AMERICAN RIVERS CONFERENCE

2026 Season Preview, Presented by Hansen Ratings
Wartburg
WartburgWaverly, IA
Coe
CoeCedar Rapids, IA
Central
CentralPella, IA
Dubuque
DubuqueDubuque, IA
Simpson
SimpsonIndianola, IA
Loras
LorasDubuque, IA
Nebraska Wesleyan
Nebraska WesleyanLincoln, NE
Buena Vista
Buena VistaStorm Lake, IA
2025 Season Recap
Team | W-L (Conf) Rating
1. Wartburg | 10-1 (8-0) 31.7
2. Coe | 9-3 (7-1) 26.8
3. Central | 8-2 (6-2) 21.5
4. Simpson | 6-4 (5-3) 2.8
5. Dubuque | 4-6 (4-4) 1.5
6. Loras | 3-7 (3-5) -4.1
7. Buena Vista | 3-7 (2-6) -10.8
8. Nebraska Wesleyan | 1-9 (1-7) -8.5
9. Luther | 0-10 (0-8) -26.6
Postseason Results
Auto Bid
0-1
Wartburg
At-Large
1-1
Coe
Bowl(s)
0-0
W-L
1-2
Conference Summary
5.5
Avg. Rating
55%
Avg. Ret.
61%
Offense
47%
Defense
Players to Watch
YARP/G = Yards Above
Replacement per Game
Brady Kelly - QB, Sr
Coe - 55.5 YARP/G
Quincy Drummer - RB, Jr
Coe - 23.4 YARP/G
Joey McLaughlin - WR, Sr
Nebraska Wesleyan - 31.8 YARP/G
Gavin Honkomp - TE, Sr
Buena Vista - 13.4 YARP/G
Cole Hotz - OL, Sr
Wartburg - 28.9 YARP/G
Noah Noland - LB, So
Simpson - 44.2 YARP/G
Jake Walker - DL, Sr
Wartburg - 40.6 YARP/G
Conner McDonald - DL, Sr
Wartburg - 35.7 YARP/G
Braxten Johnson - DB, Jr
Loras - 33.2 YARP/G
Jason O'Boye - DB, Sr
Wartburg - 32.3 YARP/G
Games to Watch
Game Score = Measure of
Quality & Competitiveness
9/19: UW-Oshkosh (+0) @ Coe WIAC Game Score: 27.9 Coe 20.3-20.3 - 50%
9/19: UW-River Falls (-17) @ Wartburg WIAC Game Score: 24.2 UW-River Falls 30.5-13.7 - 86%
9/12: North Central Ill. (-21) @ Wartburg CCIW Game Score: 22.7 North Central Ill. 31.7-10.8 - 91%
11/14: Coe (+7) @ Wartburg Game Score: 22.3 Wartburg 23.4-16.5 - 67%
9/5: Wartburg (-7) @ Monmouth MWC Game Score: 20.1 Wartburg 28.4-21.6 - 66%
2026 Season Preview
: New Head Coach
Wartburg
Projected W-L: 7.1-2.9 (6.2-0.8)
Return
Prod.
Total
53%
(151)
Returning Production
National #151 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
56%
(131)
Returning Offense
National #131 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
Off.
50%
(163)
Returning Defense
National #163 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
52%
Auto Bid Odds
National #16 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
4%
At-Large Odds
National #72 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
30.5
(19)
Rating
National #19 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
35.9
(49)
Adjusted Offense
National #49 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
AdjO
5.4
(8)
Adjusted Defense
National #8 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
AdjD
Coe
Projected W-L: 7.4-2.6 (5.8-1.2)
Return
Prod.
Total
59%
(114)
Returning Production
National #114 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
60%
(115)
Returning Offense
National #115 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
Off.
58%
(117)
Returning Defense
National #117 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
32%
Auto Bid Odds
National #32 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
4%
At-Large Odds
National #75 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
26.3
(26)
Rating
National #26 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
39.1
(32)
Adjusted Offense
National #32 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
AdjO
12.8
(26)
Adjusted Defense
National #26 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
AdjD
Central
Projected W-L: 7.4-2.6 (4.9-2.1)
Return
Prod.
Total
42%
(208)
Returning Production
National #208 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
56%
(134)
Returning Offense
National #134 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
Off.
24%
(237)
Returning Defense
National #237 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
13%
Auto Bid Odds
National #69 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
11%
At-Large Odds
National #35 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
17.6
(50)
Rating
National #50 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
35.6
(53)
Adjusted Offense
National #53 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
AdjO
18.0
(53)
Adjusted Defense
National #53 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
AdjD
Dubuque
Projected W-L: 3.9-6.1 (3.5-3.5)
Return
Prod.
Total
65%
(78)
Returning Production
National #78 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
81%
(32)
Returning Offense
National #32 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Off.
46%
(184)
Returning Defense
National #184 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
2%
Auto Bid Odds
National #130 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #158 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
4.5
(99)
Rating
National #99 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
29.6
(96)
Adjusted Offense
National #96 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
AdjO
25.1
(104)
Adjusted Defense
National #104 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
AdjD
Simpson
Projected W-L: 4.5-5.5 (2.9-4.1)
Return
Prod.
Total
65%
(77)
Returning Production
National #77 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
73%
(63)
Returning Offense
National #63 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
Off.
56%
(128)
Returning Defense
National #128 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
1%
Auto Bid Odds
National #144 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #135 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
0.9
(117)
Rating
National #117 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
27.1
(114)
Adjusted Offense
National #114 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
AdjO
26.2
(117)
Adjusted Defense
National #117 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
AdjD
Loras
Projected W-L: 3.8-6.2 (2.1-4.9)
Return
Prod.
Total
58%
(125)
Returning Production
National #125 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
56%
(129)
Returning Offense
National #129 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
Off.
60%
(105)
Returning Defense
National #105 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #170 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #154 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-6.4
(146)
Rating
National #146 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
28.4
(105)
Adjusted Offense
National #105 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
AdjO
34.8
(185)
Adjusted Defense
National #185 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
AdjD
Nebraska Wesleyan
Projected W-L: 1.5-8.5 (1.3-5.7)
Return
Prod.
Total
50%
(169)
Returning Production
National #169 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
62%
(104)
Returning Offense
National #104 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
Off.
34%
(226)
Returning Defense
National #226 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #190 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-14.5
(180)
Rating
National #180 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
20.1
(173)
Adjusted Offense
National #173 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
AdjO
34.6
(183)
Adjusted Defense
National #183 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
AdjD
Buena Vista
Projected W-L: 3.4-6.6 (1.3-5.7)
Return
Prod.
Total
46%
(187)
Returning Production
National #187 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
46%
(180)
Returning Offense
National #180 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
Off.
47%
(176)
Returning Defense
National #176 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #190 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-14.6
(181)
Rating
National #181 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
20.4
(167)
Adjusted Offense
National #167 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
AdjO
35.0
(186)
Adjusted Defense
National #186 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
AdjD
Auto Bid = Conference AQ; At-Large = Pool C at-large bid; Bowl = automatic bowl tie-ins (ECAC bowls are not included)
Note: Projections use prelim. returning production. Ranks in parentheses are national, of 243 teams. Data: stats.ncaa.org | Analysis: Logan Hansen