Patriot League Notebook - Week Zero (.PDF)
A NEW ERA OF PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL BEGINS IN WEEK ZERO
Thursday, August 27
Lafayette at Georgetown (ESPN+), 7 p.m.
Friday, August 28
William & Mary at Villanova (ESPN+), 6 p.m.
Colgate at Fordham (ESPN+), 6 p.m.
Saturday, August 29
Lehigh at Holy Cross (ESPN+), 3:30 p.m.
Bucknell at Richmond (ESPN+), 6 p.m.
•Georgetown welcomes Lafayette on Thursday in the League’s season opener. The Hoyas and Leopards have split their last six meetings, with the road team going 5-1 in those games.
•Villanova hosts William & Mary on Friday in the Patriot League debut for both programs. The Wildcats’ Ja’briel Mace’s 100-yard kickoff return sparked a 31-24 Villanova win in last year’s meeting.
•On Friday, Fordham welcomes Colgate. The Rams and Raiders have split the last six meetings, while the home team has won the last seven.
•Lehigh opens its League title defense at Holy Cross Saturday under new head coach Rich Nagy. The Mountain Hawks have won their last two after the Crusaders enjoyed a six-game win streak in the series.
•Bucknell travels to Richmond for the first game of the Jeff Behrman era on Saturday. The Spiders hold a 3-1 series edge, but the Bison downed the Spiders, 33-28, last season in the first game as League rivals.
A NEW ERA OF PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL: THE POWER OF 10
•In July, the Patriot League unveiled its football-specific brand identity and slogan, “The Power of 10,” marking the beginning of A New Era of Patriot League Football as the League enters the 2026 season with 10 football-playing institutions for the first time in its 41-year history.
• “The Power of 10” campaign reflects both the strength coming with expansion and the collective success that has long defined Patriot League football, creating one of the nation’s premier FCS conferences.
• Collectively, the Patriot League’s 10 football members have won two FCS national championships, advanced to 12 FCS national semifinals and reached the quarterfinal round 22 times, earning 42 FCS postseason wins.
2025 Patriot League Football Standings (as of Aug. 26)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| No. 7/8 Villanova |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| No. 11/11 Lehigh |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Richmond |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| William & Mary |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Lafayette |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Holy Cross |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Colgate |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Georgetown |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Fordham |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Bucknell |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
WILLIAM & MARY AND VILLANOVA TO JOIN LEAGUE IN 2026
WILDCATS HOSTS TRIBE IN PATRIOT LEAGUE DEBUT
No. 7/8 Villanova begins its Patriot League tenure against a familiar foe when the Wildcats face fellow League newcomer and former CAA rival William & Mary in Week Zero at Villanova Stadium. The Wildcats and Tribe bring the League’s NCAA DI FCS membership to 10 football teams, joining Richmond, which completed its first season in the League in 2025. The three former CAA programs bring a tradition of success. The Tribe, Wildcats and Spiders have combined for 43 FCS Playoff berths, 42 postseason wins, and have advanced to the quarterfinals 22 times and the semifinals 12 times, including Villanova’s run to the 2025 FCS semifinals. Richmond (2008) and Villanova (2009) claimed FCS titles.
BYRD, PELTEKIAN MAKE BUCK BUCHANAN WATCH LIST
Richmond’s Camden Byrd (Gr., DL) and Lehigh’s Nick Peltekian (5th-year, DB) were named to the initial Buck Buchanan Award Watch List when Stats Perform issued the 30-member preseason watch list for the honor presented annually to recognize the FCS defensive player of the year. Byrd, the Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, is the League’s returning leader in TFLs (11.5), sacks (8.5) and forced fumbles (3). Peltekian, a two-time All-League selection was limited to nine games last season due to injury but recorded five tackles and an interception vs. Lafayette to help Lehigh clinch its second straight League crown.
Buck Buchanan Award Watch List Members
Name, School (‘25 Stats) GP TKLS TFL-YDS Sacks
Camden Byrd, Richmond 12 34 11.5-83 8.5
Nick Peltekian, Lehigh 9 28 1.5-16 1.5
THREE EARN WALTER PAYTON WATCH LIST SPOTS
Lehigh’s Yoder, Villanova’s Ja’briel Mace (Jr., RB/RS) and Bucknell’s Sam Milligan (Sr., WR) were among the 30 FCS student-athletes named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the FCS offensive player of the year. Yoder, the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, ranks among the leading active rushers in the FCS. Mace rushed for 946 yards and 11 TDs in addition to being named the CAA Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the FCS with 32.0 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns. Milligan was ranked among the FCS leaders with 10 TD receptions last season.
