FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

2026 Week 9 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome to NESCAC 2026 Week #9, the final week of the regular season, "in the league where they pay to play."

And what a finish this is going to be!

Our NESCAC Game of the Week is the Turducken Bowl in Hartford, CT, where the undefeated Hartford State Bantams (8–0) host the Wesleyan Cardinals (7–1). This is the game we have been anticipating all season. The stakes could not be higher: a NESCAC championship and the conference's first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship Tournament are at stake. Hartford State wins and they finish 9–0, capture the outright NESCAC championship, and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Wesleyan wins and things get VERY interesting, particularly if Amherst beats Williams.

We went 4–1 picking winners last week and stand at 34–6 (.850) on the year. Our only miss last week was our upset special when we picked Hamilton over Middlebury. The Conts came close but couldn't quite finish the job. An injury in the 2nd quarter to star QB Luke Kurzum doomed the Conts.

NESCAC headlines heading into Week #9:
•    The main headline for Week 9 is the Turducken Bowl: Wesleyan at undefeated Hartford State. A Bantam victory delivers an outright 9–0 championship and the automatic NCAA bid. A Wesleyan victory, combined with an Amherst win over Williams, produces a three-way tie at 8–1. Under the official NESCAC tiebreaking procedures, that scenario would require a random draw to determine the conference's NCAA automatic qualifier.
•    Hartford State survived Amherst 16–13, clinching at least a share of the NESCAC title. The Bantams were outgained 416–219 and didn't score an offensive TD but found a way to win. That's what championship teams do.
•    Wesleyan took care of business against Williams, winning 20–7. The Cardinals have allowed just seven points over their last two games.
•    Amherst is NOT out of the championship picture. A victory over Williams combined with a Wesleyan win over Hartford State would create a three-way tie for the title. The irony is Amherst fans will be rooting for Wesleyan and Wesleyan fans will be rooting for Williams.
•    Middlebury is playing for a winning season when they travel to Tufts.
•    Bowdoin remains the league's only winless team at 0–8. The Polar Bears have undergone a coaching change and will try to avoid their first winless season since 2018.
•    The C-B-B concludes in Brunswick, where Colby will try to clinch the title.
•    For the first time in NESCAC history, the regular season concludes with a trip to the NCAA D3 Football Championship on the line.

Our upset special this week: Wesleyan over Hartford State!

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

Amherst College (7–1) at Williams College (5–3): The Biggest Little Game in America. The 140th meeting between Amherst and Williams carries more significance than usual this year. Amherst comes into Williamstown knowing that a victory keeps its NESCAC Championship and NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Lord Mammoths suffered their first loss of the season last week, falling to Hartford State 16–13 in a game they probably should have won. Amherst outgained the Bantams 416–219 but couldn't convert opportunities into points. Six trips into the red zone produced just 13 points. That's not going to win many championship games. QB Marek Hill threw for 350 yards against one of the best defenses in the country. That performance should give Amherst confidence heading into Williamstown. Williams comes into this game following a disappointing 20–7 loss to Wesleyan. The Ephs have struggled against the NESCAC's elite teams this year, losing to Hartford State 45–0 and Wesleyan 20–7. The question for Williams is whether they can establish their running game against a very good Amherst defensive front 7. FY RB Jack Fabiano has demonstrated he can be a difference-maker, but the Ephs need more balance offensively. Amherst wins if: Hill continues to play at a high level, the Mammoths protect the football, and they improve their red-zone efficiency. Amherst needs to put last week's disappointment behind them. Williams wins if: They establish the running game, control the clock, and force Amherst into a low-scoring, physical contest. Back-up QB Renzella isn't forced to have to win it for the Ephs. Turnovers and special teams could be the great equalizers. Although we think Amherst is the better overall football team, this is a home game for the Ephs and a huge rivalry game. The Lord Mammoths have more to play for and should be able to exploit Williams through the air. However, we expect the Ephs to keep this game close, particularly at home, and come away with the upset win over the Lord Mammoths.

