PatriotFB Notebook - Week Eight |
Notes from Around the League
FIVE IMPORTANT PATRIOT LEAGUE CONTESTS ON THE WEEK EIGHT SLATE
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Lafayette at Fordham - Lafayette and Fordham have split the last 10 meetings, 5-5, with the Leopards winning the last three games.
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Bucknell at Holy Cross - Holy Cross carries a seven-game win streak in the series with Bucknell. The Bison’s Sam Milligan (Sr., WR) starred in last season’s loss with five receptions for 154 yards and two TDs.
•
Colgate at Richmond - Colgate travels to Richmond in a battle for second place. In last season’s meeting, Richmond’s 87-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter sealed a 24-19 win in Hamilton, N.Y.
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Lehigh at Villanova - Villanova hosts Lehigh in a rematch of a 2025 FCS Playoff Second Round game. The No. 12-seeded Wildcats upset No. 5 seed Lehigh, 14-7, on their way to the FCS semifinals.
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Georgetown at William & Mary - The Hoyas and Tribe wore leather helmets in the last meeting between the squads in 1934, a 3-0 Georgetown win at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 20.
RICHMOND’S ALLEN, WILLIAM & MARY’S ELLIS NAMED TO JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST
Richmond’s Bryce Allen (Fr., WR) and William & Mary’s Cade Ellis (Fr., DB) were among the 30 FCS student-athletes recognized by Stats Perform on the watch list for the Jerry Rice Award, presented annually presented to the national FCS freshman of the year. Allen is fifth in the Patriot League in receiving yards (361). He is tied for second in touchdown receptions (4), tied for 48th in the FCS. Ellis is tied for third in the Patriot League in interceptions (2), tied for 41st in the FCS in interceptions per game (0.29).
A NEW ERA OF PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL: PATRIOT LEAGUE IN THE POLLS
• AFCA COACHES POLL — Lehigh slipped to No. 12 after having its 23-game regular-season winning streak snapped at Cornell. Richmond moved up to No. 19 after a bye week, while Colgate is receiving votes after a loss to Georgetown.
• STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 POLL — Lehigh is No. 11 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. The Spiders are No. 25, and Colgate is receiving votes.
2026 Patriot League Football Standings (as of Oct. 21)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| No. 12/11 Lehigh |
4-0 |
1.000 |
6-1 |
.857 |
| No. 19/25 Richmond |
3-1 |
.750 |
5-2 |
.714 |
| RV/RV Colgate |
3-1 |
.750 |
4-3 |
.571 |
| Villanova |
2-2 |
.500 |
3-4 |
.429 |
| Georgetown |
2-2 |
.500 |
2-4 |
.333 |
| Holy Cross |
2-2 |
.500 |
2-5 |
.286 |
| Fordham |
2-3 |
.400 |
2-6 |
.250 |
| Lafayette |
1-2 |
.333 |
2-4 |
.333 |
| William & Mary |
1-3 |
.250 |
3-4 |
.429 |
| Bucknell |
0-4 |
.000 |
1-6 |
.143 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
LEHIGH SHOWING STRENGTH ON THE GROUND
Through seven games, the Mountain Hawks rank fourth in the FCS in rushing offense, averaging 251.1 yards per game, with Luke Yoder (Sr., RB) ranking second in rushing yards per game (136.6) and leading the FCS in rushing touchdowns (13). Lehigh has also been stout against the run, holding opponents to 102.3 rushing yards per game to rank seventh in the FCS. Lehigh’s success running the ball and stopping the run helped the Mountain Hawks win 23 straight regular-season games before falling at Cornell in Week Seven. The streak was the second-longest in program history, three wins shy of the program’s 26-game regular-season winning streak from 2000 to 2002, the longest in Patriot League history.
