September 2nd, 2026 12:00am
Before we dive into the week one slate and week zero recap, we want to send all our thoughts, prayers, positive vibes, etc. to the family and friends of William Jewell football player MicahJo Barnett, along to the entire Cardinals’ football community. Barnett suffered an unexpected medical emergency during the game this past Saturday and passed away. He was 21. It is heartbreaking when anyone passes away, but even more so when it is someone who is still just a kid. If you feel led, a GoFundMe has been started for his family: Fundraiser by Ty Susan Gifford: In Memory of Micah Jo .
Long column this week, with ten different ball games to look into. Week Zero gave us a little bit of everything in the SAC: dominant wins, tough losses, and an instant classic. Lenoir-Rhyne made perhaps the loudest statement of the week, rolling past then #16 Virginia Union 45-3, while Tusculum handled Bluefield State and Catawba opened with a six-point road win at Ferrum. Carson-Newman came from behind and survived one of the weekend’s most entertaining games in the country, kicking a field goal for their first lead with 0:43 left on the clock to start the Tyler Almond era with a victory.
For the positives, there were also some early concerns. Preseason SAC favorite and then #22 Wingate lost a 13-0 lead and fell 21-13 at UNC Pembroke, while Anderson struggled offensively in a 20-3 loss to FCS Furman. UVA Wise put up points but came up short against Presbyterian, 47-37, and Emory & Henry ran into a buzzsaw in the second half of their loss at Valdosta State, 38-10.
The good news for everybody, including Newberry and Mars Hill who kick off their seasons this week, is that it’s still early and plenty of season left to play. Bad news for some though is a 0-2 start could spell disaster.
SAC Players of the Week:
Offense: McCalan Beason (UVA Wise)
Defense: Kevin Jordan (Tusculum)
Special Teams: Bennett Smith (Carson-Newman)
👀 Three Things I'm Watching
...Can Wingate and Emory & Henry bounce back after tough losses and get back on their feet?
...Was that elite Lenoir-Rhyne or awful Virginia Union?
...Do all the new starting quarterbacks look better in week 1 after getting some playing time under their belt?
📈 Stock Watch
Up: Lenoir-Rhyne, Carson-Newman, and UVA Wise.
Down: Wingate and Emory & Henry
Hold: Newberry, Mars Hill, Tusculum, Anderson, and Catawba.
📊 NPI Watch
Not a lot to report here for two reasons: 1) we have 14 schools in Super Region 2 who haven’t played a measurable game yet. 2) If we start talking about playoff seedings and such after week zero ALREADY, I may have to sleep with an eye open and pray our founder Brandon doesn’t pay me a visit. IYKYK.
🔮 Bold Prediction
The loser of the Wingate and Delta State game will end up missing the postseason.
📝 Picks
Last Week: 6-2
Season: 6-2
🏆 SAC Game of the Week
West Alabama Tigers (1-0) at #21 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (1-0)
Location & Time: Hickory, NC / 3:00 PM
Series: West Alabama leads series, 2-1. (Lenoir-Rhyne won last meeting, 37-34, in 2024 D2 Playoffs)
Coach Cochran and the Tigers will have a little bit of a short week, as they opened their season on Sunday night against Tuskegee. The Tigers opened the 2026 season with a solid 27-17 win over Tuskegee in the Red Tails Classic, pulling away in the fourth quarter after a competitive game through the first three periods. UWA outgained Tuskegee 411-363 and made the biggest difference defensively by forcing and recovering three fumbles. New quarterback Luther Richesson was the star of the night and Red Tails Classic MVP, accounting for 308 yards of offense with 215 passing yards, 93 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. West Alabama showed it could make explosive plays offensively, but perhaps the biggest takeaway was its ability to create separation late and capitalize on Tuskegee mistakes to secure a 1-0 start.
