Lynchburg was nothing special at their game against W&L. Don't think ranking them that high is justified. I do think until W&L starts scoring they aren't a Top 25 team.

Cross-posted from the 2026 National Perspectives thread.  This explains why Whittier men's soccer suddenly saw a massive influx of Swedish players a few years ago.

For those who think that money doesn't pass hands in D3, and certainly not for soccer players, this infractions report from the NCAA against Whittier suggests otherwise.

QuoteInstitution: Whittier College

Date: September 04, 2026

Violation Summary: Pursuant to Bylaw 32.9.6, this negotiated resolution has no precedential value. This case involved Whittier providing impermissible financial aid awards during the 2024-25 academic year to 11 international men's and women's soccer student-athletes in a pattern clearly distinguishable from the financial aid patterns for all students at the institution. The case also involved a failure to monitor violation. Whittier's enrollment office recommended recruiting prospects from Sweden for the 2024-25 academic year in order to help ease the burden of the institution's enrollment crisis.

Penalty Summary: The parties agreed the penalties include public reprimand and censure, one year of probation, a Level II review by the Financial Aid Committee, a fine of $2,500 and compliance education programming with the NCAA staff.

Involved Sports:
Men's Soccer ,  Women's Soccer

Involved Penalties:
Television: 0 yrs
Reduction in Financial Aid: No
Postseason: 0 yrs
Recruiting: No
Probation: 1 yrs
Show Cause Penalty: No
 
Vacation of Record: No

For those who think that money doesn't pass hands in D3, and certainly not for soccer players, this infractions report from the NCAA against Whittier suggests otherwise.

QuoteInstitution: Whittier College

Date: September 04, 2026

Violation Summary: Pursuant to Bylaw 32.9.6, this negotiated resolution has no precedential value. This case involved Whittier providing impermissible financial aid awards during the 2024-25 academic year to 11 international men's and women's soccer student-athletes in a pattern clearly distinguishable from the financial aid patterns for all students at the institution. The case also involved a failure to monitor violation. Whittier's enrollment office recommended recruiting prospects from Sweden for the 2024-25 academic year in order to help ease the burden of the institution's enrollment crisis.

Penalty Summary: The parties agreed the penalties include public reprimand and censure, one year of probation, a Level II review by the Financial Aid Committee, a fine of $2,500 and compliance education programming with the NCAA staff.

Involved Sports:
Men's Soccer ,  Women's Soccer

Involved Penalties:
Television: 0 yrs
Reduction in Financial Aid: No
Postseason: 0 yrs
Recruiting: No
Probation: 1 yrs
Show Cause Penalty: No
 
Vacation of Record: No

Says you only get 1 free view. Talks about both games this weekend.

https://www.dailyherald.com/20260904/college-sports/why-the-suburbs-will-be-the-focus-of-division-iii-college-football-saturday/

Chaps/HSU....the real tex cowboys by 7
NW/CMS...Regents by 7
Willdamit\PP...Chickens by 14
NLU/SLU...Regals by 3
PU/LV...battle of the big cats, Leos by 3
Bart Simpson\Noets....Bart by 24
Puppy's/Foxes ....Puppies nip the Fox...by 6

First week is tough...

York College (PA) women's basketball is looking for a scrimmage October 22nd-24th. Reach out to tgittens@ycp.edu if interested and available!

Thanks!

Alex Stoddard is an outstanding young man ... smart, resilient, courageous and hard-working. Best wishes to another fine EPH!

Westminster lost to Marietta last night 34-24.

Both teams struggled in the first half. Westminster got a FG late in the first quarter then Marietta got a TD at the end of the first half following a blocked Titan FG. Marietta missed three first half FGs (41, 40,32) and the PAT.

Marietta scored two TDs in third quarter to take a 20-3 lead. Westminster scored on the first play of the fourth quarter. Marietta got a long KO return and added 15 yards on a Westminster penalty to quickly score and regain the 17 point lead. Titans scored to cut lead to 27-17. Each team added a fourth quarter touchdown.

Westminster only had 24 net rushing yards on 29 attempts.

  https://d3football.com/seasons/2026/boxscores/20260903_8z53.xml

Hansen had the Titans a 9 point favorite.

Westminster hosts Franklin & Marshall next Saturday.

Quote from: Brady12 on Yesterday at 11:10:55 AM

Quote from: Trin9-0 on September 02, 2026, 04:37:12 PMHere's what the Hansen ratings project for NESCAC win totals this season:

Trinity 7.1
Wesleyan 6.5
Williams 5.2
Middlebury 4.9
Amherst 4.6
Colby 4.3
Tufts 3.9
Hamilton 3
Bowdoin 2.9
Bates 2.7

Seems like another example of expected parity in the league this year. With that said the model has it as a two horse race for the title as it gives Trinity a 42% chance to win the NESCAC followed by Wesleyan at 26%. No other team is in double digits. I'd put Trin and Wes much closer together. This rating doesn't seem optimistic about an at-large playoff bid either. Wes has just an 8% chance and Trinity 7%.

Other notable points: Wesleyan returns an astounding 91% of their offensive production; tops in the league and 8th in the nation. Hamilton is not far behind with 90%, good for 10th in the country. It has Colby bringing back the least total production in the league with just 56%. Tufts has only 45% of their defensive production back this year. Not a great sign for team that finished 9th in scoring defense in 2025. Of the contenders, it has Trinity with the lowest returning total production (just 61%... yikes).

Williams record of; 3-6 5-3 5-3 last three years make me think back to this years senior class, If they can stay healthy this could be the year.  In 2023 they brought in Johansen, McHugh, Renzella at QB.  Stahelski, Gering at WR along with Carroll, Baker, and others I thought that class has a chance to be special. Getting them all on the field will be the challenge.  Back then I thought Johansen may end up at LB as he was a wrecking ball in high school. Adding in the talent at WR and TE will allow players like Gering to concentrate on defense. I will take the over on 5.2   

Meant 5-4 and 5-4 records.  Tis Nine weeks after all. 

Additionally, if I'm interpreting this correctly, then I also vehemently disagree with the most likely 3-way tie-breaking scenario for teams with 2 losses. For example; let's say Trinity, Wesleyan and Williams all finish 7-2.

Trinity's losses are to Williams and Middlebury (who finishes 6-3, 4th place)
Williams' losses are to Wesleyan and Amherst (who finishes 5-4, 5th place)
Wesleyan's losses are to Trinity and Bates (who finishes 2-7, 8th place)

In this scenario Wesleyan, who would have by far the worst loss of the three championship teams, would get the AQ playoff bid. Trinity who had the least egregious defeat, a loss to 4th place Middlebury, would be the first team eliminated. Then Williams would be eliminated due to their head-to-head loss to Wes.

Is it me or is this completely backwards? Shouldn't the team with the worst loss be eliminated first?
Am I interpreting this correctly? What are everyone else's thoughts?

I realize there's not many good ways to break a three-way tie but rewarding a team for the poorest result is baffling. For what it's worth, my preference for breaking a three-way tie among championship teams with more than 1 loss is point differential among in the games played between the Championship teams.
[/quote]

I like the point differential idea.  And with that said what is worse a 35 point loss to the 4th place team at home, or a 2 point loss to an 8th place team in 4 OT's on the road?