FCS Rushing Offense
| Rank |
Team |
Rush Yds./Gm. |
| 1 |
South Dakota State |
272.6 |
| 2 |
Southern Utah |
269.1 |
| 3 |
Mercer |
254.0 |
| 4 |
Lehigh |
251.1 |
FCS Rushing Defense
| Rank |
Team |
Rush Yds./Gm. |
| 6 |
Austin Peay |
101.3 |
| 7 |
Lehigh |
102.3 |
| 7 |
UAlbany |
102.3 |
DEFENSE LEADING COLGATE INTO THE LEAGUE TITLE RACE
Colgate enters Week Eight receiving votes in both the AFCA Coaches Poll and the Stats Perform Poll and tied for second in the Patriot League standings. The Raiders’ defense has been a major factor, ranking among the FCS top 15 in six defensive categories, including first in red zone defense (.500) and interceptions (11). Jr. LB Christian Magliacano leads the Patriot League and ranks fourth in the FCS in tackles for loss per game (1.64). Sr. DB Tymir Wynn ranks 10th nationally in pass breakups per game (1.43).
FCS Defensive Rankings
| Category |
Rank (Stat) |
| Passes intercepted |
1 (11) |
| Team pass efficiency defense |
12 (108.95) |
| Red zone defense |
1 (.500) |
| Rushing defense |
14 (110.7 ypg) |
| Scoring defense |
6 (16.0 ppg) |
| Total defense |
9 (300.7 ypg) |
FOUR LEAGUE TEAMS RANK AMONG FCS TOP 40 IN TURNOVERS GAINED
Four Patriot League teams rank among the FCS top 40 in turnovers gained entering Week Eight. Colgate leads the FCS with 11 interceptions, one more than Lehigh’s 10. Richmond ranks third in the FCS with eight fumbles recovered, one more than William & Mary’s seven.
FCS Turnovers Gained
| Rank |
Team |
Turnovers gained |
| 5 |
Lehigh |
15 |
| 11 |
William & Mary |
14 |
| 19 |
Colgate |
13 |
| 38 |
Richmond |
11 |
SPIDERS LEAD FCS IN SACKS PER GAME WITH TRIO OF LEAGUE’S BEST
Richmond leads the Patriot League and ranks third in the FCS in sacks per game, averaging 3.29. The unit features the League’s top two sack leaders by average, both of whom rank among the FCS top 10. Camden Byrd, who ranks second among active FCS career leaders with 25.0 sacks, and teammate Daniel Sellers (Jr., LB) average 1.07 and 0.93 sacks per game, respectively.
FCS Sacks Per Game
| Rank |
Name, School |
Sacks per game |
| 3 |
Camden Byrd, Richmond |
1.07 |
| 9 |
Daniel Sellers, Richmond |
0.93 |
| 50 |
Lucas Manderbach, Lehigh |
0.50 |
| 50 |
Davin Dzidzienyo, William & Mary |
0.50 |
FOGLER AMONG FCS LEADERS IN TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
Colgate’s Matt Fogler (So., WR) ranks 13th in the FCS with six touchdown receptions through seven games. The reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year has recorded a touchdown reception in eight of his last 11 games dating to the 2025 season. Fogler leads Patriot League receivers in receiving yards per game (94.7), ranking sixth in the FCS, and receptions per game (6.0), ranking 14th nationally. Four other Patriot League pass catchers join Fogler among the FCS top 50 in touchdown receptions.
FCS Touchdown Receptions
| Rank |
Name, School |
Receiving TDs |
| 13 |
Matt Fogler, Colgate |
6 |
| 48 |
Bryce Allen, Richmond |
4 |
| 48 |
Lincoln Fisher, Holy Cross |
4 |
| 48 |
Ty Curran, Holy Cross |
4 |
| 48 |
Burke Carroll, Georgetown |
4 |
YODER CLIMBING PATRIOT LEAGUE CAREER CHARTS
Lehigh RB Luke Yoder leads the Patriot League and ranks fourth in the FCS in rushing yards with 956 through seven games. The reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year continues to climb the Patriot League career rankings in several rushing categories. Against Cornell, Yoder became the 10th player in Patriot League history to eclipse 4,000 career rushing yards. Yoder ranks second behind Montana’s Eli Gilman among active FCS rushers with 4,023 yards. His 13 rushing touchdowns lead the FCS this season, while his 43 career rushing touchdowns rank ninth in League history, one behind Holy Cross’ Jordan Fuller. He ranks third among active FCS players in career rushing touchdowns, behind Gilman (62) and Youngstown State’s Beau Brungard (57).
