FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

One could reasonably claim Cosgrove earned it, but to suggest it is a slam dunk is a tad silly. 
Wesleyan lost 30 extremely talented seniors coming into the year and I believe they obtained their first back to back NESCAC title in school history.  Either choice would not surprise me.

First off, it is no longer "Coach of the Year"...it is now "Coaching Staff of the Year"....another NESCAC nod to participation trophyism and political correctness.

As we said earlier, Wesleyan's coaching staff should win it but Colby's staff probably will win it. However, in true NESCAC fashion, we would not be surprised to see a tie and both staff's split the award this year.

Wouldn't be shocked to see the same thing happen for Defensive Player of the Year. We think Wesleyan's Dylan Connors deserves it but we could see him sharing it this year with someone TBD.

As far as OPOTY and ROTY, Wesleyan's Fitz and Kelly are shoo-in winners, IOO.

NM

Hate being right...

Kudo's to all of the award winners and the All-NESCAC selections. Great group of student-athletes.

BTW, Kemit Fisher proves that it's not all about stats. He was a beast and deserving of sharing the DPOTY Award with Dylan Connors.

NM

[nescac1]

A few guys in the transfer portal:

Grad transfers Nolan O'Brien (as previously reported) and Damian Carrano from Amherst, Bates DB Xavier Jackson, and Keller Rogers, WR/KR from Tufts.  Rogers would be a big loss for the Jumbos, who lose their other all-conference receiver to graduation, as an explosive weapon in the passing and return game.   

[Nescacman]

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast Season 2, Episode 10

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast is the first podcast of its kind in NESCAC history. Hosted by Chris Grace (play-by-play announcer for Wesleyan) and Dave Bagatelle (Wesleyan Alum and former player), our weekly show features coach and player interviews, game analysis, rankings, previews, and predictions.

Coming Soon!!! Season 2 Episode 10 (2025 season finale) featuring Wesleyan University Head Coach Dan DiCenzo and Wesleyan University Running Back Angelo LaRose.

The podcast is available wherever you find your podcasts including YouTube, Facebook, Apple and Spotify. Search for "9 Weeks NESCAC"...the first and only podcast of its kind.
 
Thank you to our sponsors Sloane and Walsh, LLP and Gameday Sports.
 
If you have questions, feedback, ideas or are a player or a coach and would like to appear on our show, please email us at: 9weeksnescac@gmail.com

Follow us on X (aka Twitter): @nineweeksnescac
Follow us on Instagram: @nineweeksnescac
Facebook: Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/groups/3002038363271368)
YouTube: 9 Weeks Nescac (https://www.youtube.com/@nineweeksnescac)
Spotify Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac
Apple Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac
Visit Nescacfootballreport.com for NESCACMAN's picks/spreads, additional analysis and NESCAC reporting

[Nescacman]

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast Season 2, Episode 10

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast is the first podcast of its kind in NESCAC history. Hosted by Chris Grace (play-by-play announcer for Wesleyan) and Dave Bagatelle (Wesleyan Alum and former player), our weekly show features coach and player interviews, game analysis, rankings, previews, and predictions.

Available Now!!! Season 2 Episode 10 (2025 season finale) featuring Wesleyan University Head Coach Dan DiCenzo and Wesleyan University Running Back Angelo LaRose.

The podcast is available wherever you find your podcasts including YouTube, Facebook, Apple and Spotify. Search for "9 Weeks NESCAC"...the first and only podcast of its kind.
 
Thank you to our sponsors Sloane and Walsh, LLP and Gameday Sports.
 
If you have questions, feedback, ideas or are a player or a coach and would like to appear on our show, please email us at: 9weeksnescac@gmail.com

Follow us on X (aka Twitter): @nineweeksnescac
Follow us on Instagram: @nineweeksnescac
Facebook: Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/groups/3002038363271368)
YouTube: 9 Weeks Nescac (https://www.youtube.com/@nineweeksnescac)
Spotify Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac
Apple Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac
Visit Nescacfootballreport.com for NESCACMAN's picks/spreads, additional analysis and NESCAC reporting

[Charlie]

I heard today not sure if anyone else has that the NESCAC is going to from 12 Spring practices to 20 number has not been exactly determined and allowing helmet and shoulder pads NO full contact or scrimmages.

