Patriot League Week 4 Preview

The first full weekend of fall is finally here. Even here in typically balmy Washington, D.C., the mercury has dipped to light sweater weather as the calendar inches its way toward October.

But Mother Nature will butt in and pay a rare September nor-easter visit to the eastern seaboard this weekend, with heavy rain and wind forecasted for Friday and Saturday in the mid-Atlantic and much of the northeast, something that could play a factor in several games this weekend. One of those contests, the Colgate-Villanova game, will play a critical role in shaping the top of the league standings. Lehigh, of course, is at the head of the Patriot League pack, but has a tough battle lined up Philly against the not-so-docile Penn Quakers, who kicked off their season with a convincing win at Bucknell a week ago. The other Patriot/Ivy showdown, Columbia @ Georgetown, could be a tight battle, with both the Lions and the Hoyas taking their opponents down to the wire last Saturday. Holy Cross and Lafayette square off in what is a must-win game for two teams who have vastly underperformed so far in 2026. The league slate rounds out with two Patriot League/ACC showdowns, with Bucknell traveling west Pitt and William & Mary heading south to Duke. Let’s dive in.

Saturday, September 26

Bucknell Bison (1-3, 0-2 Patriot) @ Pitt Panthers (3-0, 1-0 ACC)

Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | 12:00pm

All-time series: 10th meeting (7-2 Pitt)

Last matchup: October 6, 1945 (38-0 Pitt)

TV: ACCNX (Peter Sousa, Leger Douzable)

Week 4 in the Patriot League kicks off in Pittsburgh, and if this PL vs. FCS contest plays out like most of the others have this season, the Panther faithful will have plenty of time to leave Acrisure Stadium and settle in to catch the final Penguins preseason game at a local bar, Iron City in hand. Pitt is coming off a too-close-for-comfort win at home vs. a perennially weak Syracuse team, but the Panthers will want to put this one away early on Homecoming weekend. Pitt boasts one of the top scoring defenses in the nation so far, having yielded only 34 points in three games and 0 points in the 1st and 3rd quarters. Expect Pitt to pound the ball on the ground early and often; the Panthers racked up a season-high 245 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns last Saturday, led by freshman RB Damon Ferguson Jr. and sophomore QB Mason Heintschel. But also expect Bison head coach Jeff Behrman to have his squad prepared to play physical football, especially after a flat offensive performance against Penn. Bucknell needs QB Chris Dietrich and WR Sam Milligan to connect early and often if the Bison hope to compete and make this one interesting. Otherwise, the Panthers should have a field day on the banks of the Three Rivers.

Holy Cross Crusaders (0-4, 0-2 Patriot) @ Lafayette Leopards (1-2, 0-0 Patriot)

Fisher Stadium, Easton, PA | 12:30pm

All-time series: 40th meeting (20-19 Lafayette)

Last matchup: November 1, 2025 (21-13 Lafayette)

TV: ESPN+ (Gary Laubach, Mike Joseph)

You don’t have to tell Holy Cross head coach Dan Curran and Lafayette head coach John Troxell that Saturday’s showdown in Easton is a must-win game for their teams. For two programs accustomed to being in the league mix year after year, 2026 has been a major disappointment so far. While the Leopards do not want another letdown after last week’s overtime collapse at Columbia, the Crusaders have the most to gain and the most to lose in this one. Find a way to win after a tough loss to Ivy favorite Yale and the Cross potentially sees a path to a salvaged season. Find yet another way to go down early and lose and fall into an unsurmountable hole and the Crusaders’ second-consecutive 0-5 start becomes reality, the first time that would happen since the 1994-1995 seasons under Peter Vaas. Surprisingly, Holy Cross does have the edge at quarterback this week, with junior transfer QB David Lynch showing flashes against Yale (with some head-scratching play mixed in). On the other hand, Lafayette’s passing offense ranks near the bottom in the FCS, having failed to find any consistent play with senior QB Dan Lipovski and junior QB Jason Penza sharing the air and ground duties early on. However, Holy Cross’s defense has been horrendous thus far, surrendering at least 35 points in all four games; senior LB Adam Due has been a bright spot, leading the league in total tackles. If the Crusaders can move the ball downfield and not stall in the red zone, they could turn their season around with a win. But if Lafayette’s rushing attack, led by Penza and junior RB Jakyre Henley, can keep the Cross’s passing attack off the field and its defense on its heels, the Leopards will miraculously be tied for first place in the league if they score the win on College Hill.

