ten tackles, a pick six and a pass breakup.   The Cardinals face Hamilton, Colby and Bates in their next three games, before a challenging slate to close the year.  I have Wesleyan just a tick above Trinity based on their harder early schedule.

2-Trinity (2-0)

Trinity rolled over Colby and Bates to open their season.  The Bantams averaged 504 yards per game and have been balanced: 240 yards on the ground and 264 through the air.  QB Jaxon Carroll has been good, while RB Jack Tosone has 116 yards rushing and 76 receiving. WR Nolan O’Brien has been his dominant self with 174 yards receiving through two games.  The defense has yielded the lowest yards in the league, has the most sacks and has held opponents to 5 for 24 on 3^rd down.  Trinity has given up a total of 32 yards rushing to date, a staggering statistic that is a product of a deep and talented front seven led by inside linebackers Ethan Krauss and Lincoln Moore.  The competition level takes a step up this weekend against Williams in a critical league game.

3-Amherst (2-0)

The Mammoths opened the season with a tight win over Bates and then handled Hamilton to reach 2-0. QB Marek Hill looked better and more accurate against Hamilton, which could be a product of the struggling Continental defense.  WR Jaden Alexander has amassed 163 total yards (60 rush, 103 receiving) to provide a nice compliment opposite productive WR Christian Moore.  The defense has been strong against the run, albeit against a Bates team that lost their star back and Hamilton who leans heavily on the pass.  CB Gabriel Taylor already has two interceptions for revamped Mammoth secondary.  Amherst’s schedule is back end loaded, with Bowdoin, Middlebury and Colby on deck, before a tough stretch to close the season.  I have Amherst slightly above Williams as they appear to be a more balanced team.

4-Williams (2-0)

The Ephs opened the season with low scoring wins over Bowdoin and Colby, but the early season success is tempered by the unfortunate loss of All-League QB Owen Johansen.  QB Owen McHugh, who started 17 games earlier in his career, takes the wheel, but the focus remains on the running game, where Williams has run on 75% of their offensive plays.  Freshman RB Jack Fabiano has burst onto the scene, rushing for the most yards in the league at 125 per game and 5.5 a carry.  The Ephs have been dominant on defense, albeit against two offenses that feature young signal callers.  We have yet to see LB Luke Mangini, but LB Sean Rooney has been impactful with 11 tackles, 1 sack, 2 other tackles for loss and an interception in the opening two games.  The Ephs travel to Hartford in my Game of the Week to play Trinity, which is a major early season test.

5-Middlebury (1-1)

The Panthers opened with a home loss to Wesleyan and then beat Bowdoin in a defensive struggle.  QB Aidan Moss is at the helm in Middlebury; he has been a dual threat but will look to improve on his 2:3 touchdown to interception ratio.  RB Connor McClellan has just 25 carries in the past two games, which has limited his rushing yardage total, while WR Jordan Angstreich has emerged among the Panther receiving corps as a big play wideout.  On defense, Middlebury has been solid, with LB Matt Shaw leading the league in tackles after two games.  The Panthers face Colby, Amherst and Williams in the next three weeks, which are key games in their quest to improve on their ’25 record.  Of the two 1-1 teams, I have Middlebury ahead of Tufts based on the Panthers playing better against common opponent Wesleyan.

5-Tufts (1-1)

Tufts opened with a win at Hamilton and then lost at home to a powerful Wesleyan.  On offense, they looked strong against a struggling Continental defense but could not generate much yardage against a stingy Cardinal defense.  QB Hudson Weidman and RB Christian Shapiro have been steady, and a trio of receiving targets have taken the forefront: explosive WR Keller Rogers, WR Granville Anderson III and TE John Gettman.  Defensively, they rank near the bottom of the league in total yardage and passing yardage conceded, but they faced two potent passing attacks in their early slate.  DB Lucas Gonzalez flashed early with an interception and 3 pass breakups in just two games.  They face Bates and Bowdoin in their next two games, before facing Trinity and Williams.

7-Colby (0-2)

Colby lost to two of the better teams in the league, Trinity and Williams, to open the season.  After sharing quarterback snaps in the opener, QB Stephen Gill took the full-time reins for the Mules and provides a dual threat element.  Colby has struggled offensively, including in the running game, but that is likely a product of facing two stout rush defenses.  WR Alex Clapp has emerged as a tall threat opposite their lead WR Jack Nye.  On defense, LB Caleb Parsons Gomez has shined early for a restocked front seven: he has a sack, interception and is third on the team in tackles.  The Colby schedule appears heavily front end loaded, with Middlebury, Wesleyan and Amherst slated over the next three weeks.  I have the Mules at the top of the 0-2 teams based on their tough early season opponents and balance compared to the other schools.

