2026 Kutztown Football Thread

[TDBoi8136]

What is good KU fans. This is the start of the 2026 Kutztown Football Thread with the full schedule now out. Things will be different this year for KU's divisional games. Here is the schedule with home games bold and away games not bold.

Assumption Sept. 3rd (Thurs.)- 6 pm

Clarion Sept. 12th

Lock Haven Sept. 19th (This is no longer considered a PSAC East game)

Shepherd Sept. 26th (Family Day)

Shippensburg Oct. 3rd- 1 pm

Lackawanna Oct. 10th (This also is not considered a PSAC East game based on KU's website)

Millersville Oct. 17th

West Chester Oct. 24th (Homecoming)

East Stroudsburg Oct. 31st

Bloomsburg Nov. 7th (Senior Day)

Seton Hill Nov. 14th

[Ram040506]

That's about as weak as you can get from a crossover slate from the West. SOS could be an interesting point of discussion later in the season.

[RocknTheSnackBar]

What is good KU fans. This is the start of the 2026 Kutztown Football Thread with the full schedule now out. Things will be different this year for KU's divisional games. Here is the schedule with home games bold and away games not bold.

Assumption Sept. 3rd (Thurs.)- 6 pm

Clarion Sept. 12th

Lock Haven Sept. 19th (This is no longer considered a PSAC East game)

Shepherd Sept. 26th (Family Day)

Shippensburg Oct. 3rd- 1 pm

Lackawanna Oct. 10th (This also is not considered a PSAC East game based on KU's website)

Millersville Oct. 17th

West Chester Oct. 24th (Homecoming)

East Stroudsburg Oct. 31st

Bloomsburg Nov. 7th (Senior Day)

Seton Hill Nov. 14th

Lackawanna site disagrees

[CUlater]

Really looking forward to Clarion's week 2 trip out east. Monica returning to Kutztown for the first time and with a team that I think will take another step forward in 26. Love the early measuring stick game against the class of the league.

[TDBoi8136]

Lackawanna site disagrees

I saw that too. I don't know why KU doesn't have it marked as one unless it's just a technical error.

[TDBoi8136]

Really looking forward to Clarion's week 2 trip out east. Monica returning to Kutztown for the first time and with a team that I think will take another step forward in 26. Love the early measuring stick game against the class of the league.

First time since 2015. I remember going to that game. It could be an interesting reunion game.

[TDBoi8136]

That's about as weak as you can get from a crossover slate from the West. SOS could be an interesting point of discussion later in the season.

I agree, that could change come fall. But my initial reaction isn't too nervous about it.

[mheff13]

I saw that too. I don't know why KU doesn't have it marked as one unless it's just a technical error.

Surprised this wasn't in the release from the PSAC when Lackawanna was invited back in June, but basically has to do with Lackawanna still transitioning from NJCAA to NCAA Division II. Conference schools are required to play them within the conference schedule in 2026-27 and 2027-28 (all sports they sponsor) to aid them in meeting their DII application requirements but contests against them won't count in league standings or postseason selection until they are accepted into the DII membership by the NCAA.

[TDBoi8136]

KU's spring game is Saturday April 25th. It will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

[Ship69]

That's about as weak as you can get from a crossover slate from the West. SOS could be an interesting point of discussion later in the season.

Yeah, we have one of those seasons I hate with the 11-game schedule when we're only getting five home games at Ship, and heading into the year with a team that has three seniors we'll be drawing IUP, Kutztown and East Stroud for three of those home games. Doesn't sound like a great home record is in the cards this season.

[Ship69]

Lackawanna site disagrees

They can disagree, but from what I've read that won't be counted as an official divisional game this season.

[TDBoi8136]

The 2026 KU Football Captains have been announced. They are RS Sr. QB Judd Novak, RS Sr. LB Eden Johnson, RS Sr. RB Steven Burkhardt, RS Sr. LB Austin Leyman, and RS Sr. DL Freddie Retter.

