HEARTLAND COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

2026 Season Preview, Presented by Hansen Ratings
Hanover
HanoverHanover, IN
Mount St. Joseph
Mount St. JosephCincinnati, OH
Franklin
FranklinFranklin, IN
Rose-Hulman
Rose-HulmanTerre Haute, IN
Bluffton
BlufftonBluffton, OH
Anderson
AndersonAnderson, IN
Manchester
ManchesterN. Manchester, IN
2025 Season Recap
Team | W-L (Conf) Rating
1. Hanover | 9-3 (6-0) 27.6
2. Mount St. Joseph | 6-5 (5-1) 13.8
3. Franklin | 5-5 (3-3) -3.3
3. Bluffton | 5-5 (3-3) -8.5
3. Rose-Hulman | 3-7 (3-3) -8.8
6. Anderson | 2-8 (1-5) -31.4
7. Manchester | 0-10 (0-6) -35.8
Postseason Results
Auto Bid
1-1
Hanover
At-Large
0-0
Bowl(s)
0-1
Mount St. Joseph
W-L
1-2
Conference Summary
-9.0
Avg. Rating
53%
Avg. Ret.
52%
Offense
54%
Defense
Players to Watch
YARP/G = Yards Above
Replacement per Game
Eian Roudebush - QB, Sr
Hanover - 59.0 YARP/G
Blaik Nation - RB, Jr
Hanover - 12.9 YARP/G
Eli Aston - WR, Jr
Mount St. Joseph - 41.7 YARP/G
Ethan Skinner - TE, Sr
Manchester - 12.5 YARP/G
David Holloway - OL, Jr
Hanover - 23.9 YARP/G
Brady Pierce - DB, Sr
Mount St. Joseph - 45.8 YARP/G
Brian Wall - DB, Jr
Hanover - 32.7 YARP/G
Jaylen Hayes - DL, So
Anderson - 24.5 YARP/G
Luke Paff - LB, Sr
Mount St. Joseph - 23.5 YARP/G
Savon Gatlin - DL, Jr
Bluffton - 19.2 YARP/G
Games to Watch
Game Score = Measure of
Quality & Competitiveness
9/19: Hope (-4.5) @ Hanover MIAA Game Score: 26.1 Hope 27.8-23.2 - 62%
9/19: Adrian (+0.5) @ Mount St. Joseph MIAA Game Score: 17.3 Mount St. Joseph 30.5-30.1 - 51%
9/12: Mount St. Joseph (+3) @ Aurora NACC Game Score: 14.3 Aurora 41.6-38.8 - 58%
10/3: Mount St. Joseph (+13) @ Hanover Game Score: 9.0 Hanover 38.2-25.3 - 80%
9/12: Hanover (-13) @ Maryville Tenn. SAA Game Score: 7.1 Hanover 29.0-16.1 - 80%
2026 Season Preview
Hanover
Projected W-L: 8.7-1.3 (5.7-0.3)
Return
Prod.
Total
72%
(50)
Returning Production
National #50 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
78%
(45)
Returning Offense
National #45 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
Off.
65%
(80)
Returning Defense
National #80 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
76%
Auto Bid Odds
National #5 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
5%
At-Large Odds
National #64 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
At-Large
17%
Bowl Odds
National #49 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
27.1
(24)
Rating
National #24 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
39.0
(33)
Adjusted Offense
National #33 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
AdjO
11.9
(21)
Adjusted Defense
National #21 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
AdjD
Mount St. Joseph
Projected W-L: 7.5-2.5 (5.0-1.0)
Return
Prod.
Total
73%
(43)
Returning Production
National #43 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
79%
(37)
Returning Offense
National #37 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
Off.
66%
(73)
Returning Defense
National #73 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
21%
Auto Bid Odds
National #52 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
12%
At-Large Odds
National #32 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
At-Large
50%
Bowl Odds
National #7 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
16.5
(55)
Rating
National #55 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
41.2
(25)
Adjusted Offense
National #25 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
AdjO
24.7
(101)
Adjusted Defense
National #101 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
AdjD
Franklin
Projected W-L: 4.8-5.2 (3.4-2.6)
Return
Prod.
Total
58%
(122)
Returning Production
National #122 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
50%
(164)
Returning Offense
National #164 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
Off.
68%
(64)
Returning Defense
National #64 of 243
Conference 1st of 7
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
2%
Auto Bid Odds
National #125 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
1%
At-Large Odds
National #123 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
At-Large
17%
Bowl Odds
National #47 of 243
Conference 2nd of 7
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-4.2
(138)
Rating
National #138 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
30.1
(92)
Adjusted Offense
National #92 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
AdjO
34.3
(181)
Adjusted Defense
National #181 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
AdjD
Rose-Hulman
Projected W-L: 4.4-5.6 (3.1-2.9)
Return
Prod.
Total
57%
(130)
Returning Production
National #130 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
50%
(162)
Returning Offense
National #162 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
Off.
66%
(74)
Returning Defense
National #74 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
1%
Auto Bid Odds
National #145 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
0%
At-Large Odds
National #177 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
At-Large
11%
Bowl Odds
National #66 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-7.7
(154)
Rating
National #154 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
21.2
(161)
Adjusted Offense
National #161 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
AdjO
28.9
(143)
Adjusted Defense
National #143 of 243
Conference 3rd of 7
AdjD
Bluffton
Projected W-L: 3.4-6.6 (2.5-3.5)
Return
Prod.
Total
35%
(225)
Returning Production
National #225 of 243
Conference 7th of 7
38%
(205)
Returning Offense
National #205 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
Off.
32%
(228)
Returning Defense
National #228 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #172 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
0%
At-Large Odds
National #170 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
At-Large
4%
Bowl Odds
National #80 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-16.0
(187)
Rating
National #187 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
24.2
(139)
Adjusted Offense
National #139 of 243
Conference 4th of 7
AdjO
40.2
(219)
Adjusted Defense
National #219 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
AdjD
Anderson
Projected W-L: 1.6-8.4 (0.8-5.2)
Return
Prod.
Total
39%
(217)
Returning Production
National #217 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
46%
(177)
Returning Offense
National #177 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
Off.
30%
(230)
Returning Defense
National #230 of 243
Conference 7th of 7
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #116 of 243
Conference 7th of 7
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-37.2
(229)
Rating
National #229 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
3.3
(238)
Adjusted Offense
National #238 of 243
Conference 7th of 7
AdjO
40.5
(221)
Adjusted Defense
National #221 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
AdjD
Manchester
Projected W-L: 1.1-8.9 (0.5-5.5)
Return
Prod.
Total
36%
(224)
Returning Production
National #224 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
22%
(234)
Returning Offense
National #234 of 243
Conference 7th of 7
Off.
53%
(148)
Returning Defense
National #148 of 243
Conference 5th of 7
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #108 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-41.3
(236)
Rating
National #236 of 243
Conference 7th of 7
4.9
(235)
Adjusted Offense
National #235 of 243
Conference 6th of 7
AdjO
46.2
(229)
Adjusted Defense
National #229 of 243
Conference 7th of 7
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