SELINSGROVE, PA - The
Chris Pincince era of Susquehanna University Football opens this fall with a competitive slate for the 2026 season as the River Hawks look to keep their name the only name on the Landmark Conference trophy en route to their fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Kicking off at Union on Saturday, Sept. 5, Susquehanna prepares to rematch all its regular season adversaries from 2025, including four home games that begin on Saturday, Sept. 26 versus Christopher Newport on Homecoming Weekend.
Coach Pincince, no stranger to sustained success after an impressive ten-year run at University of New Haven, comes to Susquehanna with similar expectations. Over the last four seasons Susquehanna combined for a 43-7 record, winning the 2022 Centennial Conference championship and the Landmark Conference crown the last three seasons. After first-round exits in 2022 and 2023 the River Hawks broke through reaching the NCAA Semifinals in 2024, their first such trip since 1991, and the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2025. Heading into 2026 Susquehanna is set to play both Johns Hopkins and Christopher Newport for the third time in two seasons, having met the two during the regular season last year and rematching them in the NCAA Tournament. After a disappointing defeat to the Captains in Newport News during the regular season, the River Hawks returned in November to avenge CNU in the Second Round of the NCAA Playoffs. After a shutout win at Eastern in the Third Round the following week, Susquehanna visited its former Centennial foe in Johns Hopkins for the Quarterfinals, where their season ended. The Blue Jays defeated the River Hawks in Week 3 last year at Doug Arthur Stadium.
Despite a vast departure of talent that made up Susquehanna's last two playoff runs, the River Hawks are still expected to be near the top of everyone's lists with their talent depth. Defensive lineman
Galen Limantour returns after an AP Second Team All-American season after compiling 13.5 sacks that ranks second all-time at Susquehanna and earning Defensive Player of the Year by the Landmark Conference and D3football.com for Region 2. Running back
Matt Surtz is back as one of Susquehanna's top ground gainers in recent years. His best season came in 2024 where he ran for 585 yards on 74 carries with four touchdowns, including a 95-yard touchdown run that is second-longest all-time. On the defensive side there's defensive backs
Ben Fleming and
Kayvon Waters, who combined for five of the team's 19 interceptions last season, as well as linebacker
Toby Mackall. Fleming, offensive linemen
Connor Main and
Matt Liggio, and defensive lineman
Jaydon Handy represent Susquehanna's returning All-Landmark selections.
The first four weeks of Susquehanna's 2026 season matches up with last year's non-conference slate as they'll be on the road the first three Saturdays at Union Sept. 5, Bridgewater Sept. 12 and Johns Hopkins Sept. 19. Their home opener is against Christopher Newport on Saturday, Sept. 26 as part of Homecoming Weekend. After their bye week the River Hawks open Landmark Conference play at Catholic on Oct. 10 before returning home to face Moravian on Oct. 17. They are out on the road the next two weeks beginning at Wilkes Oct. 24 and Lycoming Oct. 31, then home again for the final two weeks of the regular season versus Western Connecticut State Nov. 7 and Juniata in the Ring of Honor game Nov. 14.
