LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team was predicted to finish second in the annual Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) preseason poll which is voted upon by the leagues’ eight head coaches, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Following a 7-4 record during their 2025 campaign and a third place finish in the conference, the Blue and White received 38 points in the poll to tie with Hampden-Sydney for the No. 2 spot in the league. 25th-ranked Randolph-Macon was tabbed as the preseason favorite for the eighth-straight year, receiving seven of the eight first place votes and 49 points. H-SC secured the final first place vote while Shenandoah University sits in fourth place with 33 points. Bridgewater and Roanoke both received 23 points, tying for fifth while Guilford (7th) and Averett (8th) round out the preseason poll.

2026 ODAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

1. Randolph-Macon (7) | 49 pts.

2. Hampden-Sydney (1)  | 38 pts.

2. Washington and Lee  | 38 pts.

4. Shenandoah | 33 pts. 

5. Bridgewater | 23 pts. 

5. Roanoke | 23 pts. 

7. Guilford | 12 pts.

8. Averett | 8 pts.

NATIONAL POLL

The first Division III national poll was released in late July by D3football.com. National Runner-up, North Central College (Ill.) tops the preseason poll entering 2026 after receiving all 25 first place votes. Bethel University was picked second in the opening poll after posting a 12-1 record and Quarterfinals appearance in 2025. University of Mount Union followed the Royals in third while Johns Hopkins was picked fourth after making it to the National Semifinals for the third time in program history. Wheaton College (Ill.) rounded out the top-five in the poll after an 11-3 campaign. Randolph-Macon is the only ODAC School represented in the top-25, checking in at No. 25 after posting a 9-2 record in 2025.

The entire D3football.com Preseason Top-25 can be found HERE.

SCHEDULE PREVIEW

The Washington and Lee University football team opens up the 2026 campaign at Wilson Field as they welcome Wittenberg University on Sept. 5 before taking a trip to Pennsylvania for a primetime matchup against Gettysburg College on Sept. 12. The Generals make the trip across the Bay to take on No. 17 Salisbury on Sept. 19 before heading into the bye week. Following the break, the ODAC slate will kick off at home on Oct. 3 as they take on Averett University during Parents and Family Weekend before welcoming rival, No. 25 Randolph-Macon College for a battle on Oct. 10. The following week, the Generals hit the road to take on the Eagles of Bridgewater College on Oct.17.

The Blue and White return home to take on rival Hampden-Sydney College on Hall of Fame Weekend (Oct. 24), before heading to Guilford on Oct. 31 for a halloween matchup in Greensboro. The team will honor their seniors on Nov. 7 in their final home game as Shenandoah University makes the trip to Lexington, before the team heads down to Salem to take on Roanoke College in the final game of the season on Nov. 14. 

How to Watch

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference is in year two of a five-year media rights agreement with FloSports ensures that all ODAC and W&L home contests will stream live on FloCollege with a subscription. Games will also be available on demand immediately for all subscription holders and new for the 2026-27 year, for free, on FloCollege, 24 hours after their conclusion on FloCollege.com.

FloSports/FloCollege can be accessed through the FloSports app or on major streaming platforms, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast which  provides access to FloSports’ full library of more than 40,000 events across 25 sports. Subscriptions can be purchased here.
 

Admission to regular-season home games is free, while ODAC semifinal and championship games and any NCAA postseason contests will require paid admission regardless of host institution.

Fans planning to attend should review W&L’s tailgating and parking operations HERE.

KEY RETURNERS

The Blue and White return three of their five starting offensive linemen from last season, with 2025 ODAC Lineman of the Year and First Team All-Region selection Wesley Howenstein, Jack Clayton, and Thomas Wakefield. The trio is set to spearhead the unit this season. Together, they helped pave the way for the third-best rushing attack across all divisions, the second-best in Division III. The Generals’ multi-faceted, run-heavy attack scored 30 or more points five times last season, highlighted by a 61-21 victory over Averett. The rushing offense averaged 316.9 yards per game while eclipsing the 400-yard mark twice against Guilford (423) and Averett (589).