In addition with the season starting a week later will the NESCAC adjust reporting dates or allow for an extra week of preseason. Does every NESCAC school adhere to the same reporting date or is it up to discretion of the each College ?

[gridiron]

Fantastic news for the Colby coaching staff.  VERY well deserved!

[Nescacman]

2026 NESCACMAN "Way Too Early" Season Preview

Some very "pre" pre-season fodder for those NESCAC Fans that can't wait for 2026.

We see the league in 2026 falling very neatly into 3 tiers and we are going to rank the Teams based on those tiers. Please remember, these tiers are based on what we know today. It factors in graduation and those returning from injury but does not factor in new first-years (FYI, very rarely do FYs have much of an impact in the NESCAC anyway...how many Dante Kelly's are there in any given year???), any transfers via the portal (not a big thing in the NESCAC), and 5th year graduate students that are sticking around (used to be a bigger deal in the NESCAC...post-COVID, not so much). If 2025 was the year of questions marks, especially at the QB position, 2026 is the year of certainty. Every team in the NESCAC, except for Middlebury, returns their projected starting QB in 2026.

Tier 1: We see these 3 teams contending for the 2026 NESCAC title and the NESCAC's first automatic bid in the D3 Championship Football Tournament.

Wesleyan Cardinals (2025 Record: 7-2), Hartford State Bantams (2025 Record: 7-2), Williams Ephs (2025 Record: 5-4)

Wesleyan has many returning stars including the NESCAC OPOTY, NESCAC ROTY and numerous All-NESCAC performers from the 2x NESCAC and 4x Little 3 Champ. IOO, they are the favorites headed into 2026 to be NESCAC's first ever NCAA play-off team. Hartford State returns a ton of starters from their 2025 (and 2024) NESCAC runner-up squad. Yes, they lose NESCAC OPOTY runner-up Nolan O'Brien but have several WRs ready to step into the #1 playmaker role. Most of their defense is back. Other than the games against Wesleyan and Colby, they played very well in 2025. Williams has as much raw talent as any team in the NESCAC. They just need to figure out a way to stay healthy. Health and depth are the Eph story lines we'll be watching in 2026.

Tier 2: Most of these teams have some pieces back. One or two of these teams could sneak into Tier 1 and contend for a NESCAC title in 2026, but some things would have to go very right for them. On the other side, one or two of these teams could also slide to Tier 3.

Middlebury (2025 Record: 5-4), Tufts Jumbo's (2025 Record: 4-5), Amherst Lord Mammoths (2025 Record: 5-4), Colby Mules (2025 Record: 6-3)

Middlebury needs to replace their starting QB, but they return one of the top RBs in the NESCAC in Connor McClellan. Tufts hopes to have their QB healthy from the start of the year. They were decent when he played. RB Christian Shapiro probably should have been an All-NESCAC selection in 2025 but will be a player to watch for the Jumbo's in 2026. Amherst loses a bunch of guys from a very good defensive unit. However, QB Marek Hill will have another year of experience under his belt. The Lord Mammoths could use some dynamic playmakers to help the QB. Despite a stellar year in 2025, we are not totally sold on Colby. They play good defense, but their offense was anemic. Not sure we see the offense being much better and the defense loses some of their guys in 2026. They'll be out to prove that 2025 wasn't a fluke.

Tier 3: This tier is comprised of teams that have a lot to prove in 2026. This tier is comprised of a team that was ravaged by injury in 2025, a team that primarily started FYs and Sophs, and a Team with one of the best QBs in the league but not much else.

University of Bates Bobcats (2025 Record: 2-7), Bowdoin Polar Bears (2025 Record: 2-7), Hamilton Continentals (2025 Record: 2-7)

We so want to rank UBates higher. They should be (much) better in 2025 with several of their wounded warriors back including their QB Sergio Beltran, C Matt Pierotti, and RB Ryan Lynskey. We're from Missouri on the Kitties. Bowdoin will be a year older and more experienced. The problem is the league will be much better in 2026. They seem to have found their future QB but need to get him some play makers to be competitive. DL Angus Leary will be one of the favorites to be DPOTY in 2026. Hamilton has one of the best returning QBs in the NESCAC in Luke Kurzum, but both lines need to improve dramatically to see a move up in the standings for the Conts. They also need to figure out a way to improve their running game to take pressure off Kurzum.