Williams 17 Amherst 13
Point Spread: Amherst -3
Weather (courtesy of The Weather Channel): Cloudy. A few flurries are possible. High around 40F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Middlebury College (4–4) at Tufts University (5–3): Two programs trying to finish their seasons on a positive note. Middlebury is coming off a hard-fought 20–17 victory over Hamilton, extending its remarkable winning streak against the Continentals. The Panthers have played better than their 4–4 record would suggest. Consider this: Middlebury lost to Amherst by one point and Hartford State by three points. That's four points separating the Panthers from potentially having a very different season. RB Connor McClellan has been outstanding. He leads the conference with 12 rushing touchdowns and is tied for the NESCAC lead with 721 rushing yards. McClellan has established himself as one of the league's premier offensive players. Tufts, meanwhile, is coming off an impressive 26–7 road victory over Colby. QB Nate Johnson completed 25 of 32 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown. The Jumbos dominated time of possession, holding the football for more than 42 minutes. Tufts has been difficult to figure out this year. They have impressive wins over Williams and Colby but were soundly beaten by Wesleyan and Hartford State. Middlebury wins if: They establish McClellan early, control the clock, and force Tufts into long third-down situations. The Panthers need to play physical football and limit explosive plays.
Tufts wins if: Johnson continues his efficient play, Christian Shapiro gets going in the running game, and the Jumbos maintain offensive balance. They also must contain McClellan. We think this is one of the more competitive games on Saturday's schedule. Tufts has the home-field advantage, but Middlebury has played the league's top teams very tough. We give Tufts the slight edge at home.

Tufts 24 Middlebury 21
Point Spread: Tufts -2
Weather: Mainly cloudy. High 46F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

University of Bates (Lewiston Campus) (1–7) at Hamilton College (2–6): The Kitties finally got one! UBates earned its first victory of the season last week, defeating Bowdoin 10–7 in a game that probably won't be remembered for its offensive fireworks. Trailing 7–3 late in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats converted a critical fourth down before Jack Gilmour connected with Jeff Vidou for the game-winning touchdown. For Bates, the victory ends a frustrating seven-game losing streak and gives the Bobcats some momentum heading into the finale. Hamilton is coming off another disappointing close loss, falling 20–17 to Middlebury. The Continentals have one of the league's most productive passing attacks but have struggled defensively throughout the season. QB Luke Kurzum and WR Matthew Kearns form one of the best passing combinations in the league. Kearns leads the NESCAC with 802 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions. Kurzum was injured last week. We hope he can play. Hamilton's problem hasn't been moving the football. It's been stopping opponents. Hamilton wins if: Kurzum plays and takes advantage of the Bates secondary, limits turnovers, and generates enough offensive production to overcome Hamilton's defensive shortcomings. UBates wins if: The Kitties establish their running game, create turnovers, and keep Hamilton's offense on the sidelines. Long road trip for the Kitties. UBates must avoid getting into a shootout. We think Hamilton has too much offensive firepower for the Kitties even with their back-up QB playing. UBates will compete, but Hamilton gets the W and finishes 3–6.

Hamilton 31 UBates 17
Point Spread: Hamilton -10
Weather: Cloudy. High 39F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Colby College (1–7) at Bowdoin College (0–8): The final installment of the 2026 version of the C-B-B. Let's be honest. This hasn't exactly been a banner year for Maine NESCAC football. Colby enters the game 1–7, while Bowdoin remains winless at 0–8. The Polar Bears are coming off another heartbreaking defeat, losing 10–7 to Bates after surrendering a late touchdown. Bowdoin led in the fourth quarter before watching another opportunity slip away. At least Bowdoin found the end zone last week, avoiding setting the offensive futility record we discussed last week (which they can break this week). The bigger story in Brunswick is the Bowdoin coaching situation. B.J. Hammer is no longer serving as head coach, effective November 1, and the program enters its final game facing considerable uncertainty. The Polar Bears have scored just 50 points in eight games, averaging 6.25 points per contest. That's an astonishing lack of offensive production in today's college football. Colby has also struggled, but the Mules have demonstrated more offensive capability. They defeated Bates 21–19 two weeks ago before falling to Tufts 26–7. They seem to have finally found a QB. Bowdoin wins if: They score more than two touchdowns, don't turn the ball over, and get a dominant performance from their defensive front. Angus Leary has been outstanding, leading the conference with eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Colby wins if: They establish some offensive rhythm and take advantage of Bowdoin's inability to consistently move the football. We think the Mules are the better team and will finish their season with their second victory. Bowdoin finishes 0–9, and the offseason brings some very difficult questions about the future of the Polar Bear football program.