Patriot League Career Rushing Yards
| Rank |
Name, School (Years) |
Career rushing yards |
| 8 |
Dom Bragalone, Lehigh (2015-18) |
4,324 |
| 9 |
Jamaal Branch, Colgate (2000-04) |
4,108 |
| 10 |
Luke Yoder, Lehigh (2023-present) |
4,023 |
Patriot League Career Rushing Touchdowns
| Rank |
Name, School (Years) |
Career rushing TDs |
| 7 |
Dom Bragalone, Lehigh (2015-18) |
46 |
| 8 |
Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross (2021-24) |
44 |
| 9 |
Luke Yoder, Lehigh (2023-present) |
43 |
THREE AMONG ACTIVE FCS INTERCEPTIONS LEADERS
Colgate’s Tymir Wynn (Sr., DB) leads three Patriot League players among the FCS active career leaders in interceptions with eight, including two this season. Lehigh’s Nick Peltekian (5th, DB) and Georgetown’s Wedner Cadet (Gr., DB) are tied for 14th among active FCS leaders with seven interceptions. Cadet led the Patriot League with five interceptions as a rookie in 2022 but was limited to 13 games by injuries before this season. In his 2026 season debut against Bucknell in Week Six, Cadet recorded two interceptions, including a game-sealing pick late in the fourth quarter.
Active FCS Career Interceptions
| Rank |
Name, School |
Career INTs |
| 4 |
Tymir Wynn, Colgate |
8 |
| 14 |
Wedner Cadet, Georgetown |
7 |
| 14 |
Nick Peltekian, Lehigh |
7 |
EIGHT NAMED CAMPBELL TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Eight Patriot League football student-athletes were selected among a record 206 semifinalists, including 45 from the FCS, for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented annually to college football’s premier scholar-athlete. The Patriot League’s eight semifinalists matched the Ivy League’s total, tying for the highest number among FCS conferences. This marks the 37th year of the Campbell Trophy, regarded as the “Academic Heisman,” which recognizes the nation’s top football scholar-athlete for academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Patriot League Semifinalists
Sam Milligan (Bucknell); Luke Vogeler (Colgate); Gunnar Smith (Fordham); Chigozie Oge-Evans (Georgetown); Spencer Adams (Lafayette); DJ Brown (Lehigh); Carter Glassmyer (Richmond); Sean McElwain (William & Mary).
PATRIOT LEAGUE LONGEST PLAYS OF 2026
Lafayette’s Jakyre Henley recorded the League’s two longest touchdown runs of the season, covering 74 and 72 yards in the Leopards’ 40-31 loss to Richmond in Week Five. Lafayette’s Christian Bush recorded the longest punt in the Patriot League this season at 70 yards. Georgetown’s Hassan Mahasin joined the League’s longest-play leaders in Week Four with a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Hoyas’ loss to Columbia. Mahasin also has a 71-yard touchdown reception against Richmond this season, tied for the fourth-longest play in the League.
Longest Plays
| Category |
Player (Team) |
Yards |
| Pass play |
J. Stearney to M. Fogler (GATE) |
85 |
| Rush |
Jakyre Henley (LAF) |
74 |
| Field goal |
Max Lipinski (W&M) |
51 |
| Punt |
Christian Bush (LAF) |
70 |
| Punt return |
Hassan Mahasin (GU) |
71 |
| Kick return |
Kameron Vance (LAF) |
48 |
| Interception return |
Nate Olson (BUCK) |
77 |
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.