In my opinion, there was not a more surprising outcome in week zero than Lenoir-Rhyne just laying an absolute shellacking on Virginia Union. It was the largest win over a ranked opponent in program history. The Bears dominated both lines of scrimmage, outgaining the Panthers 505-183 and owning a massive 242-26 advantage on the ground, while holding Virginia Union to 0-for-9 on third down. Redshirt freshman quarterback Wells Bettenhausen was outstanding in his second career start, completing 18-of-26 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown, while Mikel McClellan had seven catches for 112 yards, LJ Turner rushed for 61 yards and two scores, and Shermon Davis added 109 rushing yards on just eight carries. Defensively, the Bears were equally dominant, recording 11 tackles for loss and three sacks, including two sacks and a forced fumble from Carnell Ferguson. After being picked third in the SAC preseason poll, Lenoir-Rhyne's complete dismantling of a nationally ranked Virginia Union team was about as emphatic an opening statement as one could make (well, not named Ferris State).
Projected Score: Lenoir-Rhyne 31, West Alabama 22.
My Pick: Lenoir-Rhyne goes to 2-0.
I should’ve stuck with my gut last week, and it backfired. Maybe I am way overreacting to what I saw last week. Was that elite Lenoir-Rhyne or is Virginia Union bad? Who knows. But between the bricks is such a hard place to play and if the Bears are playing suffocating defense again like they do at their best, it may be a long day for the Tigers. Give me Lenoir-Rhyne’s defense to be the difference in this game, as I just don’t trust West Alabama to win a big game either.
Thursday Game(s)
Thomas University Night Hawks (0-0) at Carson-Newman Eagles (1-0)
Location & Time: Jefferson City, TN / 6:00 PM
Series: First Ever Meeting
New head coach Dan Pippin and his Night Hawks have their hands full in their season opener, heading up to Mossy Creek. Thomas University is in their fourth season as a program and are still working on the building blocks for the program. Last season they finished 0-11 and have gone 2-28 in the first three years. Two of last years three leading guys on the offense are gone, so expect junior wide receiver Tre Woodson to receive some extra attention. He was the only player with more than 20 catches last year and 250+ yards. Thomas Williams led the defense last year with 100 tackles, but he departed as did #2 tackler Cam Thomas. The guy to keep an eye on is Edward Waters transfer Kendall Hinton, who with 4.5 sacks last season had half of the defensive total.
It wouldn’t be Carson-Newman football if there wasn’t a weather delay and some crazy come from behind win for the, as Adam Cavalier affectionately says, the EKG Eagles. The Tyler Almond era opened with a dramatic 41-38 comeback victory over Tiffin, as the Eagles overcame deficits of 17 points and 10 points before Bennett Smith drilled a 42-yard game-winning field goal with 43 seconds remaining. C-N trailed 24-7 in the second quarter and 38-28 late in the third but showed tremendous resilience in rallying behind a balanced attack that produced 207 rushing yards and 288 total yards. Eli Graf threw two touchdown passes to Don Bradley and added a rushing score, while Jaden Jones' fourth-quarter touchdown tied the game at 38 before Smith delivered the winner. The Eagles were statistically outgained 442-288 and allowed Tiffin to rush for 292 yards, making the defensive performance an obvious area for improvement, but C-N's ability to make plays in the biggest moments—including forcing two turnovers—and complete the comeback gave Almond his first victory and the Eagles a memorable 1-0 start.
Projected Score: Carson-Newman 56, Thomas 0.
My Pick: Eagles cruise to 2-0.
I expect this one to be over early, the starters to play two series at most, and the Eagles to get to play a lot of guys who may end up not playing a ton this year to give them some game experience in case they need it later on. With significant advantages from top to bottom over the Night Hawks, I expect the cannon crew to need Tommy John surgery come Friday.
Saturday Games
Emory & Henry Wasps (0-1) at Ferrum Panthers (0-1)
Location & Time: Ferrum, VA / 2:00 PM
Series: Emory & Henry leads series, 27-12. (Emory & Henry won last meeting, 41-23, in 2021).
The Wasps showed plenty of fight early but ultimately could not keep pace with Valdosta State in a 38-10 season-opening loss. E&H trailed just 14-7 at halftime and pulled within 14-10 early in the third quarter after Bryant Nottingham connected on a 47-yard field goal, but the Blazers broke the game open with three explosive scores, including touchdown runs of 89 and 81 yards. Cole Lambert led the Wasps with 150 yards through the air, while De’Ante Childs contributed 58 rushing yards, but Valdosta State's big-play ability proved too much to overcome. The encouraging takeaway for E&H was its ability to hang with one of Division II's traditional powers for more than a half, while the biggest concern moving forward is eliminating the explosive plays that turned a competitive game into a four-score final.