Walter Payton Award Watch List Members
Name, School (‘25 Stats) GP Att. Rush Yds. TDs YPC.
Luke Yoder, Lehigh 13 198 1,409 15 7.1
Ja’briel Mace, Villanova 15 128 946 11 7.4
Name, School (‘25 Stats) GP Rec. Rec. Yds. TDs YPC.
Sam Milligan, Bucknell 12 56 975 10 17.4
EIGHT LEAGUE PLAYERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Eight Patriot League football student-athletes were selected to one of the three 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-Americans. All 13 FCS conferences and 53 schools were represented among the 101 Preseason All-America selections. Mace was a Stats Perform First Team All-America honoree and Yoder was a Stats Perform Third Team All-America selection last season.
Preseason All-America First Team
Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Sr., RB
Ja’briel Mace, Villanova, Jr., RB/KR
Preseason All-America Second Team
Sam Milligan, Bucknell, Sr., WR
Aidan Palmer, Lehigh, 5th-year, OL
Camden Byrd, Richmond, Gr., DL
Carter Glassmyer, Richmond, Gr., LB
Preseason All-America Third Team
Cam Nolan, Holy Cross, 5th-year, OL
Nick Peltekian, Lehigh, Sr., DB
YODER ENTERS 2026 AMONG FCS CAREER LEADERS
Lehigh RB Luke Yoder earned the 2025 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year after ranking eighth in the FCS in rushing yards (1,409) and tied for 11th in rushing touchdowns (15). His 2025 campaign marked his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season, giving him 3,067 career rushing yards and helping him rank third among active FCS leaders entering the 2026 season behind Montana’s Eli Gilman and Sacramento State’s Jamar Curtis, formerly of Lafayette. Yoder is 21st among Patriot League career rushers entering 2026.
Rk. Name, School Career rush yds
1. Eli Gilman, Montana 3,677
2. Jamar Curtis, Sacramento St. 3,214
3. Luke Yoder, Lehigh 3,067
RICH NAGY ELEVATED TO LEHIGH HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Lehigh announced the elevation of Richard Nagy, who will serve as head football coach. Nagy spent the last three years as Lehigh’s defensive coordinator, where he led one of the top defensive units in the FCS. The 31st head coach in Lehigh football history, Nagy’s promotion is one of six from a Lehigh coaching and support staff that was recognized as the Dick Biddle Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year, following the Mountain Hawks’ 12-0 regular season in 2025. For the last three seasons, Nagy served as Lehigh’s defensive coordinator, while coaching the rover position. A dominant defense was a hallmark for the 2025 Mountain Hawks. Lehigh led the Patriot League and ranked in the top five nationally in five major defensive categories. The Mountain Hawks boasted the top rush defense in the FCS, allowing just 70.1 yards per game, and led the FCS in red zone defense (0.645).
BUCKNELL TABS JEFF BEHRMAN AS HEAD COACH
Bucknell selected Jeff Behrman as the 28th head football coach in program history in January. Behrman, a 30-year veteran in the college football coaching ranks, comes to Lewisburg from his alma mater, John Carroll, where he guided the Blue Streaks to a 29-7 record in his three seasons. Behrman was named the Division III Region 4 Coach of the Year in 2025 after his top-10 team finished 12-2, won the North Coast Athletic Conference title, and made a run to the NCAA semifinals. John Carroll beat three ranked teams along the way. He previously spent seven seasons as the head coach at Union. Behrman is known for bringing the best out of his offenses, and John Carroll ranked highly in several categories in every season under his direction. The Blue Streaks ranked in the top 10 nationally in team passing efficiency (5th, 2023) (4th, 2024) (6th, 2025), team completion percentage (5th, 2023) (2nd, 2024) (1st, 2025), and third-down conversion percentage (3rd, 2023) (6th, 2025).
THREE FCS PASSING LEADERS RETURNING TO LEAGUE
Two returning Patriot League QBs ranked among the FCS top 50 in passing yards per game with a third finishing 51st at the conclusion of last season. Fordham’s Gunnar Smith is the Patriot League’s returning passing leader, averaging 223.3 passing yards per game to finish first in the Patriot League and 21st in the FCS. Lehigh’s Hayden Johnson averaged 193.1 passing yards per game, 49th in the FCS, while Colgate’s Jake Stearney finished just outside of the top 50 with 190.8 passing yards per game. Johnson and Stearney tied for 34th in the nation and second in the League with 18 touchdown passes, with Smith ranking 54th with 14 TD passes.
