FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[ItsATuftSituation]

Official that Tufts and Wesleyan will be playing on the turf. Both schedules say "Citrin Field."

[Nescacman]

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast

Available Now! Available wherever you get your podcasts!

9 Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast S.3 Ep.2 (Special Guests: Wesleyan University AD and former Wesleyan and Williams College Head Coach Mike Whalen, "In the Huddle's" Frank Rossi (podcast that covers Division 3 football), and Trinity College WR Nolan O'Brien).

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.

The podcast is available wherever you get 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, Gameday Sports, and Noank Village Boatyard.
 
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/share/p/1EbgGxDZRd/)
YouTube: 9 Weeks Nescac (https://www.youtube.com/@nineweeksnescac)
Spotify Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac
Apple Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac

Look for NESCACMAN's weekly predictions and point spreads at nescacfootballreport.com. The NESCAC Football report is a website dedicated to all things NESCAC football, including team previews, weekly game previews and power rankings and game recaps.  The site now provides its followers with NESCACMAN's weekly game lines and predicted scores.

[Nescacman]

2026 Week 2 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome NESCAC 2026 Week #2 "in the league where they pay to play".

Our NESCAC game of the week is in Middletown Connecticut where the Mysterious Ministers from Middletown host the University of Tufts Jumbo's. This is the only battle in Week #2 that pits two undefeated teams against one another.

We went 4-1 with our picks last week only losing the UBates pick over Amherst.

Let's get to this week's games...

Amherst College at Hamilton College: We expect this game to be the closest, most competitive game in Week 2. Amherst's defense played well in Week 1 and has been very good in recent years. Lord Mammoth QB Marek Hill struggled in Week1 only completing 11 of 29 passes and throwing 2 picks. Hamilton's offense, more specifically QB Luke Kerzum, looked good last week. Their defense did not look good allowing 42 points to Tufts. Weather should not be a factor in this game. Amherst wins if: Marek Hill plays better and they contain Kurzum. Hamilton wins if: They run the ball with some consistency and their defense steps up.

Amherst 24 Hamilton 20
Point Spread:  Amherst -6
Weather (courtesy of The Weather Channel): Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. High 68F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.

Hartford State College at University of Bates (Lewiston Campus): The Bants travel to Lewistown to face the wounded ducks, we mean Kitties. UBATES will try to regroup after a shocking/disappointing loss in Blanketville last weekend. They will need to figure out the offense going forward if their leader, RB Ryan Lynskey, is out for any extended period. QB Jack Gilmore must be better for UBates. The Bants, led by WR Nolan O'Brien and QB Jaxon Carroll, rolled in Week1. They will have to be better than the last time they travelled to Maine (v. the Mules in Week 1 last year in Waterville) to come away with the W. UBates wins if: Their defense keeps the game low scoring and in the game. Hartford State wins if: The play their game one game at a time. UBates will struggle to score against the Bants defense and Hartford State has way too many weapons. Kitties have not beaten Hartford State since 1979 so there is that too.

Hartford State 35 UBates 13
Point Spread: Hartford State -21
Weather: Cloudy early with showers for the afternoon hours. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Middlebury College at Bowdoin College: As most longtime NESCAC observers will tell you, back in the day, under former HCOF Bob Ritter, Middlebury was a pass-first oriented offense. 3 years ago, when present HCOF Doug Mandigo took over, MID became more of a ball control offense and emphasize tough, physical defense. This is not a surprise give that Mandigo came from the defensive side of the ball. Give that Middlebury returned league rushing champ Connor McClellan, it was a bit surprising that they abandoned the run so early in their game against Wesleyan. Maybe it was because they went down big early or maybe it was part of the game plan. Meanwhile, Bowdoin's aggressive defense played well against Williams while their offense struggled big time. Middlebury wins if: They control the aggressive Bowdoin defense and protect their new signal caller. Bowdoin wins if: They force turnovers and their offense decides to show up. We don't think the Polars have enough offense. The Panthers get win #1 on the road.

Middlebury 24 Bowdoin 10
Point Spread: Middlebury -13
Weather: Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 66F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Williams College at Colby College: Williams has already been stung by the injury bug. QB Owen Johansen suffered what appeared to be a significant injury in Week1. Matt Bott and Luke Manghini didn't play in Week1. We think former starter Owen McHugh, who missed the 2025 season, is the next man up as the starting QB at Williams. McHugh is a different kind of player than Johansen so it will be interesting to see how the Williams offense performs. Last week at Bowdoin, the offense struggled while the defense played well. Colby meanwhile was handled by Hartford State. Transfer QB Stephen Gill played decently for the Mules. Their defense did not look like the Colby defense from 2025. Colby wins if: There defense plays much better than they did last week and the transfer QB plays well. Williams wins if: WR Zach Falls plays like he did in 2025 and the defense plays like it did last week against Bowdoin. Once again, we think Williams has too much talent to lose to a Maine team even on the road. This Colby team appears different than the 2025 squad where the defense reigned.

