NORTH COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

2026 Season Preview, Presented by Hansen Ratings
John Carroll
John CarrollUniversity Heights, OH
DePauw
DePauwGreencastle, IN
Washington U.
Washington U.St. Louis, MO
Wabash
WabashCrawfordsville, IN
Denison
DenisonGranville, OH
Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio WesleyanDelaware, OH
Wittenberg
WittenbergSpringfield, OH
Wooster
WoosterWooster, OH
Kenyon
KenyonGambier, OH
Oberlin
OberlinOberlin, OH
2025 Season Recap
Team | W-L (Conf) Rating
1. John Carroll | 12-2 (8-0) 40.6
2. DePauw | 10-2 (7-1) 32.9
3. Wabash | 9-2 (6-2) 18.5
4. Denison | 6-4 (5-3) 8.4
5. Wooster | 5-5 (4-4) -6.6
6. Wittenberg | 4-6 (3-5) 7.8
7. Ohio Wesleyan | 3-7 (2-6) -0.6
8. Kenyon | 1-9 (1-7) -19.1
9. Oberlin | 0-10 (0-8) -44.9
Postseason Results
Auto Bid
3-1
John Carroll
At-Large
1-1
DePauw
Bowl(s)
1-0
Wabash
W-L
5-2
Conference Summary
5.2
Avg. Rating
59%
Avg. Ret.
60%
Offense
59%
Defense
Players to Watch
YARP/G = Yards Above
Replacement per Game
Scott Ballentine - QB, Jr
DePauw - 58.7 YARP/G
Shane Lindstrom - RB, Sr
John Carroll - 16.1 YARP/G
Grayson Kerscher - WR, Sr
Denison - 42.3 YARP/G
John Benke - TE, Sr
Washington U. - 13.1 YARP/G
Bennett Smith - OL, Sr
DePauw - 24.7 YARP/G
Will Dix, Jr. - LB, Jr
Wittenberg - 47.5 YARP/G
Michael Kerr - LB, Sr
Kenyon - 39.2 YARP/G
Andrew Pohlman - DB, So
Kenyon - 32.6 YARP/G
Dominic Simpson - DB, Sr
Kenyon - 31.7 YARP/G
Alex Knight - DL, Jr
Kenyon - 23.1 YARP/G
Games to Watch
Game Score = Measure of
Quality & Competitiveness
10/31: John Carroll (-2) @ DePauw Game Score: 30.9 John Carroll 28.2-26.1 - 56%
9/12: DePauw (-1.5) @ Washington U. Game Score: 27.8 DePauw 32.3-30.8 - 54%
10/3: John Carroll (-5) @ Washington U. Game Score: 26.4 John Carroll 29.6-24.7 - 62%
11/14: Wabash (-0) @ DePauw Game Score: 24.9 DePauw 31.5-31.5 - 79%
10/24: Washington U. (-6) @ Wabash Game Score: 16.9 Washington U. 34.6-28.4 - 65%
2026 Season Preview
: New Head Coach : New Conference Member
John Carroll
Projected W-L: 8.6-1.4 (7.8-1.2)
Return
Prod.
Total
44%
(197)
Returning Production
National #197 of 243
Conference 9th of 10
43%
(192)
Returning Offense
National #192 of 243
Conference 9th of 10
Off.
46%
(182)
Returning Defense
National #182 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
39%
Auto Bid Odds
National #23 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
26%
At-Large Odds
National #8 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
At-Large
20%
Bowl Odds
National #40 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
34.0
(13)
Rating
National #13 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
41.7
(22)
Adjusted Offense
National #22 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
AdjO
7.7
(12)
Adjusted Defense
National #12 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
AdjD
DePauw
Projected W-L: 8.5-1.5 (7.5-1.5)
Return
Prod.
Total
54%
(148)
Returning Production
National #148 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
65%
(99)
Returning Offense
National #99 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
Off.
40%
(205)
Returning Defense
National #205 of 243
Conference 10th of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
31%
Auto Bid Odds
National #35 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
24%
At-Large Odds
National #10 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
At-Large
21%
Bowl Odds
National #34 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
30.5
(18)
Rating
National #18 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
44.3
(12)
Adjusted Offense
National #12 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
AdjO
13.9
(30)
Adjusted Defense
National #30 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
AdjD
Washington U.
Projected W-L: 8.2-1.8 (7.2-1.8)
Return
Prod.
Total
75%
(33)
Returning Production
National #33 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
88%
(13)
Returning Offense
National #13 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
Off.