Georgetown Hoyas (0-2, 0-2 Patriot) vs. Columbia Lions (1-0, 0-0 Ivy)

Cooper Field, Washington, D.C. | 12:30pm

All-time series: 13th meeting (8-4 Columbia)

Last matchup: September 27, 2025 (19-10 Columbia)

TV: ESPN+ (Jeremy Huber)

As the Jim McKay used to say to open ABC’s Wide World of Sports, “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport: the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” He could have very well used the same phrase to describe last Saturday for Columbia and Georgetown. The Lions experienced the thrill of victory in just two plays of overtime in their season-opening win over Lafayette. For Hoyas, the agony of defeat came in the form of a last-second Richmond field goal after watching four previous Spider field goal attempts miss or get blocked. With the Lou Little Trophy on the line on Saturday in the nation’s capital, both teams will want to see big things from the quarterback position. Hoya head coach Rob Sgarlata officially turned the keys over to junior QB Jack Johnson last week after senior QB Jacob Holtschlag struggled mightily to start the season. Lion senior QB Chase Goodwin had a career day in last week’s thriller, throwing for 25/39 for 367 yards and 2 touchdowns, leading Columbia to its fourth-highest single game yardage total in team history; freshman WR Bryce Coleman led all Lion receivers with 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Hoyas certainly took steps forward with its bend-but-don’t-break defense at Richmond last weekend, but the Lions’ explosive offense should be the key to victory on the Hilltop.

Fordham Rams (1-3, 1-1 Patriot) vs. #21 Stony Brook Seawolves (2-2, 1-0 CAA)

Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field, Bronx, N.Y. | 1:00pm

All-time series: 10th meeting (5-4 Stony Brook)

Last matchup: September 13, 2025 (41-18 Stony Brook

TV: ESPN+ (Andrew Bogusch, Andrew Posadas)

I don’t think too many of the so-called experts expected what we saw out of Stony Brook and Fordham last Saturday. The Seawolves made the trip north to the Ocean State and dismantled a Rhode Island team, 56-24, that many expected to compete for a national championship (with a healthy Devin Farrell, of course). The Rams may have delivered the bigger shock, traveling to William & Mary and thumping the Tribe to the tune of 52-27.

Are these two teams for real or were these early season flukes? Stony Brook may be closer to the truth, having lost its two games on the road and boasting a top-20 scoring offense nationwide to begin the season, led by the running back tandem of CJ Hester and Jeremiah Coney, and QB Quinn Boyd. It’s the defense, minus sack specialist LB Lance Byndon, that could be susceptible to Fordham’s newfound running game. After grinding through two consecutive FBS matchups at North Dakota State and Coastal Carolina, the Rams had a coming out party on the ground in Williamsburg, rushing for 428 yards (a team-high in the FCS this season) and 3 touchdowns; sophomore Yohan-Li Louis accounted for13 carries for 203 yards and 1 touchdown while senior Jamell James added 17 carries for 163 yards and 3 touchdowns. With soggy weather expected in the Bronx, expect both the Seawolves and the Rams to engage in trench warfare and ground attacks throughout the afternoon.

#9 Lehigh Mountain Hawks (4-0, 3-0 Patriot) @ Penn Quakers (1-0, 0-0 Ivy)

Franklin Field, Philadelphia, PA | 1:00pm

All-time series: 64th meeting (47-16 Penn)

Last matchup: September 17, 2025 (44-30 Lehigh)

TV: ESPN+ (Joe Tordy, Joe Valerio, Anna Camden)

I feel like I ask the same question every week: Can anyone stop Lehigh senior RB Luke Yoder? So far, every answer seems to include a loud laugh and two palms raised in the air. Penn will be the latest foe to encounter the Mountain Hawks’ vaunted rushing attack, which ranks #1 in the Patriot League and #1 in the FCS. After rolling over their first three opponents with relative ease, Lehigh secured its fourth win of the season on senior DB DJ Brown’s one-handed highlight reel interception sealed the deal with 13 seconds to go after being very nearly knocked off by a strong Dartmouth squad. Penn will be no pushover at home. The Quakers rode their defense to a season-opening win at Bucknell, allowing only 124 total yards and 6 first downs. Freshman QB Miles Teodecki looks to be a real field general for first-year head coach (and UNH legend) Rick Santos, throwing for 197 yards and a score and rushing for 87 yards and a score in his Penn debut. Lehigh appears to be without the services of QB Hayden Johnson for the second consecutive game, but QB Derek Morgan has been an able reserve, leading the Mountain Hawks to victory last Saturday. Expect this one to be close, but Lehigh should continue its winning ways on the strapping back of Yoder.

Richmond Spiders (3-1, 2-0 Patriot) vs. Furman Paladins (2-2, 1-0 SoCon)

Robins Stadium, Richmond, VA | 2:00pm

All-time series: 26th meeting (15-10 Richmond)

Last matchup: December 3, 2005 (24-20 Furman)

TV: ESPN+ (TBD)

Richmond may currently be in a three-way tie for first place in the Patriot League with Lehigh and Colgate, but you wouldn’t guess that just based on listening to the measured, old-school approach head coach Russ Huesman takes after every game. Take away the NC State debacle and the Spiders have a perfect record. But I would be willing to bet Huesman would counter with something to the effect that “we haven’t played our best football and we sure haven’t played the best opponents on our schedule,” especially after last weekend’s squeaker of a win against Georgetown. Well, one of the best teams Richmond will face all season charges into Robins Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the form of the Furman Paladins. Furman’s 2-2 record is deceiving: this week will mark the fourth consecutive week that the Paladins will face a ranked opponent (although Richmond is not currently ranked by the FCS Nation Radio powers that be), losing to FBS Tennessee and South Carolina State and defeating SoCon rival Mercer. Furman head coach Clay Hendrix will look to junior QB Connor Ackerley to make his first start in place of injured starter Jake Garcia; the Western New Mexico transfer almost led the Paladins back from a two-score deficit last week vs. South Carolina State. Richmond will once again rely on the arm of senior QB Ashten Snelsire, who had a career day against Georgetown (29/49, 322 yards, 1 TD), and the legs of RB Aziz Foster-Powell, while asking the defense, led by sackmaster LB Camden Byrd, to continue to stand on their head (12 sacks, allowing an average of 243 yards to FCS opponents).