8-Bowdoin  (0-2)

The Polar Bears dropped games to Williams and Middlebury to open the season.  The defense has been strong, holding two good offenses to 16.5 points per game and just 7 for 25 on third down.  Division 3 All-American DE Angus Leary has been as expected with two sacks and four other tackles for loss, and fellow DL Charlie Saurack leads the team with seventeen tackles.  The Bowdoin offense has not caught up with the defense and scored just one touchdown so far.  QB Soren Hummel has 6 interceptions for the year (to just one TD), and the running game is averaging a paltry 1.9 per carry.  The Polar Bears head to Massachusetts for their next two games: Amherst and Tufts.  I have Bowdoin slotted here based on their impressive defense.

9-Hamilton  (0-2)

The Continentals opened with losses to Tufts and Amherst and have been on brand with a strong passing game coupled with a struggling run game and defense.  QB Luke Kurzum leads the league in passing and WR Mitchell Ivatts leads the league in receiving, picking up from his strong final games in ’25.  Ivatts has 23 receptions and 270 yards through two games.  The rushing game averages just over thirty yards per game, and the defense has given up eighty points and 428 yards per game.  LB Mat Bucher has shined: he is second in the league in tackles.  The sledding gets tough for Hamilton: they face Wesleyan and Trinity in their next two games.  I have Hamilton slightly above Bates based on the star power of Kurzum.

10-Bates  (0-2)

The Bobcats opened the year with a tight loss to Amherst and lopsided loss to Trinity.  To add to the difficulties, Bates lost their star RB Ryan Lynskey during the Amherst game.  The injury puts pressure on new quarterback Jack Gilmour, whose inexperience (47% completion percentage and 4 interceptions) could have been expected against strong defenses from Amherst and Trinity.  The Bobcats are averaging just 1.0 yards per carry.  On defense, LB Liam Keaney has emerged as a playmaker to compliment star LB Ryan Rozich: Keaney has twelve tackles, 2 sacks and forced fumble.  The defense has been solid, but injuries may hamper the Bobcats on that side of the ball.  The next three for Bates are Tufts, Williams and Wesleyan.

Game of the Week

WILLIAMS (2-0) at TRINITY (2-0)  1:30 pm

Last Game: Trinity 34, Williams 28  (OT) @ Williams

Last Five: Trinity 4-1

Two of the league’s top units, Williams’ running game and Trinity’s rush defense face off in this critical early season match-up in Hartford.

Rest of the Slate

COLBY (0-2) at MIDDLEBURY (1-1)  1 pm

Last Game: Middlebury 27, Colby 17 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 4-1

This series has produced close games in the past three matchups and provides a very interesting barometer as to the development of each team’s new starter at quarterback.

WESLEYAN (2-0) at HAMILTON (0-2)  1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 56, Hamilton 7 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 5-0

This game presents a tough match-up for Hamilton’s struggling defense as they face the top offense in the league.

BOWDOIN (0-2) at AMHERST (2-0)  1 pm

Last Game: Amherst 34, Bowdoin 7 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Amherst 3-2

A key match-up in this contest will be Amherst QB Marek Hill’s effectiveness against a stingy Polar Bear defense.

TUFTS (1-1) at BATES (0-2)  7 pm

Last Game: Bates 35, Tufts 28 @ Tufts

Last Five: Tufts 3-2

Tufts will look to get its offense on track against a solid Bates defense under the lights in Lewiston.

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week 3

1. 1. Trinity (3-0)
   2. Wesleyan (3-0)
   3. Amherst (3-0)
   4. Middlebury (2-1)
   5. Williams (2-1)
   6. Tufts (2-1)
   7. Bates (0-3)
   8. Hamilton (0-3)
   9. Bowdoin (0-3)
   10. Colby (0-3)

 1-Trinity (3-0)

I have Trinity atop the list as they have been simply dominant.  They have a 108-point differential over just 3 games which includes a whitewashing of Williams.  Defense has been a big part of the story: the Bantams are giving up less than 5 points a game, less than 32 yards per game on the ground and have limited opponents to less than 18% on 3^rd down chances.  On offense, WR Patrick McCaffrey had a big game against Williams, which may provide Trinity a third receiving threat to compliment WRs Nolan O’Brien and Darison Hooper.  The Bantams have a three headed monster at RB with Tate Hoffmeister, Josh Woodford and Jack Tosone – they have combined for 489 rushing yards over the three games, and Tosone also has 107 yards receiving.  Trinity’s next three opponents are Hamilton, at Tufts and Bowdoin.