Ferrum came up just short in a 13-7 season-opening loss, but there were plenty of encouraging signs against a solid opponent in a game that remained in doubt until the final minute. Eli Foutz completed 19-of-27 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Jycen Anciso for a 39-yard score that tied the game at halftime, while Anciso also added 58 receiving yards and 42 rushing yards. Ferrum's defense produced two interceptions—including one that set the Panthers up at the Catawba six-yard line—but a fourth-and-one stop at the one-yard line proved to be a pivotal missed opportunity. The Panthers also reached the Catawba 20-yard line on their final possession before an incomplete fourth-down pass ended the threat, leaving Ferrum with a tough but competitive loss and plenty to build on moving forward.
Projected Score: Emory & Henry 38, Ferrum 10.
My Pick: Wasps bounce back, sting their old rivals.
A big D3 ODAC rivalry game, oh wait! Two D2 Virginia schools who first did battle in 1955 will square off in this one. I don’t see the final score being as spread out as the projected score says but still think the Wasps will win convincingly. Ferrum won’t have the athletes and big play ability that Valdosta State had last week, though Eli Foutz will keep them busy. Genuinely think Ferrum could finish in the top 3 in Conference Carolinas this year.
Tusculum Pioneers (1-0) at East Tennessee State Buccaneers (0-1)
Location & Time: Johnson City, TN / 5:30 PM
Series: First Ever Meeting
Coach Taylor and the Pioneers could not have asked for a much better start to 2026, rolling past Bluefield State 42-7 behind a dominant second quarter that turned a close game into a rout. Tusculum scored 35 points in the second quarter, including a 53-yard punt return touchdown by Ashton Hagans and a 100-yard interception return by Kevin Jordan, while the defense forced four turnovers and recorded four sacks. Offensively, the Pioneers leaned heavily on the ground game, rushing for 222 yards and three touchdowns while finishing with 273 total yards. Teddy Gleaton was efficient, completing 2-of-3 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown, including a 43-yard strike to Hagans, as Tusculum opened the season with an impressive, complementary performance in all three phases.
Saturday's 49-37 loss to Campbell was a frustrating season opener because the Buccaneers were productive offensively but simply could not get enough stops defensively. ETSU piled up 528 total yards, including 373 passing yards from Mason Mims, while TJ Peyton rushed for 80 yards and Suderian Harrison posted 99 receiving yards, but Campbell answered with 514 yards of its own and scored seven touchdowns. The Bucs actually led 24-21 at halftime after scoring 17 second-quarter points, but a scoreless third quarter proved costly before ETSU mounted a late rally that ultimately fell short. ETSU's offense showed plenty of firepower in the opener, but allowing 49 points, 27 first downs and 6-of-14 third-down conversions made clear that defensive consistency will be the major focus moving forward.
Projected Score: East Tennessee State 45, Tusculum 10.
My Pick: Buccaneers pound Pioneers into submission.
ETSU will take out their frustrations from letting the game against Campbell slip away on the Pioneers. Tusculum may keep it close for the first quarter, but after that the size, strength and skill of ETSU will take over and they’ll win running away. ETSU is likely not an FCS playoff team this year, but Tusculum just doesn’t have enough to compete with them just yet.
Chowan Hawks (0-1) at UVA Wise Cavaliers (0-1)
Location & Time: Wise, VA / 6:00 PM
Series: UVA Wise leads series, 6-0. (UVA Wise won last meeting, 40-22, in 2019).
The Hawks opened 2026 with a difficult 56-24 loss at West Virginia State, as the Yellow Jackets pulled away in the second quarter after Chowan remained competitive early. The 24 points showed some offensive promise, but the biggest concern was a defense that allowed 56 points and struggled to slow West Virginia State's attack. You aren’t going to win many, if any, ball games giving up 49 points in two quarters. For Chowan, the challenge now is finding more consistency on both sides of the ball and using the season-opening experience as a building block heading into the rest of the schedule if they want to compete in Conference Carolinas.