Colby 17 Bowdoin 6
Point Spread: Colby -10
Weather: Overcast. High 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

NESCAC GAME OF THE WEEK: The Turducken Bowl

Wesleyan University (7–1) at Hartford State College (8–0): NESCAC Championship Showdown. This is it. Nine weeks of football. One game remaining. A NESCAC championship and an NCAA Tournament berth hanging in the balance. For the first time in conference history, NESCAC football will send a team to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, and Saturday's matchup in Hartford could determine who gets that coveted invitation. Hartford State comes into the game undefeated at 8–0 following last week's 16–13 victory over Amherst. Wesleyan enters at 7–1 after defeating Williams 20–7. The Cardinals' only loss came against Amherst, 15–9, in a game they certainly had opportunities to win. This has all the makings of a classic Turducken Bowl.

Why we are picking Wesleyan:
1. Wesleyan's defense is playing its best football of the season. The Cardinals have allowed just seven points in their last two games, shutting out Bowdoin 28–0 and holding Williams to seven points. Jack Bronikowski has emerged as a major playmaker in the secondary, recording three interceptions over the past two games, including two against Williams. Wesleyan will need another outstanding defensive effort against the Bantams.
2. Hartford State's offense has come back to earth. The Bantams averaged nearly 40 points per game during their first four contests. Over their last four games, they have averaged just 19.5 points. Against Amherst, Trinity managed only 219 yards of total offense and failed to score an offensive touchdown. That's a significant change from the dominant offense we saw earlier in the season.
3. Wesleyan has the weapons to challenge Hartford State's defense. Wesleyan features a balanced offense with talented skill-position players capable of producing explosive plays. WR Sean Cannon had a monster game against Williams, catching six passes for 144 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. The Cardinals cannot expect to consistently move the football against Hartford State's defense, so explosive plays could be the difference.
4. The pressure is on Hartford State. The Bantams have been the league's most dominant team throughout the season. They have led the standings since Week #1 and have a perfect season within their grasp. But Wesleyan has championship experience and understands what it takes to win big games. The Cardinals can play aggressively knowing a victory gives them at least a share of the conference championship. Wesleyan has had the Bants number in recent years winning the last two head-to-head matchups.

Why Hartford State could win:
1. The Bantams have the best defense in the NESCAC. Hartford State's defense has been outstanding all season. Last week against Amherst, senior LB Shane Mosia recorded 10 tackles, an interception, a blocked field goal, and a pass breakup. His performance earned him NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The Bantams have the defensive personnel to disrupt Wesleyan's passing game and force the Cardinals into mistakes.
2. Home-field advantage. Hartford State has been virtually unbeatable at home in recent years. Playing the Turducken Bowl in Hartford with an undefeated season on the line gives the Bantams a significant advantage.
3. The Bantams know how to win close games. Hartford State has survived consecutive three-point victories over Middlebury and Amherst. The Bantams have demonstrated they can win games even when their offense isn't clicking.
4. Championship experience. Hartford State has been one of the NESCAC's most consistently successful programs for more than two decades. They understand the importance of winning the line of scrimmage, limiting mistakes, and making big plays in critical moments.

Our assessment:
Factor/Advantage
Offense-Wesleyan
Defense-Hartford State
Quarterback play-Wesleyan
Running game-Hartford State
Passing game-Wesleyan
Special teams-Even
Home-field advantage-Hartford State
Recent momentum-Wesleyan
Championship experience-Even
Coaching-Even

Our prediction: We think this will be another classic NESCAC defensive battle. Hartford State's defense will make it difficult for Wesleyan to consistently sustain drives. But we also believe Wesleyan's defense has improved dramatically over the second half of the season. The key matchup will be Wesleyan's offense against the Bantams' defensive front. If Wesleyan can protect its quarterback and generate a few explosive passing plays, the Cardinals can win this game. We expect a relatively low-scoring contest with the outcome undecided until the fourth quarter. Our prediction is that Wesleyan scores a late touchdown and holds off Hartford State in the final minutes. The result? A potentially historic three-way tie for the NESCAC championship, depending on what happens in Williamstown. Let the Turducken festivities begin!