Saturday’s Family Weekend test will go a long way toward telling Coach Huesman and the Spiders what kind of a team they really have nearly halfway through the season.

#25 Colgate Raiders (3-1, 2-0 Patriot) @ Villanova Wildcats (2-2, 1-1 Patriot)

Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA | 2:30pm

All-time series: 10th meeting (8-1 Villanova)

Last matchup: September 6, 2025 (24-17 Villanova)

TV: ESPN+ (TBD)

On paper, Week 2’s Lehigh-William & Mary matchup had all the makings of a marquee Patriot League, and national, game of the week. Sadly for those on the edge of their seats, Lehigh did what Lehigh does and blasted the Tribe at Goodman in what seemed like a matter of minutes. Which leads us to Saturday’s game on the Main Line, a good measuring stick game with a lot of league implications for these two fine institutions.

Colgate comes into the game as the unsurprising surprise, the team most knew would compete, but not necessarily this well to begin the season. That puts the Raiders in an exciting position at Villanova, a team that for lack of better words is underachieving offensively and consistently playing down to their competition. Week 0 against William & Mary was a complete collapse, more glaring given the Tribe’s struggles against league opponents over the past two weeks. Wins over Bucknell and LIU were tight ones, albeit on the road, but senior QB Pat McQuaide’s play has not lived up to the hype after last season, especially as his eligibility saga drags on. Villanova Stadium is not an easy place to play, with the residual effects of the nor’easter expected to throw a wrench in Saturday’s forecast. Colgate needs steady play from QB Jake Stearney, WR Matt Fogler, and RB Danny Chaban to allow for the Raiders’ top-5 defense in the nation to shut down McQuaide and RB Ja’briel Mace. Will Villanova be able to put together a consistent four quarters of play, something we have yet to see, and climb back into the Patriot League race, or will Colgate take initiative and overwhelm the Wildcats on both sides of the ball in wild weather? That’s why this intriguing matchup is another early season must-watch.

William & Mary Tribe (2-2, 1-2 Patriot) @ Duke Blue Devils (3-0, 1-0 ACC)

Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C. | 3:30pm

All-time series: 8th meeting (6-1 William & Mary)

Last matchup: October 8, 1955 (47-7 Duke)

TV: ACCNX (Kevin Fitzgerald, Jeff Woody)

William & Mary head coach Mike London has to be scratching his head. His Tribe went into Villanova in Week 0 and pulled off an improbable comeback. They then followed up that instant classic with a solid victory over DeSean Jackson’s upstart Delaware State Hornets. But when the chips have been down in the last two weeks, the Tribe have folded, especially on the defensive side of the ball. First, in a game with national eyeballs on it, William & Mary yielded the first 30 points to a Lehigh team that now controls its own destiny enroute to a third-consecutive league title. Disappointing, but somewhat understandable. The blowout loss to Fordham at home, a team that had not won a Patriot League game on the road since November 2022, was jaw dropping. In just those two games, the Tribe have allowed an eye-popping total of 794 rushing yards; in four games, their rushing defense is allowing an average of 281 yards per game, good for third worst in the FCS. Duke sophomore RB Nate Sheppard (82 carries, 528 yards, 5 TDs) should feast on the Tribe defense early, while head coach Manny Diaz should be able to deploy much of his second and third stringers early in the contest. It will likely be a very long afternoon in Durham for the Tribe.

Closing thoughts:

• This week, eight Patriot League football student-athletes were selected among the record 206 semifinalists (45 from the FCS) for the William V. Campbell Trophy (“the Academic Heisman”), presented annually to college football’s premier scholar-athlete. Patriot League finalists include Sam Milligan (Bucknell); Luke Vogeler (Colgate); Gunnar Smith (Fordham); Chigozie Oge-Evans (Georgetown); Spencer Adams (Lafayette); DJ Brown (Lehigh); Carter Glassmyer (Richmond); and Sean McElwain (William & Mary).

• I admit I’ve been a traveling man the last two weeks, with a trip to Denver for a family wedding last weekend (the Colorado School of Mines has a phenomenal football stadium backdrop) and a trip to see Delaware-Virginia in Charlottesville on Saturday. But rest assured, be it near the sizzling enchiladas served at the legendary Casa Bonita restaurant or aside a sizzling grill in the parking lot of Scott Stadium, I will continue to have as many Patriot League updates emanating from my phone as I possibly can.