Coach Bass’ squad may have come away with a 47-37 loss at Presbyterian, but there were several encouraging offensive signs against an FCS opponent. Quarterback McCalan Beason (SAC Offensive Player of the Week) accounted for 437 yards of offense, throwing for 338 yards and three touchdowns while adding 99 rushing yards and two scores, and Hunter Purdue had a huge day with six catches for 163 yards and a touchdown. UVA Wise actually stayed within striking distance throughout much of the game and scored 37 points, but Presbyterian's nearly 600 yards of total offense, 34 minutes of possession, and seven scores in eight red-zone trips proved too much to overcome. The Cavaliers showed they have legitimate offensive firepower, but cleaning up turnovers and finding more defensive stops will be critical moving forward if they want to climb out of the SAC basement.
Projected Score: UVA Wise 35, Chowan 25.
My Pick: Highland Cavaliers get first win of 2026.
The final score may be higher than the projected score due to what we saw from these two defenses in week zero, but UVA Wise offense seems to be a step ahead of where Chowan’s offense is early on. I expect another big day from McCalan Beason, possibly going back-to-back OPOTW, and Coach Bass’ team to get a big win at home.
Keiser Seahawks (0-0) at Anderson Trojans (0-1)
Location & Time: Anderson, SC / 6:00 PM
Series: First Ever Meeting
Keiser Seahawks enter 2026 as one of the premier programs in the NAIA and the clear favorite in the Sun Conference, coming off a 12-1 season, another conference championship and a fourth consecutive trip to the NAIA National Championship Game. The Seahawks ultimately fell 22-16 to Grand View in last year's title game, but the season reinforced just how high the program's floor has become under head coach Myles Russ. Keiser averaged nearly 450 yards per game in 2025, finished with 5,855 total yards—the second-most in school history—and produced 3,485 passing yards and 2,370 rushing yards. Quarterback Shea Spencer returns after throwing for a school-record 3,391 yards and 27 touchdowns, although replacing some of the production around him will be important. The Seahawks have now won four straight Sun Conference titles and have reached the national championship game four consecutive years, so anything short of another deep playoff run will likely be viewed as a disappointment. In short, Keiser enters 2026 with championship expectations, plenty of returning firepower and arguably the most proven recent track record in the NAIA.
The Anderson Trojans opened 2026 with a difficult but valuable test against FCS opponent Furman, falling 20-3 in Greenville. Anderson's offense struggled to establish consistency, finishing with just 160 total yards and six rushing yards, while Furman controlled the line of scrimmage with 451 total yards, including 268 on the ground. Wilson Edwards completed 19-of-31 passes for 154 yards, with Kenneth Brown catching six passes for 75 yards, but the Trojans managed just one scoring drive—a 28-yard field goal by Ross Burnette—and were held scoreless in the second half. Despite the loss, Anderson's defense forced an interception and limited Furman to 20 points, but the inability to run the football and sustain drives was the overwhelming storyline in the season opener. They also gave up a ton of yards.
Projected Score: Keiser 29, Anderson 22.
My Pick: Keiser takes down the Trojans.
Anderson had some moments last year and in spurts looks alright against FCS Furman last week. But most folks see NAIA and automatically chalk this up as a win. As the great Lee Corso has said millions of times, “not so fast my friend”. Keiser is not your average NAIA team. They are a juggernaut, going 55-11 over the past five years. I think they’ll knock off the Trojans this weekend.
North Greenville Trailblazers at Catawba Indians (1-0)
Location & Time: Salisbury, NC / 6:00 PM
Series: Catawba leads series 5-2. (Catawba won last meeting, 26-20, in 2017).
North Greenville enters 2026 looking to build on a 2025 season that ended with a playoff appearance, although the Trailblazers were eliminated by West Florida in the opening round. The program remains one of the more intriguing teams in the region, particularly with Nate Garner continuing to lead the program and a roster that has added several transfers while trying to replace key production from a year ago. North Greenville came from seemingly nowhere to grab the leagues’ AQ bid to the playoffs, beating UNC Pembroke in the regular season and then doing it again in the conference championship. The Trailblazers have enough returning talent and schedule opportunities to make another playoff push, but with so many moving pieces, consistency will determine whether 2026 becomes simply another playoff appearance or something more.