[TDBoi8136]

With the 2026 season around the corner I wanted to do a multi-part preview for the 2026 KU offense, defense, and coaches. This is part 1 dedicated to the offense. As a heads up, I'm not an expert. When I talk about these players, take it with a grain of salt. My only experience is watching games and reading stat lines. I also am not an insider. The players I am highlighting are based on the 2026 spring roster that is currently on KU's site. The fall roster isn't out yet. I could be missing players who transferred in who could potentially see game time. I could be adding players in the previews who could have left the program since the spring. With that said, let's jump in.

QB: This is probably the easiest section to write up on. We all know Judd Novak by now. He had a stellar year in 2025 throwing for 3,070 yards, 31 TD's to 1 INT (and not throwing that INT until the semi final game against Harding), 547 rushing yards, 7 rushing TD's. All that lead up to a 5th place Harlon Hill finish. Novak has a lot of returning production from last season in the RB room and WR room for this upcoming season. While the O-Line has some questions with some key players graduating, I don't think it'll affect him too much. We should expect another really good season from his final year. Maybe topping last season?

RB: 2025's 1A and 1B RB's are back. The dynamic duo of Stewart and Burkhardt are here to carry the rock for one last time. Stewart missed a month in 2025 due to injury, but still put in a solid year. He had 664 rushing yards with 11 rushing TD's. Burkhardt carried a lot of the load when Stewart was out. He had 1,106 rushing yards, 9 rushing TD's, 178 receiving yards, and 5 receiving TD's. Like Novak, these two will be working with an O-Line missing some big time players from last year. But I don't think it'll affect them much either. I think they'll still be effective ball carriers this year, wearing down the opposing D-Lines; it's their specialty. The big question is who will RB 3 be? This RB will get plenty of reps this year to prepare for 2027 post-Stewart & Burkhardt. RB 3 will most likely be Craig Miller. He had 187 rushing yards and 3 TD's last year as a RS Freshman. He made a decent amount of appearances last season when Stewart was out. Expect Miller to get more touches this year. RS Freshmen Rocco DeBiaso and Brady Collins could see some carries this year if any of those three go down for a bit. We'll have to wait and see what they could bring to the table.

WR: Another group that is largely intact from last season. WR 1 Noah Kracyla will look to improve on a good 2025. He had 46 catches, 768 receiving yards, and 3 TD's. I think he could get past 900 yards this year. Picking WR 2 is tough because the next three WR's are pretty close to one another. Rich Paczewski (27 catches, 445 receiving yards, 3 TD's, and 136 KO yards), Lenniek Preston (26 catches, 436 receiving yards, 5 TD's, 448 KO yards, and 1 KOR TD), and Jaimen Bryant (25 catches, 347 receiving yards, and 2 TD's) all can be an efficient WR 2 depending on the week. I think that'll happen again this year. But, if I was to guess who would take charge of WR 2 I would pick Lenniek just based on gut feeling.

TE: Guess what, another returner. Luke Maxwell is back as KU's dynamic TE. He can block, catch (20 catches, 213 yards, 2 TD's), and run (26 carries, 163 yards, 11 TD's). Expect them to have him do all three again this year. They loved using him in short distance runs like 4th & inches or ball on the 1. I think we could also see a little more of Kaden Weaver this season.

OL: O-Line is probably the biggest question on offense for this up coming season. KU lost two of their five starters from last year. CJ Conti will be back at center, Adam Conklin, and Shane Hartman will also be back on the line. Figuring out who will fill out the rest of the line is tough. Multiple guys made multiple appearances last season. It could be anyone's position to lose for OG and OT.

[Ship69]

With the 2026 season around the corner I wanted to do a multi-part preview for the 2026 KU offense, defense, and coaches. This is part 1 dedicated to the offense. As a heads up, I'm not an expert. When I talk about these players, take it with a grain of salt. My only experience is watching games and reading stat lines. I also am not an insider. The players I am highlighting are based on the 2026 spring roster that is currently on KU's site. The fall roster isn't out yet. I could be missing players who transferred in who could potentially see game time. I could be adding players in the previews who could have left the program since the spring. With that said, let's jump in.