Senior quarterback Ty Collins returns to lead W&L’s high-powered triple-option offense as well as a host of playmakers around him. The running back tandem of Sophomore Ryan Clemens and Senior Anthony Crawford return for another year. Before injury, Crawford was leading the ODAC in rushing totaling 701 yards (5.2 yards per attempt) and nine touchdowns through six games, including a 104 yard, four touchdown performance at Hampden-Sydney. Clemens who filled the starting role for the final five games of the year broke onto the scene recording 1,086 yards (6.8 yards per attempt) and scoring 10 touchdowns, including a 223 yard, three touchdown outing against Roanoke. 

Through the air, the Blue and White have plenty of talent to catch defenses off guard. Senior wideout Teddy Sparrow returns providing the Generals with an effective vertical threat. During his junior campaign Sparrow recorded 340 yards on 14 receptions (24.3 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Junior slot Joseph Pizzo also returns giving the Generals another dangerous weapon on offense and in the return game. During his sophomore season, Pizzo tallied 140 yards rushing on 29 attempts (4.8 yards per attempt) and one touchdown. Through the air,  he recorded five catches for 70 yards (14.0 yards per catch) while also averaging 21.9 yards per return on eight kick returns and 6.1 yards per return on punts.

On the defensive side of the ball, linebackers Brennan Stout and Mac Palmer, as well as safety Allan Gushue all return from strong campaigns to captain the defense. In 2025,  the Generals defense was a strong unit surrendering less than 20 points per game (19.27 ppg) and holding opponents to a third down conversion rate of only 34.3%. The defensive line will be led by returning seniors O'Keefe McKinney and Randolph Smith. In 2025, McKinney totaled 14 tackles and two solo stops. Smith totaled 31 tackles, nine solo stops, and 2.5 sacks during his junior season. In the secondary, senior cornerback Gabe Joyner also returns coming off of a strong junior season. He tallied 28 tackles, 19 of which were solo stops, 0.5 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, and was tied for the team lead with a pair of interceptions. 

MEET THE CAPTAINS

Senior Offensive Lineman Wesley Howenstein was named a D3football.com Second Team Preseason All-American prior to the start of the 2026 season, the organization announced on August 12th. He is the 10th General in program history to earn preseason All-America honors from the organization since 2000 and the first since Josh Breece '22 was named a First Team Preseason All-American in 2018. He joins Michael LaSala '17, Connor Hollenbeck '14, John Fitzgibbons ‘12 and Offensive Coordinator Mat Rapoza ’03 as the only offensive linemen in program history to receive the honor.

Howenstein started all 11 games for the Blue and White last season, anchoring an offensive line that ranked among the top units in NCAA Division III. The Generals rushed for more than 3,600 yards and averaged 316.9 rushing yards per game, ranking second in Division III and fourth across all NCAA divisions. Washington and Lee also ranked third nationally by allowing just four sacks all season and finished second in Division III in tackles for loss allowed at 2.50 per game. Howenstein earned Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Lineman of the Year honors and was named to the All-ODAC First Team and D3football.com All-Region First Team following the 2025 season.

NEW FACES ON STAFF

Kenny Treschitta joined the General's staff in March, and brings plenty of coaching experience with him. Treschitta arrives in Lexington after serving as the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Elmhurst University in Illinois last season. He led the Blue Jays' defensive unit that ranked first in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in interceptions and achieved national statistical rankings through the first six weeks of the season. Treschitta also led defensive lineman Malakai Correa to Second Team All-CCIW honors. Prior to Elmhurst, he was selected as the first head coach to launch Schreiner University's NCAA Division III football program. Before heading to Kerrville, Texas, Treschitta spent eight seasons at the University of New England as an assistant, later being promoted to defensive coordinator. He led recruiting efforts throughout Connecticut, Texas, California, Maine and Massachusetts while leading the team to its highest team GPA in program history as the academic coordinator. Treschitta also made stops as a safeties coach at Western Connecticut State University (2015-2016), inside linebackers coach at Becker College (2014-2015), and a defensive line coach at McKendree University, a Division II University in Lebanon, Ill. (2013-2014). In the Fall, Treschitta will coach the defensive backs.

Clay Denstorff joined the Generals' coaching staff in July to assist with the defensive line and defensive schemes. Prior to arriving in Lexington, Denstroff spent the last two seasons at Allegheny College as the recruiting coordinator while mentoring the outside linebackers and defensive line. He managed recruiting efforts in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, scouted opponents and assisted with film analysis and game preparation. A 2023 Denison graduate, Denstorff was a two-time team captain and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, earning multiple All-NCAC honors and Second Team All-Region recognition during his standout playing career.