Wesleyan 24 Hartford State 23
Hartford State -3
Weather: Cloudy skies. High 46F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

NESCACMAN's Week 9 Picks at a Glance:
Game/Predicted Winner/Score/Point Spread
Amherst at Williams/Williams/17–13/Amherst -3
Middlebury at Tufts/Tufts/24–21/Tufts -2
UBates at Hamilton/Hamilton/31–17/Hamilton -10
Colby at Bowdoin/Colby/17–6/Colby -10
NESCAC Game of the Week: Wesleyan at Hartford State/Wesleyan/24–23/Hartford State -3

[TheJeff]

Just saw a post on instagram from Dave Caputi's daughter saying this Saturday will be his last game coaching after 44 years on the sidelines. Congratulations Coach Caputi on a great career, class act!

[Nescacman]

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast

Available Now! Available wherever you get your podcasts!

9 Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast S.3 Ep.9 (Special Guests: Trinity College LB Lincoln Moore, Wesleyan University Head Coach Dan DiCenzo, and NESCAC Football Report's Jon Keith).

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. With the NESCAC championship and the conference's first NCAA Tournament berth on the line, there has never been a more exciting time to follow NESCAC football!

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
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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.

[quicksilver]

Just saw a post on instagram from Dave Caputi's daughter saying this Saturday will be his last game coaching after 44 years on the sidelines. Congratulations Coach Caputi on a great career, class act!

Also there was a very nice post on Instagram by former Bowdoin QB Mac Caputi on what a terrific person his father is.

[MapleBBQChicken]

Just saw a post on instagram from Dave Caputi's daughter saying this Saturday will be his last game coaching after 44 years on the sidelines. Congratulations Coach Caputi on a great career, class act!

Also there was a very nice post on Instagram by former Bowdoin QB Mac Caputi on what a terrific person his father is.

I'm really glad this story is getting some coverage despite all the other exciting things happening around the conference. As mentioned, Coach Caputi is wrapping up his 44th and final year of coaching. Notably, all 44 years were in the NESCAC, and he has spent time with five of the league's ten football programs. His career included many seasons as a position coach, as a coordinator, and as a head coach, and he even played football himself at Middlebury before all of that.

A half century of NESCAC football is a truly incredible feat, and I would go as far as saying that this league and community wouldn't be what they are without Dave Caputi. I had the distinct privilege of having him as my OL coach at Middlebury, and the stories I could tell are endless—both within football and outside of it. I've met very, very few people in my life who are as knowledgeable, kind, and funny. I wish him the best in retirement.

[Nescacman]

Coach Gruden has a message for all of those Wesleyan fans out there! #rollcards

https://www.cameo.com/recipient/6af5d7b620ef1228b1a6e109?utm_campaign=video_share_to_copy

[Trin9-0]

A big thanks to you, Nescacman for all the work you put into covering the league, both here and on the podcast. By the way, you're welcome for the historical stats you stole cited on this week's episode.    I do very much enjoy our playful rivalry and am looking forward to one of the ALL-TIME big games in NESCAC history tomorrow. Sadly, I won't be able to watch the game in person or share a beer with you at your legendary tailgate (thus is the life of a parent with kids in youth sports). There's 0% surprise that you picked Wesleyan to win and I'm sure no one is shocked to find that I'm taking the Bants. Here are my scattered thoughts about THE 125th TRINITY-WESLEYAN GAME:

The case for Wesleyan
I disagree that the pressure is on Trinity. The Bants already have a share of the title and a playoff spot wrapped up. However, I think being the more desperate team actually benefits Wesleyan. It's all or nothing for the Cardinals. Win and they're in and they'll get at least a share of the title. Lose and their season is over. Facing the finality of your football career can be a very powerful motivator.

On the surface, Trinity seems to have leveled off while Wesleyan appears to be ascending. However, the last two weeks are not what has impressed me about Wesleyan. Shutting down Bowdoin, one of the most inept offenses in league history, and limiting Williams' fourth string QB isn't the flex Nescacman thinks it is. What has impressed me is that no team has really moved the ball and/or scored on the Cards outside of Hamilton who has the most explosive passing attack in the league. Most of Trinity's scoring has been against average to below average defenses. It's going to take a career game from Jaxon Carroll to take down Wes and claim Trinity's first undefeated season since 2022.

Since losing Tate Hoffmeister to a season ending injury in Week 4 against Hamilton, Trinity hasn't had the same power element to their run game. As good as Woodford and Tosone have been for the Bantams they share a similar running style. Wesleyan's rush defense is very good. They held the league's top two rushing attacks, Williams & Tufts, to 72 & 82 rushing yards respectively for a combined 3.2 yards per carry and 1 total rushing TD. If the Bants can't consistently run the ball it's going to be a long day for Trinity.

