FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[SpringSt7]

Quick week 1 reactions and overreactions

-Trinity and Wesleyan the clear top 2 - if Carroll plays like that all year Trinity will be tough to beat. Wesleyan just has so many dudes

-Kurzum has taken another leap and Hamilton will be a frisky out

-Another long year in Lewiston if Lynskey is out for an extended amount of time

[Nescacman]

Quick week 1 reactions and overreactions

-Trinity and Wesleyan the clear top 2 - if Carroll plays like that all year Trinity will be tough to beat. Wesleyan just has so many dudes

-Kurzum has taken another leap and Hamilton will be a frisky out

-Another long year in Lewiston if Lynskey is out for an extended amount of time

Spring our dear Eph friend...didn't you forget one?!?   

[Patrick Coleman]

I removed the @CardiacEphs post and every post that referenced it, other than the one that debunked it.

Better explain yourself, @CardiacEphs.

[SpringSt7]

Quick week 1 reactions and overreactions

-Trinity and Wesleyan the clear top 2 - if Carroll plays like that all year Trinity will be tough to beat. Wesleyan just has so many dudes

-Kurzum has taken another leap and Hamilton will be a frisky out

-Another long year in Lewiston if Lynskey is out for an extended amount of time

Spring our dear Eph friend...didn't you forget one?!?   

I don't know what the reaction would be but if Owen Johansen is out for a while that would be news worth reacting to. But I am not a reporter and don't know what the prognosis is and will wait until we hear more.

Edit: Also realized this is a little hypocritical given I mentioned the Lynskey injury. That is on me

[Nescacman]

2026 NESCACMAN Week 1 Power Rankings

Welcome to the NESCACMAN Week #1 Power Rankings for 2026.

NESCACMAN went 4-1 in Week #1 picking games. Our winners were Wesleyan, Tufts, Williams, and Hartford State. UBates was our lone loser. Wesleyan remains in the top spot in the NESCACMAN Consortium rankings.

NESCAC headlines for Week #1:
•   Every home team won except for Middlebury.
•   All the favorites won with Wesleyan and Hartford State doing so in impressive fashion.
•   Hartford State avenges last year's opening day loss to Colby with Jaxon Carrol and Nolan O'Brien leading the way.
•   Wesleyan's offense looked to be as good as advertised.
•   Tufts HCOF Jay Civetti becomes the all-time winningest coach in Tufts football history. Congratulations to Coach Jay.
•   Injuries were a big part of the day with OPOTY candidates Owen Johansen and Ryan Lynskey both leaving their games with what appeared to be significant injuries.

We also co-host "Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast" along with Chris Grace, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Wesleyan Football Cardinals. Available weekly, the podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple. Please follow us and take a listen. Season 3, Episode 1  is available now featuring ALL 10 NESCAC Head Coaches, former Wesleyan Cardinal lineman and NESCAC great Nick Helbig, and NESCAC Football Report's Jon Keith. Season 3, Episode 2 will be available later this week and will feature two more amazing guests as well as a review of Week #1's games and previews/picks for Week #2. Should be another great watch/listen. We encourage you to check it out.

Here are our rankings for Week #1:

1). Wesleyan Cardinals (Record: 1-0; Last Week Rank: 1; Last Week: Win @Middlebury 35-13; This week: host Tufts):  Wesleyan led from start to finish and won in "workmen-like" fashion. Wes controlled the clock, did not  turn the ball over or allow a sack, and converted a high percentage of third downs. Very strong week #1 execution by the Cards. Kudo's to Wesleyan Senior RB Jared Lindstrom for returning to action after being out for 1,043 days.   

2). Hartford State Bantams (Record: 1-0; Last Week Rank: 2; Last Week: Win v. Colby 34-14; This week: @UBates): Avenge last year's opening day loss to Colby. QB  Jaxon Carroll and WR Nolan O'Brien were impressive in the win. Run defense looks stout as they only allowed 22 yards rushing. Looks like another very good Bantam team.

3). Williams Purple Cows (Record: 1-0; Last Week Rank: 3; Last Week: Win v. Bowdoin 17-7; This week: @Colby): Sluggish game for the Ephs. Did enough to win against the offensively challenged Polars. QB Owen Johansen was injured and Owen McHugh relieved him. They ran the ball well in as they have in recent years. OPOTY candidate WR Zach Falls was quiet on the day. The defense played well holding Bowdoin to just 12 yards rushing and forcing 3 turnovers.

4). Tufts Jumbo's (Record: 1-0; Last Week Rank: 4; Last Week: Win v. Hamilton 42-28; This week: @Wesleyan): Offense looked proficient in disposing of the Continentals. Christian Shapiro went over the century mark on the ground adding 4 TDs. Luke Kurzum threw for over 300 yards and 2 TDs. Pass defense will need to be better this week as they face a tougher test this week in Wesleyan.

5). Middlebury (Record: 0-1; Last Week Rank: 5; Last Week: Loss v. Wesleyan 42-28; This week: @Bowdoin): The Panthers seemingly abandoned the run early and had only 70 yards rushing on the day. 2025 NESCAC rushing champ RB Connor McClellan only had 22 yards on 10 carries. Aiden Moss started at QB for MID and played well enough despite throwing a pick 6. Middlebury seemed content to shut down the Wes long-range passing game. Wes QB Fitzsimons took what the Panthers gave him and completed pass after pass underneath all day.

6). Amherst Lord Mammoths (Record: 1-0; Last Week Rank: 7; Last Week: Win v. UBates 24-14; This week: @Hamilton): Sluggish win for the Lord Mammoths in their home opener in front of 500 (!) loyal fans. QB Marek Hill (11 for 29, 2 interceptions including a pick 6) struggled for Amherst. Defense was solid in the win.

7). Colby Mules (Record: 0-1; Last Week Rank: 8; Last Week: Loss @Hartford State 34-14; This week: host Williams): As expected, it appears that the Mules will take a step back after their stellar 2025 season. Offensive struggles that we have become used to, seem to still be there. Transfer QB Stehen Gill had 2 TD as the Mules appeared to deploy a platoon at QB. They only had 22 yards on the ground (on 25 attempts). Defense does not appear to be as strong as 2025 as they allowed almost 500 yards of total offense to the Bantams.

8). University of Bates Bobcats (Lewiston Campus)(Record: 0-1; Last Week Rank: 6; Last Week: Loss @Amherst 24-14; This week: host Hartford State): Kitties led against the Lord Mammoths with 3 minutes to play in the 4th. OPOTY Ryan Lynskey candidate suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury. QB Jack Gilmore struggled throwing 4 INTS. Not going to get easier this week against Hartford State for the Kitties.

9). Hamilton Continentals (Record: 0-1; Last Week Rank: 10; Last Week: Loss @Tufts 42-28; This week: host Amherst): Hamilton QB Luke Kurzum gives the Conts a shot every week. Offense is decent (at least their passing game). 346 yards passing vs. 28 yards rushing. Defense is an issue for Hamilton.

10). Bowdoin Polar Bears (Record: 0-1; Last Week Rank: 9; Last Week: Loss @Williams 17-7; This week: host Middlebury): Nearly shutout in Williamstown. Couldn't run the ball effectively and passing game was not much better. 3 turnovers did not help.

2026 NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week: RB Christian Shapiro, Tufts

2026 NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week: DB Tommy Kilroy, Wesleyan

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