2-Wesleyan (3-0)

Wesleyan dodged a bullet at Hamilton, and as such I dropped them below Trinity in my Power Rankings.  QB Matt Fitzsimons has been lethally efficient: he’s completed over 77% of his passes and has 6 touchdowns with no interceptions.  WR Blake Newcomb has been the top target; he’s 3^rd in the league in receiving yards.  The running back duo of Matt Diaz and Angelo LaRose has been strong: they both average over four yards per carry.  That balance has contributed to the Cardinals being league leader in 3^rd down conversions (57%), 4^th down conversions (6 for 6) and red zone efficiency (11 for 11 with all scores touchdowns).  The Wesleyan defense had a rough day in Clinton stopping the pass, so their future games will determine whether that game was a product of a hot Hamilton offense or whether improvement is needed in their pass defense.  The Cardinals face two Maine opponents in the next two weeks: home against Colby and at Bates.

3-Amherst (3-0)

I have Amherst 3^rd amongst the undefeated teams, as the Mammoths have been less dominant than either Trinity or Wesleyan, but have found a way to win two close games.  The Amherst defense in second in the NESCAC behind Trinity in terms of total yards and rushing yards yielded.  DL Jackson Duncan has been impactful: he has 15 tackles, 1 sack, 2 other tackles for loss, an interception and 4 quarterback hurries.  The key question for the Mammoth offense is the status of QB Marek Hill, who missed their last game.  Whomever plays quarterback can lean on a trio of wideouts who have been productive in ‘26: standout Christian Moore, Max Alexander and Jadon Davis.  Amherst needs to clean up their play as they move into a tougher stretch of their season: they have thrown 4 interceptions, lost 3 fumbles and have committed a league leading 19 penalties in their first three games.  Next up for the Mammoths is a key battle at home against Middlebury.

 4-Middlebury (2-1)

Coming off their resounding win over Colby, I have Middlebury atop the 2-1 teams based on their balance. RB Connor McClellan had 25 carries over the Panthers’ first two games but ramped up to 19 carries and 121 yards in their latest victory.  WR Luis Kuehberger got his first action last game, and he provides another tall weapon opposite WR Jordan Angstreich.  The Panther defense sits in the middle of the road in terms of yardage yielded but is 2^nd in scoring defense in part due to holding opponents to just 1 for 6 on 4^th down.  LB Matt Shaw has been a tackling machine, averaging a NESCAC leading 10.3 tackles per game.  Things to improve include getting more sacks (just 1), getting more efficient in the red zone (just 8-13 scoring) and converting extra points (just 4-8).  Middlebury’s next two games are pivotal for their season: they travel to Amherst and then host Williams.

5-Williams (2-1)

The Ephs were overwhelmed by Trinity, which stonewalled Williams’ strong running game.  The rushing offense will likely bounce back against lesser defensive fronts, but the Ephs will need to unlock their passing game to improve their play.  Williams is last in passing yards, completion percentage (45%) and has 6 interceptions to just 1 touchdown pass. The loss of QB Owen Johansen is certainly a major factor, but for comparative purposes, All-NECSAC WR Zach Falls has just 4 catches for 40 yards this season; in the first 3 games he played in ’25, he had 11 catches for 247 yards.  The defense ranks 4^th in yardage yielded, 3^rd in rushing defense and gets a lift from the return of LB Luke Mangini.  DB Holden Gering, who has focused solely on defense this season, has provided stellar play in the back end.  In the next two weeks, the Ephs host Bates and then travel to Middlebury.

6-Tufts (2-1)

Tufts needed a blocked FG to get out of Lewiston with a win. The Jumbo offense has been middle of the road yardage wise, but RB Christian Shapiro is 2^nd in the league in rushing yards, sporting a 4.4 yard per carry average and scoring 5 touchdowns.  TE John Getman has emerged as one of the more productive tight ends in the NESCAC.  Defensively, Tufts is next to last in yards yielded and similarly situated in their pass defense. Those rankings are certainly impacted by facing two potent passing attacks in Hamilton and Wesleyan, but last Saturday, Bates rolled up 394 yards of total offense after having just 319 total yards in their first two games.  Tufts hosts Bowdoin this weekend, and then plays Trinity, Williams and Amherst.

7-Bates (0-3)

Bates lost another tough game, this time to Tufts on a blocked potential game winning FG.  The silver lining is the Bobcat offense showed improvement led by QB Jack Gilmour, who after rough outings against Amherst and Trinity, threw for 241 yards on 13-19 passing.  In the absence of RB Ryan Lynskey, freshman RB Ryan Foley had a strong game, rushing for 103 yards.  In the wide receiver spot, WR Riley Provencher has emerged as a top target, leading the Bobcats with 167 receiving yards through three games.  On defense, Bates sits 8^th in scoring defense and last in rushing defense.  One culprit may be injuries, with several projected starters missing games including LB Ryan Rozich.  DL Liam Keaney has been a force off the edge with a league leading 4.5 sacks.  I have Bates atop the 0-3 teams by virtue of their two near wins.  Bates has a key match-up this weekend in Williamstown.