58%
(114)
Returning Defense
National #114 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
24%
Auto Bid Odds
National #45 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
18%
At-Large Odds
National #19 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
At-Large
25%
Bowl Odds
National #28 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
27.2
(23)
Rating
National #23 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
42.7
(19)
Adjusted Offense
National #19 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
AdjO
15.5
(40)
Adjusted Defense
National #40 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
AdjD
Wabash
Projected W-L: 6.7-3.3 (6.0-3.0)
Return
Prod.
Total
64%
(85)
Returning Production
National #85 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
71%
(72)
Returning Offense
National #72 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
Off.
56%
(126)
Returning Defense
National #126 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
5%
Auto Bid Odds
National #97 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
8%
At-Large Odds
National #44 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
At-Large
20%
Bowl Odds
National #39 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
17.9
(48)
Rating
National #48 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
38.1
(37)
Adjusted Offense
National #37 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
AdjO
20.2
(71)
Adjusted Defense
National #71 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
AdjD
Denison
Projected W-L: 4.8-5.2 (4.8-4.2)
Return
Prod.
Total
62%
(99)
Returning Production
National #99 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
51%
(156)
Returning Offense
National #156 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
Off.
77%
(24)
Returning Defense
National #24 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
1%
Auto Bid Odds
National #146 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
1%
At-Large Odds
National #116 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
At-Large
8%
Bowl Odds
National #74 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
9.1
(80)
Rating
National #80 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
32.0
(78)
Adjusted Offense
National #78 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
AdjO
22.8
(92)
Adjusted Defense
National #92 of 243
Conference 5th of 10
AdjD
Ohio Wesleyan
Projected W-L: 4.9-5.1 (4.0-5.0)
Return
Prod.
Total
74%
(38)
Returning Production
National #38 of 243
Conference 3rd of 10
70%
(75)
Returning Offense
National #75 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
Off.
78%
(21)
Returning Defense
National #21 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #166 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
0%
At-Large Odds
National #140 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
At-Large
4%
Bowl Odds
National #82 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
3.5
(108)
Rating
National #108 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
29.1
(100)
Adjusted Offense
National #100 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
AdjO
25.5
(109)
Adjusted Defense
National #109 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
AdjD
Wittenberg
Projected W-L: 3.6-6.4 (3.4-5.6)
Return
Prod.
Total
32%
(231)
Returning Production
National #231 of 243
Conference 10th of 10
26%
(232)
Returning Offense
National #232 of 243
Conference 10th of 10
Off.
40%
(204)
Returning Defense
National #204 of 243
Conference 9th of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #178 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
0%
At-Large Odds
National #152 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
At-Large
1%
Bowl Odds
National #94 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-0.3
(123)
Rating
National #123 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
24.9
(134)
Adjusted Offense
National #134 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
AdjO
25.2
(105)
Adjusted Defense
National #105 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
AdjD
Wooster
Projected W-L: 3.1-6.9 (2.5-6.5)
Return
Prod.
Total
54%
(145)
Returning Production
National #145 of 243
Conference 7th of 10
62%
(108)
Returning Offense
National #108 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
Off.
44%
(192)
Returning Defense
National #192 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #101 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-8.5
(155)
Rating
National #155 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
23.5
(147)
Adjusted Offense
National #147 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
AdjO
32.0
(161)
Adjusted Defense
National #161 of 243
Conference 9th of 10
AdjD
Kenyon
Projected W-L: 2.1-7.9 (1.8-7.2)
Return
Prod.
Total
75%
(34)
Returning Production
National #34 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
72%
(70)
Returning Offense
National #70 of 243
Conference 2nd of 10
Off.
79%
(17)
Returning Defense
National #17 of 243
Conference 1st of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #109 of 243
Conference 9th of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-16.2
(188)
Rating
National #188 of 243
Conference 9th of 10
15.8
(200)
Adjusted Offense
National #200 of 243
Conference 9th of 10
AdjO
32.0
(160)
Adjusted Defense
National #160 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
AdjD
Oberlin
Projected W-L: 0.3-9.7 (0.1-8.9)
Return
Prod.
Total
58%
(124)
Returning Production
National #124 of 243
Conference 6th of 10
51%
(157)
Returning Offense
National #157 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
Off.
67%
(67)
Returning Defense
National #67 of 243
Conference 4th of 10
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 8th of 10
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 10th of 10
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-45.7
(238)
Rating
National #238 of 243
Conference 10th of 10
3.4
(237)
Adjusted Offense
National #237 of 243
Conference 10th of 10
AdjO
49.2
(239)
Adjusted Defense
National #239 of 243
Conference 10th of 10
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