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Football

RMC Takes Up Familiar Position Atop ODAC Football Preseason Poll

Eight-Team Table Includes a Pair of Ties

FOREST, Va. --- Add one more checkmark to Randolph-Macon College's ODAC Football Preseason Poll tally as the Yellow Jackets top the annual coach's survey for an eighth straight season. The four-time defending ODAC champions collected a maximum 49 points powered by seven first place votes.

There are two ties in this year's preseason table, including second place. Hampden-Sydney College and Washington and Lee University each garnered 38 markers with the Tigers receiving the remaining first place nod. Shenandoah University sits in solo fourth with 33 tallies, while Bridgewater College and Roanoke College are tied for fifth with 23 points each. Guilford College and Averett University cap the list with 12 and eight tallies, respectively.

The ODAC's 2026 sponsorship is short one team when compared with last year's group. Gallaudet University exited the conference following the 2025 campaign, making last season the Bison's lone venture in ODAC football. GU will play under the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) banner beginning this season.

In the sections below, we look back to the 2025 season to set the tone for this year and then dive into some features of ODAC football for the upcoming 2026 campaign.

2026 ODAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) denotes first place votes received

1.Randolph-Macon College (7)49 pts.
2.Hampden-Sydney College (1)     38 pts.
2.Washington and Lee University38 pts.
4.Shenandoah University33 pts.
5.Bridgewater College23 pts.
5.Roanoke College23 pts.
7.Guilford College12 pts.
8.Averett University8 pts.
    • ODAC teams posted another strong season overall with five programs boasting better than .500 winning percentages
    • Randolph-Macon posted its fourth straight unbeaten ODAC campaign, going 8-0 to claim the Yellow Jackets' 16th title, the most in ODAC history
      • RMC has not lost more than one ODAC game since going 4-2 in 2017
      • RMC owns a 51-3 (.944) record in ODAC games over the last eight seasons (including the shortened schedule during the COVID pandemic)
    • The Chesapeake Challenge bowl series with the Landmark Conference returned to campus sites following a neutral event in 2024
      • Shenandoah competed in the Cape Henry Bowl for the first time – the Hornets featured in the 2024 Cape Charles; SU came up just short of its first bowl series victory as a 20-yard field goal as time expired lifted Wilkes University to a 37-35 win at Glo Fiber Field at Shentel Stadium in Winchester
      • Washington and Lee made its third appearance in a Chesapeake Bowl game as the Generals squared off with Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa.; WLU made two touchdown runs by Ryan Clemens stand up on the way to a 14-12 victory at Girardi Stadium; the Generals are now 2-1 in the Chesapeake Challenge
    • Randolph-Macon was the lone ODAC school entered in Division III football's new 40-team bracket
    • The Yellow Jackets received one of several byes in the first round before a trip to Cleveland, Ohio for a showdown at John Carroll University
    • RMC played even with the Blue Streaks in the first quarter, but the eventual semifinalists posted 28 unanswered points to claim a 35-6 victory
    • Randolph-Macon has gone 6-4 over the past four Division III championships powered by a 3-1 showing in 2023 that included a run to the semifinals
    • ODAC teams are now 20-35 (.364) all-time in the Division III football playoffs
    • D3football.com Top-25 Poll
      • Randolph-Macon opens the season as the lone ODAC team represented in the D3football.com Preseason Top-25 Poll
      • The Yellow Jackets are 25th in the table, having received 48 total points
      • Stagg Bowl runner-up North Central College (Ill.) headlines this season's list with 625 points, 49 markers clear of second place Bethel University (Minn.)(576)
      • Defending champion Wisconsin-River Falls opens as the seventh-ranked team
    • D3football.com Preseason All-Americans
      • For the second straight year, three ODAC stars featured as D3football.com Preseason All-Americans with three different schools represented
        • The Second Team offense includes a pair of ODAC tackles with Washington and Lee's Wesley Howenstein and Randolph-Macon's Myles Bridges among the 11-player unit
        • On defense, Hampden-Sydney corner Parks Cromwell locks down one side of the field as a Third Team selection
    • AFCA Division III Preseason Top-25
      • Randolph-Macon was the lone ODAC school in the coaches association survey, chiming in 23rd overall
      • North Central College (Ill.), last season's national runner-up, opens as the top-ranked team with defending champion Wisconsin-River Falls sits seventh

  • When it comes to returning All-ODAC talent, the 2026 season begins as a tale of two separate sides of the ball. On offense, 22 of the 35 all-conference stars are back including eight each from the All-ODAC Second and Third Teams with six more from the All-ODAC First Team. Defense is a different story with 10 fewer all-league standouts back on the gridiron. Just three first teamers and one third teamer return along with eight second team selections.