Matt Fitzsimons is an excellent quarterback. He has the accuracy, the patience, and the weapons to move the ball down the field on short passes which could mitigate Trinity's excellent defensive front. Another reason for Wes to get rid of the ball quickly; they have allowed the most sacks in the NESCAC and Trinity is tied for the league lead in sacks. Last year in Middletown, the Cardinal rushing attack was the difference as Wes rushed for 215 yards. I don't think there's any way they'll have the same success on the ground this year so Wesleyan will need Fitzsimons to be excellent to win. He's more than capable of that.

Why I think Trinity wins
The health of both Nolan O'Brien and Pat McCaffery are a big factor in this game. They both played last week but combined for just 6 catches for 40 yards. If that pair is closer to 100% against Wes and you add the ascension of Darison Hooper as one of the league's top receiving threats, I think Jaxon Carroll could be poised for a big day. If not, it could be tough sledding against Wes because the Cardinal pass defense is ranked only behind Bowdoin's excellent unit. Wes has been susceptible to the big play against the other top passing attacks in the league. The Cards allowed an eye-popping 353 yards through the air against Hamilton and Amherst connected on multiple explosive passing plays. If the Trin-trio of receivers is fully in tact I think one, or more, could produce a game-changing play.

In a high-pressure, evenly matched game, capitalizing on scoring opportunities will be MASSIVE. Trinity has the league's top redzone defense and is 2nd in redzone offense. Surprisingly, Wesleyan's redzone offense ranks 6th and their defense ranks 5th. The kicker situation is strange for both teams. Incredibly, Wesleyan hasn't made a field goal all season... but they've only attempted two!? Gage Hammond missed from 31 against Colby and 25 against Bates but he is 31/32 on extra point attempts. Trinity has used three kickers this season and two just last week. Freshman, Luke Harvey, was clutch against Amherst nailing both his kicks (including a 40 yarder). Meanwhile, Max Wallace owns the two longest made field goals in the NESCAC this season (47 yards against Williams and 43 yards against Amherst). I'd have to give the nod to Trinity here if it boils down to a late and/or long kick needed to win the game.

Trinity has thrived on getting an early lead allowing their defense to hold on late. They've allowed just 16 points this season in the first half. I'm anticipating a similar game script with a one score lead at the half and a rollercoaster fourth quarter that comes down to the wire. Wesleyan is the most penalized team in the NESCAC. Often times close games are decided by a single mental lapse. We can't overlook special teams but aside from the already mentioned field goal kicking situation I don't see a huge advantage one way or the other. O'Brien's health factors in here; he hasn't handled any return duties since Week 3 and I wouldn't expect that to change given his injury status.

The game being played in The Coop is an advantage, but Wes won't be intimidated by the mystique. The Cards have won two of the last three games in Hartford. Many of these Cardinal players have never lost to the Bants and they've won in Hartford before. Following a stretch where Trinity won 20 of 22 games against Wes, I know losing consecutive games to their rivals does not sit well with the Trinity upperclassmen and they are desperate to reclaim the undisputed top spot in the NESCAC. It's been rough losing to Wesleyan the last two years, but after more than two decades of a completely lopsided rivalry it sure is fun to see some good old fashioned hate back in this game. Just take a look at some of these quotes via the Hartford Courant:

"This game just means a little bit more. It means more for us, more for them. There's hate involved. Two years of waiting to get back at this team."
Trinity Defensive Tackle, Luke Pickard

"You just know at the end of the year, this game's coming. Everyone has it marked on their calendar, circled up. It's just hate. I don't like the red and white. I can't stand watching them on film."
Trinity Linebacker, Shane Mosia

"There's a lot of hate. I  think the other side would say the same thing. There's a lot of hate, and there's a certain need to win this game regardless of any extra meaning there is."
Trinity Wide Receiver, Nolan O'Brien

Final prediction: The Broad Street Bullies are back! Trinity beats Wesleyan 16-14. No coin flips required.

[Trin9-0]

Coach Gruden has a message for all of those Wesleyan fans out there! #rollcards

https://www.cameo.com/recipient/6af5d7b620ef1228b1a6e109?utm_campaign=video_share_to_copy

Beyond corny.