FCS Rk. Name, School Passing yds./gm.
21. Gunnar Smith, Fordham 223.3
49. Hayden Johnson, Lehigh 193.1
51. Jake Stearney, Colgate 190.8
LEHIGH’S POOLE NAMED TO FCS PUNTER OF THE YEAR LIST
Lehigh’s Connor Poole (Jr., P) was one of 14 candidates selected to the Preseason Watch List for the 2026 FCS Punter of the Year Award, presented by The Augusta Sports Council. Poole earned First Team All-Patriot League honors in 2025 after averaging 42.1 yards per punt with a season-long punt of 57 yards and nine punts of 50 yards or more. He pinned 17 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line to rank third in the League.
NINE ALUMS FROM LEAGUE TEAMS IN NFL TRAINING CAMPS
Nine former student-athletes from Patriot League football programs were on the NFL training camp rosters this summer, representing five of the League’s programs. Eight of the nine received All-Patriot League honors.
Bucknell - Ethan Robinson, DB, Miami Dolphins
Colgate - Max Hurleman, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers; Treyvhon Saunders, WR, Houston Texans
Fordham - Nick Zakelj, OL, San Francisco 49ers
Holy Cross - Liam Anderson, LB, Cincinnati Bengals; Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers; C.J. Hanson, OL, Kansas City Chiefs; Kalif Raymond, WR, Detroit Lions
William & Mary - Charles Grant, OL, Las Vegas Raiders
LEAGUE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS RANK AS NCAA GRAD LEADERS
Patriot League football leads NCAA Division I (FCS and FBS) in FGR (76) and ranks second in GSR (92). Colgate recorded a League-high 91 percent FGR, with Lehigh (87), Georgetown (85), Bucknell (81), Fordham (81), Holy Cross (79), Lafayette (76) and Richmond (76) finished above the national average. Georgetown’s 97 percent GSR score led the League, followed by Colgate (96) and Richmond (96). Bucknell (95), Fordham (95), Lafayette (93), Holy Cross (91) and Lehigh (91) exceeded the national average.
THREE MAKE FELDMAN’S “FREAKS” LIST IN THE ATHLETIC
William & Mary’s Stephon Hicks (Jr., LB) tied for the FCS lead with four blocked kicks last season and enters 2026 ranked No. 65 on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks” in college football list, published by
The Athletic. Hicks is the highest of three Patriot League football student-athletes on the list, which includes Holy Cross RB JoJo Williams (No. 83) and Richmond DE Daniel Sellers (No. 99).
*No. 65 Stephon Hicks, William & Mary, LB - He transferred in from Virginia Tech, so maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that he had a profound effect on William & Mary’s special teams, where he led all of Division I with four blocked punts (one shy of tying the FCS record) and returned a punt for a touchdown. He made 23 tackles, had two sacks and two forced fumbles. The 6-2, 215-pound junior broad-jumped 10-11 and touched 11 feet on the Vertec. He’s also clocked a 10-yard fly with a 10-yard build-up of 1.01 seconds and has topped out at 22.5 mph on the GPS.
*No. 83 JoJo Williams, Holy Cross, RB - The son of a former Ohio State soccer player (his dad, Bernard), the 5-7, 181-pound sophomore ran for 121 yards last season to go with 17 receptions and 217 receiving yards. He’s considered pound-for-pound the strongest player in the program, squatting 600 pounds and benching 320. This offseason, he did a force plate counter movement jump of 61 cm in addition to having a 10-9 broad jump and a 40.2-inch vertical.
*No. 99 Daniel Sellers, Richmond, DE - Last year as a redshirt freshman, the 6-3, 253-pound Sellers emerged as a playmaker for the Spiders, making 4.5 TFLs and three sacks and forcing two fumbles. Richmond’s expecting him to take an even bigger step forward. Sellers won the program’s Gus Lee Winter Warrior Award, honoring the player who made the biggest strides during offseason workouts.
“He’s a freak in the weight room because he can squat 600 pounds, he can bench 455-plus and can power clean around 365, and he moves so fast,” said Richmond strength coach Scott Brincks. “You just don’t see that in a normal human. He’s that much of a freak when it comes to those things.”
Two Nominated for 2025 Good Works Team
Richmond’s Carter Glassmyer and William & Mary’s Davin Dzidzienyo are among the nominees for the 2026 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team. Allstate and the AFCA announced 162 nominees for the honor, recognizing college football players and coaches for their commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron. The 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be announced in September and will include 22 student-athletes and one honorary head coach. One student-athlete will also be selected as team captain and receive the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
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.