    Three of the six special award winners are back on league rosters. Reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Pedro Arruza welcomes back seven of his 17 All-ODAC competitors. Roanoke, fresh off its first season, also features seven returners to tie RMC for top honors. Quarterback Mekhi Brown is among five all-conference standouts back at Shenandoah with the second-year signal-caller eager to build upon his ODAC Rookie of the Year season. Washington and Lee offensive tackle Wesley Howenstein earned the first ODAC Lineman of the Year award, which is an honor that can be won by any offensive or defensive star that plays in the trenches. Howenstein is one of six Generals back for another run.

    • OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD, RECEIVERS, TIGHT ENDS (14)
      • Terry Hicks, RB, H-SC (1st Team)
      • Mitchell Johnson, RB, RMC (1st Team)
      • Ryan Clemens, RB, WLU (2nd Team)
      • Manning Lasson, WR, H-SC (2nd Team)
      • Roge't Walker, WR, SU (2nd Team)
      • Teddy Sparrow, TE, WLU (2nd Team)
      • Kam Hill, QB, RC (3rd Team)
      • Mekhi Brown, QB, SU (3rd Team)
      • Ty Collins, QB, WLU (3rd Team)
      • KJ Bratton, APB, RC (3rd Team)
      • Joseph Rizzo, APB, WLU (3rd Team)
      • Shane Shapiro, WR, GC (3rd Team)
      • Grey Deal, WR, RC (3rd Team)
      • Kam Mahoney, TE, H-SC (3rd Team)
    • OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (7)
      • Cash Topinka, H-SC (1st Team)
      • Myles Bridges, RMC (1st Team)
      • Chop Deaver, RMC (1st Team)
      • Wesley Howenstein, WLU (1st Team)
      • Thomas Wilson, H-SC (2nd Team)
      • Nate Johnson, RC (2nd Team)
      • AJ Evans-Jones, RMC (2nd Team)
    • DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (4)
      • Tim Semisch, RMC (2nd Team)
      • Gavin Thompson, RC (2nd Team)
      • Ryan Apietu, SU (2nd Team)
      • Phoenix Andes-Stowell, SU (3rd Team)
    • LINEBACKERS (3)
      • Charlie Davis, RC (1st Team)
      • Nick Iannone, GC (2nd Team)
      • Brennan Stout, WLU (2nd Team)
    • DEFENSIVE BACKS (3)
      • Parks Cromwell, H-SC (1st Team)
      • Christian Daniel, RMC (2nd Team)
      • Quentin Mankin, RMC (2nd Team)
    • SPECIALISTS (3)
      • Aiden Grefe, P, BC (1st Team)
      • Zach Nicklas, P, RC (2nd Team)
      • Carson Gallant, PK, SU (2nd Team)

  • The athletes listed below represent the top-three returning statistical leaders for major statistical categories from the 2025 season.