8-Hamilton (0-3)

The Continentals lost a heartbreaker to Wesleyan but put on an offensive show.  This Hamilton team is reminiscent of the “Air Coryell” San Diego Chargers of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, which I appreciate is a dated reference, but a team I loved as a young boy and contributed to my lifelong Charger fandom.  Like these Continentals, those teams were loaded in the passing game but lacked a reliable running game and struggled defensively.  Hamilton has the league’s top passing offense, top quarterback by yardage (QB Luke Kurzum), and top two receivers by yardage (WRs Mitchell Ivatts and Matthew Kearns).  On the flip side, they have yielded by far the most yards and points in the league.  LB Mat Bucher is 2^nd in the league in tackles, but improvement is needed.  The Continentals face a stiff challenge at Trinity, before taking on Bowdoin and Colby.  I have given Hamilton the edge over Bowdoin and Colby based on their near win over Wesleyan.

9-Bowdoin (0-3)

Bowdoin appears to be in the opposite spot that Hamilton resides: The Polar Bears have struggled offensively but have shown a strong defense.  On defense, Bowdoin is 3^rd in the league in lowest yardage yielded and have 8 sacks in three games led by All-American DE Angus Leary, who has 8 tackles for loss.  Fellow DL Charlie Saurack is 3^rd in the league in tackles.  The offense has been an issue: the Polar Bear offense has scored just 13 points and are averaging a paltry 1.6 yards per carry (both league lows).  The passing game has 6 interceptions to just 1 touchdown pass and has completed only 52% of their passes.  Freshman WR Jake Wang emerged with a solid game last weekend against Amherst, catching 6 passes.  I have Bowdoin slightly ahead of Colby based on their defense.  The Polar Bears travel to Tufts for a night game, followed by hosting Hamilton.

10-Colby (0-3)

Colby was dominated by Middlebury, and started freshman QB Damon Taylor as QB Stephen Gill was out.  The Colby offense has played three quarterbacks and has averaged a league low 204 yards per game.  The Mules scored just 23 total points this season and their running game has been a sore spot, averaging just 2.0 per carry.  Jack Nye and Alex Clapp provide a tall and talented wideout combination.  On defense, the Mules are 4^th in pass defense, but 9^th in rush defense and have allowed opponents to convert 55% of their 3^rd down chances.  LB Nicholas Cox is 4^th in the league in tackles.  I have Colby in this spot in part based on their quarterback issues. The Mules have a tough road contest against Wesleyan and then host Amherst.

Week #4

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Game of the Week

MIDDLEBURY (2-1) at AMHERST (3-0)   2pm

Last Game: Amherst 27, Middlebury 17 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 3-2

Big game for both teams, with one major factor being the availability of QB Marek Hill for Amherst.  It will interesting to see Amherst’s defense faceoffs against Middlebury’s rushing attack led by RB Connor McClellan.

Rest of the Slate

COLBY (0-3) at WESLEYAN (3-0)   1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 24, Colby 7@ Colby

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

This is tough spot for Colby, but they have a strong secondary to try to slow the Cardinal passing attack.

BATES (0-3) at WILLIAMS (2-1)   1pm

Last Game: Williams 37, Bates 30  @ Bates

Last Five: Williams 5-0 (8 straight)

Can Williams get their passing attack on track and can Bates’ offense build on a good showing against Tufts last weekend?

HAMILTON (0-3) at TRINITY (3-0)  1pm

Last Game: Trinity 49, Hamilton 0   @ Hamilton

Last Five: Trinity 5-0 (30 straight)

Trinity has won 30 straight games over the Continentals, with Hamilton last winning in 1994.  The streak will be tough for Hamilton to snap on Saturday.

BOWDOIN (0-3) at TUFTS (2-1)   5pm

Last Game: Tufts 13, Bowdoin 0 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Tufts 0-5 (10 straight Tufts wins) – ‘14

Can Tufts hold up against Bowdoin’s tough defensive line and who wins the battle between two struggling units, the Polar Bear offense and the Jumbo defense, under the lights in Somerville?

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Hamilton at Bowdoin

Amherst at Colby

Williams at Middlebury

Trinity at Tufts

Bates at Wesleyan

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Wesleyan at Amherst

Middlebury at Bates

Colby at Hamilton

Bowdoin at Trinity

Tufts at Williams

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Wesleyan at Bowdoin

Bates at Colby

Trinity at Middlebury

Amherst at Tufts

Hamilton at Williams 

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Trinity at Amherst

Bowdoin at Bates

Tufts at Colby

Hamilton at Middlebury

Williams at Wesleyan

Saturday, November 14, 2026

Colby at Bowdoin

Bates at Hamilton

Wesleyan at Trinity

Middlebury at Tufts

Amherst at Williams

To come