Williams 24 Colby 17
Point Spread: Williams -6
Weather: Overcast. High 69F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Tufts University at Wesleyan University: Only game in the NESCAC featuring two winning teams. These teams in recent years have typically played close, competitive games. The home team usually has the edge. Tufts has not won in Middletown since 2005. Tufts  RB Christian Shapiro is coming off a very good game last week and is the reigning NESCAC OPOTW. Wesleyan's offense showed last week in Vermont why they are one of the best in the NESCAC. Their defense is pretty good as well. This game has been moved to the Citrin Field turf. We think wind could be more of a factor than rain. Tufts wins if: They stop the Wesleyan passing attack and get the running game going. Wesleyan wins if: The weather allows them to play their regular offense. The defense contains the Tufts running game and doesn't allow Weidman to scramble around for large gains.  Tufts offense is better than what Wesleyan saw last week in MID but their defense is not. Wesleyan wins another workman-like contest.

Wesleyan 31 Tufts 17
Point Spread: Wesleyan -10
Weather: Rain showers in the morning will evolve into a steadier rain in the afternoon. High 61F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.

Good luck to all the student-athletes and coaches this Saturday!

NESCACMAN's Career Picks:
2026 Season: 4-1 (.800 winning percentage)
2025 Season: 32-13
2024 Season: 38-7
2023 Season: 31-14
2022 Season: 31-14
2021 Season: 33-12
2020 Season: 0-0 (COVID)
2019 Season: 33-12
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 397-128 (.756 winning percentage, 13 seasons)

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Follow NESCACMAN on X: @realnescacman

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Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast

Available Now! Available wherever you get your podcasts!

9 Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast S.3 Ep.2 (Special Guests: Wesleyan University AD and former Wesleyan and Williams College Head Coach Mike Whalen, "In the Huddle's" Frank Rossi (podcast that covers Division 3 football), and Trinity College WR Nolan O'Brien).

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.

The podcast is available wherever you get 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, Gameday Sports, and Noank Village Boatyard.
 
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/share/p/1EbgGxDZRd/)
YouTube: 9 Weeks Nescac (https://www.youtube.com/@nineweeksnescac)
Spotify Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac
Apple Podcasts: 9 Weeks Nescac

Look for NESCACMAN's weekly predictions and point spreads at nescacfootballreport.com. The NESCAC Football report is a website dedicated to all things NESCAC football, including team previews, weekly game previews and power rankings and game recaps.  The site now provides its followers with NESCACMAN's weekly game lines and predicted scores.

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN reporting from rainy, windy Citrin Field in Middletown.  Should be an "interesting" day here. Stay tuned..

NM

[SpringSt7]

Williams improves to 2-0, going on the road to Waterville and defeating Colby 19-7.

Strangely, despite playing on the road against what was supposed to be a better opponent, and also winning by an almost identical score, it seemed like a flatter and less inspired performance to me. A lot of that was primarily because it was Owen McHugh's return as the starting QB and the air game left a lot to be desired. He was just 6-12 for 53 yards and an interception, which was quite a poor decision and poorly timed. My compatriot nescac1 will disagree with me but I am much less impressed by the WRs, I think the group lacks speed and the ability to create separation. So I say that to say that it is hard to pin the passing struggles on McHugh.

With that being said, they were EXCELLENT in the run game. I don't know what Matt Bott's injury is but at this point the RB room belongs to FY Jack Fabiano, who was really good again - 29 carries for 143 yards and 2 TDs. He looks like the next Mario Fischetti and has to be the early favorite for Rookie of the Year.

McHugh was also excellent on the ground, 21 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown. Remember that in college, sacks count as lost rushing yards, so if you take away Colby's 2 sacks, it was 19 carries for 100 yards. Some of it was on designed runs but he also had some really nice scrambles.

The defense was also excellent again, up front in particular. They held Colby to just 61 rushing yards following a week where they held Bowdoin to 12. If they stay healthy, which is a big if, they look like their front 7 could be the best in the league (could, nescacman, could).

Next week the Ephs head to Trinity. I would say they are roughly -19.5 underdogs given the struggles of the passing game and that running on Colby and Bowdoin is different than running on Trinity. Williams had championship aspirations coming into the season and those took a big hit when Owen Johansen went down for the season. I think there was a contingent that hoped McHugh could still do what Johansen would've done and while that seems less likely now, there is at least a blueprint and identity for Williams to win football games with a power run game that controls TOP and keeps the chains moving, and a defense that puts opposing offenses on the back foot in early down and distance.

While they are longshots against Trinity, McHugh and co. still have a lot of time to find their footing and fully gel on offense but in the short term it is nice to get out of Colby with a W and be 2-0.