QB: This is probably the easiest section to write up on. We all know Judd Novak by now. He had a stellar year in 2025 throwing for 3,070 yards, 31 TD's to 1 INT (and not throwing that INT until the semi final game against Harding), 547 rushing yards, 7 rushing TD's. All that lead up to a 5th place Harlon Hill finish. Novak has a lot of returning production from last season in the RB room and WR room for this upcoming season. While the O-Line has some questions with some key players graduating, I don't think it'll affect him too much. We should expect another really good season from his final year. Maybe topping last season?

RB: 2025's 1A and 1B RB's are back. The dynamic duo of Stewart and Burkhardt are here to carry the rock for one last time. Stewart missed a month in 2025 due to injury, but still put in a solid year. He had 664 rushing yards with 11 rushing TD's. Burkhardt carried a lot of the load when Stewart was out. He had 1,106 rushing yards, 9 rushing TD's, 178 receiving yards, and 5 receiving TD's. Like Novak, these two will be working with an O-Line missing some big time players from last year. But I don't think it'll affect them much either. I think they'll still be effective ball carriers this year, wearing down the opposing D-Lines; it's their specialty. The big question is who will RB 3 be? This RB will get plenty of reps this year to prepare for 2027 post-Stewart & Burkhardt. RB 3 will most likely be Craig Miller. He had 187 rushing yards and 3 TD's last year as a RS Freshman. He made a decent amount of appearances last season when Stewart was out. Expect Miller to get more touches this year. RS Freshmen Rocco DeBiaso and Brady Collins could see some carries this year if any of those three go down for a bit. We'll have to wait and see what they could bring to the table.

WR: Another group that is largely intact from last season. WR 1 Noah Kracyla will look to improve on a good 2025. He had 46 catches, 768 receiving yards, and 3 TD's. I think he could get past 900 yards this year. Picking WR 2 is tough because the next three WR's are pretty close to one another. Rich Paczewski (27 catches, 445 receiving yards, 3 TD's, and 136 KO yards), Lenniek Preston (26 catches, 436 receiving yards, 5 TD's, 448 KO yards, and 1 KOR TD), and Jaimen Bryant (25 catches, 347 receiving yards, and 2 TD's) all can be an efficient WR 2 depending on the week. I think that'll happen again this year. But, if I was to guess who would take charge of WR 2 I would pick Lenniek just based on gut feeling.

TE: Guess what, another returner. Luke Maxwell is back as KU's dynamic TE. He can block, catch (20 catches, 213 yards, 2 TD's), and run (26 carries, 163 yards, 11 TD's). Expect them to have him do all three again this year. They loved using him in short distance runs like 4th & inches or ball on the 1. I think we could also see a little more of Kaden Weaver this season.

OL: O-Line is probably the biggest question on offense for this up coming season. KU lost two of their five starters from last year. CJ Conti will be back at center, Adam Conklin, and Shane Hartman will also be back on the line. Figuring out who will fill out the rest of the line is tough. Multiple guys made multiple appearances last season. It could be anyone's position to lose for OG and OT.

You guys have lost a couple of o-linemen from an excellent team. Ship has a preseason roster that includes one senior and nearly 70 freshmen or redshirt freshmen. I think I like your position a little better. On paper it looks like another good year for K-town.

[TDBoi8136]

You guys have lost a couple of o-linemen from an excellent team. Ship has a preseason roster that includes one senior and nearly 70 freshmen or redshirt freshmen. I think I like your position a little better. On paper it looks like another good year for K-town.

Looking back, I think saying O-Line was the "biggest question mark" was poorly worded. They're the only ones to experience some significant turnover from last season on the offensive side of the ball and it was hard to tell who could start at those two positions since so many backups had multiple appearances. Obviously that problem pales in comparison to what Ship is figuring with their roster. KU's offense should still be really good this year. I think a lot of the WR's beyond Kracyla will see some nice progression from last year as first year starters.