     PLAYER #1PLAYER #2PLAYER #3
    PASSING (min. 15 attempts/game for completion %)
    Yards1612Mekhi Brown, SU1568Kam Hill, RC1004Ty Collins, WLU
    Comp. %71.1Mekhi Brown, SU58.0Luke Hyatt, GC56.6Ty Collins, WLU
    TDs18Mekhi Brown, SU8Luke Hyatt, GC8Kam Hill, RC
    Eff. Rtg.165.4Mekhi Brown, SU128.3Ty Collins, WLU112.7Luke Hyatt, GC
    RUSHING (min. 5 rushes/game for yards per rush)
    Yards1086Ryan Clemens, WLU1020Terry Hicks, HSC663Mitchell Johnson, RMC
    Yards/Rush7.8Aidan McCloskey, SU6.8Ryan Clemens, WLU5.4Mitchell Johnson, RMC
    Long65KJ Bratton, RC65Mitchell Johnson, RMC60Aidan McCloskey, SU
    TDs14Terry Hicks, HSC10Ryan Clemens, WLU9Mitchell Johnson, RMC
    RECEIVING (min. 2.0 receptions/game for yards per reception)
    Receptions44Shane Shapiro, GC39Roge't Walker, SU39Cameron Campbell, GC
    Yards539Roge't Walker, SU528Manning Lasso, HSC492Shane Shapiro, GC
    Yards/Rec.18.9Manning Lasso, HSC17.4Caleb Weston, SU15.2Grey Deal, RC
    Long87Roge't Walker, SU75Teddy Sparrow, WLU65Shane Shapiro, GC
    Caleb Weston, SU
    TDs6Manning Lasso, HSC5Roge't Walker, SU4Grey Deal, RC
    ALL-PURPOSE/SCORING
    All-Purpose Yds.1235Ryan Clemens, WLU1120Terry Hicks, HSC817Roge't Walker, SU
    Points84Terry Hicks, HSC61Carson Gallant, SU60Ryan Clemens, WLU
    TDs14Terry Hicks, HSC10Ryan Clemens, WLU9Mitchell Johnson, RMC
    DEFENSE
    Tackles127Nick Iannone, GC116Brennan Stout, WLU90Charlie Davis, RC
    Solo59Nick Iannone, GC56Charlie Davis, RC33Oscar Whitely, BC
    Mitch Ladamus, HSC
    TFLs14.0Nick Iannone, GC12.0Phoenix Andes-Stowell, SU11.5Ryan Apietu, SU
    Sacks5.5Tim Semisch, RMC5.5Phoenix Andes-Stowell, SU4.0Several Players
    INTs4Christian Daniel, RMC3Lane Shoemaker, RC2Several Players
    PBUs8Mitch Ladamus, HSC6Parks Cromwell, HSC6Ben Finkelstein, GC
    Cam Jackson, HSC
    SPECIAL TEAMS | Minimum: 3.0 punts/game (yard/punt) / 1.2 kick returns/game (kick return avg.) / 1.2 punt returns/game (punt return avg.)
    PAT Made40Carson Gallant, SU29Trever Luther, RMC24Ethan Cyr, RC
    FG Made7Ethan Cyr, RC7Carson Gallant, SU5Trever Luther, RMC
    FG Long38Trever Luther, RMC35Ethan Cyr, RC33Carson Gallant, SU
    Punts39Michael Markulic, AU37Zach Nicklas, RC34Aiden Grefe, BC
    Yards/Punt43.4Aiden Grefe, BC39.5Zach Nicklas, RC34.6Michael Markulic, AU
    Inside 2013Connor Moyssiadis, SU12Zach Nicklas, RC10Michael Markulic, AU
    KR Yards443Gracyn Ross, RMC366KJ Bratton, RC278Roge't Walker, SU
    KR Avg.34.1Gracyn Ross, RMC26.1KJ Bratton, RC26.0Tommy Nelson, BC

  • Below are the win-loss records for each coach entering the 2026 season.

    COACHSCHOOLSEASON (AT SCHOOL)OVERALL (PCT.)AT SCHOOL (PCT.)
    Matt QuinnAverett1st (1st)1st Season1st Season
    Scott LemnBridgewater6th (6th)29-22 (.569)29-22 (.569)
    Brad DavisGuilford7th (7th)10-41 (.196)10-41 (.196)
    Vince LuvaraHampden-Sydney3rd (3rd)12-8 (.600)12-8 (.600)
    Pedro ArruzaRandolph-Macon23rd (23rd)156-73 (.681)156-73 (.681)
    Bryan StinespringRoanoke2nd (2nd)5-4 (.556)5-4 (.556)
    Scott YoderShenandoah14th (14th)72-55 (.567)72-55 (.567)
    Garrett LeRoseWashington and Lee8th (8th)46-27 (.630)46-27 (.630)
    • ODAC teams kickoff the 2026 slate with all nine in action during week one – September 3-5
      • Roanoke kicks off its second season with the first game for all ODAC schools on Thursday, September 3
      • Bridgewater, Randolph-Macon, and Shenandoah each featured on Friday, September 4
      • Averett, Guilford, Hampden-Sydney, and Washington and Lee kickoff the first Saturday on September 5
      • ODAC play starts on Saturday, October 3 and continues through the end of the regular season on Saturday, November 14
    • The fourth edition of the Chesapeake Challenge in association with the Landmark Conference will be conducted the same weekend as the NCAA Tournament opening round (11/21/26)
      • The top-two non-NCAA Tournament qualifiers from both leagues will meet in the Cape Charles Bowl and Cape Henry Bowl
      • The top ODAC seed will host one outing, while the top Landmark seed will be the home team in the other