The Indians escaped Ferrum with a gritty 13-7 road victory, controlling much of the game statistically but having to survive several missed opportunities and turnovers. Catawba outgained the Panthers 388-255, held a 20-14 edge in first downs, and possessed the ball for more than 33 minutes, while Mason Fortune completed 28-of-40 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Don’t want to jinx him and overreact, but man that one idiot who wondered if Fortune was the guy…. Mike Geter led the receiving corps with five catches for 100 yards and a 42-yard touchdown, while Henry Forrest added seven catches for 75 yards and a score. The biggest concern was Catawba's three turnovers—including two interceptions—and its inability to capitalize in the red zone, but the Indians ultimately made enough plays to leave Ferrum at 1-0.
Projected Score: Catawba 27, North Greenville 26.
My Pick: Catawba squeaks out a home win at night.
If two teams are roughly even in a matchup, I like going with the team that has a game under their belt over the one that hasn’t. North Greenville may end up having a better season and shot at the postseason due to talent and their schedule, but winning a game at night at Shuford Stadium is never as easy as it should be. Mason Fortune looked outstanding for most of the game against Ferrum and will need to have a repeat performance for Coach Haines squad to knock off the defending Carolinas champs.
Reinhardt Eagles (0-1) at #20 Newberry Wolves (0-0)
Location & Time: Newberry, SC / 7:00 PM
Series: First Ever Meeting
It’s been a rough couple years for the Reinhardt Eagles, compared to where they were a few years back making the postseason every year. Last week the Eagles endured a brutal opening half before showing some fight late in a 52-24 loss at Lindsey Wilson. Reinhardt was overwhelmed early, trailing 45-0 at halftime and 52-0 less than a minute into the third quarter, as the Blue Raiders piled up 483 total yards compared with just 268 for the Eagles and held Reinhardt to 119 passing yards. Lindsey Wilson's explosive rushing attack was led by Davontaye Saunders, who ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns on only 10 carries, while quarterback Tate Rice threw three touchdown passes to Max Gainey, who finished with 158 yards and three scores. The Eagles did at least respond with 24 unanswered points to close the game, showing some offensive resilience after the disastrous start, and actually held a 36:15-23:45 advantage in time of possession despite the lopsided yardage margin. Still, the takeaway for Reinhardt is clear: against an elite NAIA opponent, the Eagles were simply overwhelmed in the first half, particularly defensively, and will need a much more consistent four-quarter performance moving forward.
Newberry was off last week, giving the defending SAC and regional champions a little extra rest time before they open their 2026 season. Coach Knight’s team made history last year, going 12-2 and reaching the national semifinals. It was the best season in the history of the program. And while the expectations are still high in “The Berry”, there are questions about the Wolves. The favorite to replace Harlon Hill nominee Reed Charpia is redshirt junior Mason Kidd. Kidd played in two games last season in mop up duty and will be leaning on De’Andre Coleman as his leading returning pass catcher. Clutch, I mean Keith, Desaussure is gone, along with Rico Dorsey Jr. Quez Spells is also gone in the backfield, but Newberry didn’t run a ton in 2025 compared to the past. The defense lost some guys as well but does return all-everything Mikey Blandin. Love how Blandin plays, and the dude is all over the place, 124 tackles last season for the Elite 100 man. It felt like a mass exodus of talent, but if you do some digging, Newberry returns 10 starters from the game against Ferris State.
Projected Score: Newberry 41, Reinhardt 19.
My Pick: Defending Champs get off on the right foot, 1-0 for “The Berry”.
Regardless of what the Wolves lost or brought back; they are the better team. Expect a little bit of a slow start from Newberry, but once they hit their stride they will handle business. Newberry should be able to take advantage of the rush defense for Reinhardt and ease Mason Kidd in to make him comfortable in his first start.
Wingate Bulldogs (0-1) at Delta State Statesmen (0-1)
Location & Time: Cleveland, MS / 7:00 PM
Series: Wingate leads series, 1-0. (Wingate won only meeting, 21-7, in 2024)
Last weeks game against UNC Pembroke reminded me a lot of the 2024 matchup: low scoring, not a lot of offense, straight up bare-knuckle boxing. The then #19 Bulldogs suffered a frustrating 21-13 loss at UNC Pembroke this time around, squandering a 13-0 halftime lead after being shut out in the second half. Wingate actually controlled the game early but finished with 204 total yards, including 136 rushing, and struggled mightily through the air, completing just 7-of-25 passes for 68 yards and an interception. The Bulldogs also committed three turnovers, including two lost fumbles, while UNCP managed just 216 total yards; the difference was simply the Braves' ability to capitalize late, scoring three second-half touchdowns. Wingate's defense was solid for most of the night, holding UNCP to only 2.8 yards per rushing attempt, but the inability to sustain offense and the costly turnovers ultimately turned a promising opening half into a disappointing 0-1 start.
Oh boy, Fighting Okra. Delta State endured a nightmare start to 2026, falling 52-0 at Northeastern State in a game that was essentially decided by halftime. Like Duke in Rocky IV, I was screaming for someone to throw in the towel. The Statesmen managed just 69 total yards, including an almost nonexistent 13 rushing yards, and completed only 9-of-25 passes for 56 yards, while Northeastern State piled up 519 yards and seven touchdowns. Delta State was particularly overwhelmed on early downs and struggled to sustain drives, producing just four first downs and averaging 1.7 yards per play compared with 6.3 for the RiverHawks. The Statesmen also lost the turnover battle and never seriously threatened offensively, making the opener a major wake-up call. Coach Dean’s squad better figure things out quick, fast and in a hurry.
Projected Score: Wingate 28, Delta State 26.
My Pick: Wingate bounces back.
Not a lot of faith in this pick, probably the one I am least confident in this week. If Delta State had been competitive last week, I would have picked them to win this game, but they got absolutely blasted. And even though Northeastern State is a better football team than UNC Pembroke, and the transitive property is worthless in sports, I don’t see Wingate’s defense giving up 52 and getting shut out. Wingate’s defense makes a few more stops in this game to get the massive road win.
Mars Hill Lions (0-0) at Winston-Salem State Rams (0-1)
Location & Time: Winston-Salem, NC / 8:00 PM
Series: Winston-Salem State leads series, 1-0. (Winston-Salem State won only meeting, 28-25, in 2025)
There are more questions than answers in Mars Hill, NC heading into the 2026 season. For the first time since November 2022, JR Martin is no longer the starting quarterback. His backfield mate Jon Gullette is gone, along with some other stalwarts of the Lions past few years. It seems that Lukas Kachilo will be the man to take the reins, after appearing in two games in 2025. The best thing for a new quarterback is knowing you’ve got at least one reliable pass catcher and boy does Coach Barnette have one in Charlie Guinade. The electric Guinade led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns a season ago and was named to the Elite 100 Watch List. The defense will be led by Isaac Weaver, who quietly had 76 tackles and 3 sacks a year ago. With Steven Reid graduating and moving on, look for Weaver to put together an all-conference caliber season.
Winston-Salem State's 2026 season opener was a rough debut for first-year head coach Tory Woodbury, as Norfolk State dominated from start to finish in a 56-0 victory. The Spartans scored on their first two possessions and built a 21-0 halftime lead before completely pulling away in the second half. The biggest issue for WSSU was simply the inability to generate offense. The Rams finished with just 106 total yards, including only 18 rushing yards, while Norfolk State piled up 457 yards, including a massive 306 yards on the ground. Norfolk State also controlled possession for 37:10, converted 7-of-9 third downs, and held WSSU to just 1-of-11 on third down. Norfolk State physically dominated the line of scrimmage and controlled virtually every phase of the game. For Winston-Salem State, it was an extremely difficult opening night, but the Rams will need to quickly regroup—particularly offensively—as they move into their home opener against Mars Hill.
Projected Score: Mars Hill 31, Winston-Salem State 24.
My Pick: Mars Hill finds a way to win.
I typically would go with the team who has played a game over the one that hasn’t, and even with losing some of the guys they did, I lean with the Lions. If they are able to run the ball against the Rams defense, it could make for another long night for Winston-Salem. If the Rams are able to put pressure on Kachilo and make him win the ball game, they may make just enough plays to beat Mars Hill for the 2nd year in a row.
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