NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

2026 Season Preview, Presented by Hansen Ratings
Christopher Newport
Christopher NewportNewport News, VA
Rowan
RowanGlassboro, NJ
Salisbury
SalisburySalisbury, MD
Montclair State
Montclair StateUpper Montclair, NJ
TCNJ
TCNJEwing, NJ
Kean
KeanUnion, NJ
William Paterson
William PatersonWayne, NJ
Vermont State Castleton
Vermont State CastletonCastleton, VT
2025 Season Recap
Team | W-L (Conf) Rating
1. Christopher Newport | 10-1 (7-0) 27.4
2. Salisbury | 10-2 (6-1) 26.3
3. Rowan | 9-2 (5-2) 22.7
4. Montclair State | 5-5 (4-3) 3.6
5. TCNJ | 6-4 (3-4) 8.1
6. Kean | 3-7 (2-5) -5.4
7. William Paterson | 2-8 (1-6) -9.2
8. Vermont State Castleton | 2-8 (0-7) -25.1
Postseason Results
Auto Bid
0-1
Christopher Newport
At-Large
1-1
Salisbury
Bowl(s)
1-0
Rowan
W-L
2-2
Conference Summary
5.7
Avg. Rating
63%
Avg. Ret.
68%
Offense
57%
Defense
Players to Watch
YARP/G = Yards Above
Replacement per Game
SyRus McGowan - QB, Jr
Salisbury - 49.2 YARP/G
Dario Belizaire - RB, Sr
Salisbury - 38.0 YARP/G
TJ Kachala - WR, Jr
Montclair State - 29.6 YARP/G
Jayson Viernes - TE, Sr
Christopher Newport - 20.3 YARP/G
Andrew Belford - OL, Sr
Christopher Newport - 35.1 YARP/G
AJ Ryker - DB, Sr
Rowan - 40.8 YARP/G
Connor Estrella - DL, Sr
Christopher Newport - 37.6 YARP/G
Joseph Pressley - DL, Jr
William Paterson - 36.1 YARP/G
Noah Martin - DB, Sr
Christopher Newport - 29.4 YARP/G
Gavin Rembert - LB, Sr
William Paterson - 22.9 YARP/G
Games to Watch
Game Score = Measure of
Quality & Competitiveness
11/14: Christopher Newport (+0.5) @ Salisbury Game Score: 24.5 Salisbury 37.4-37.0 - 51%
9/26: Christopher Newport (+1.5) @ Susquehanna LAND Game Score: 23.8 Susquehanna 30.8-29.2 - 55%
10/31: Rowan (+2) @ Christopher Newport Game Score: 22.6 Christopher Newport 35.4-33.2 - 56%
10/10: Rowan (+2) @ Salisbury Game Score: 22.5 Salisbury 40.4-38.4 - 55%
9/4: Mary Hardin-Baylor (-10.5) @ Rowan ASC Game Score: 20.6 Mary Hardin-Baylor 32.3-22.1 - 75%
2026 Season Preview
Christopher Newport
Projected W-L: 8.1-1.9 (5.7-1.3)
Return
Prod.
Total
56%
(139)
Returning Production
National #139 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
40%
(200)
Returning Offense
National #200 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
Off.
74%
(35)
Returning Defense
National #35 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
33%
Auto Bid Odds
National #31 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
19%
At-Large Odds
National #15 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
24.6
(30)
Rating
National #30 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
41.7
(23)
Adjusted Offense
National #23 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
AdjO
17.1
(45)
Adjusted Defense
National #45 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
AdjD
Rowan
Projected W-L: 7.8-2.2 (5.6-1.4)
Return
Prod.
Total
76%
(28)
Returning Production
National #28 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
78%
(46)
Returning Offense
National #46 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
Off.
73%
(40)
Returning Defense
National #40 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
29%
Auto Bid Odds
National #37 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
17%
At-Large Odds
National #21 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
24.2
(32)
Rating
National #32 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
43.7
(14)
Adjusted Offense
National #14 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
AdjO
19.5
(63)
Adjusted Defense
National #63 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
AdjD
Salisbury
Projected W-L: 8.5-1.5 (5.6-1.4)
Return
Prod.
Total
51%
(166)
Returning Production
National #166 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
64%
(102)
Returning Offense
National #102 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
Off.
35%
(220)
Returning Defense
National #220 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
34%
Auto Bid Odds
National #29 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
21%
At-Large Odds
National #12 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
23.5
(33)
Rating
National #33 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
46.2
(9)
Adjusted Offense
National #9 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
AdjO
22.7
(91)
Adjusted Defense
National #91 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
AdjD
Montclair State
Projected W-L: 4.8-5.2 (3.3-3.7)
Return
Prod.
Total
67%
(64)
Returning Production
National #64 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
82%
(28)
Returning Offense
National #28 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
Off.
49%
(168)
Returning Defense
National #168 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
2%
Auto Bid Odds
National #133 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
2%
At-Large Odds
National #94 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
4.4
(102)
Rating
National #102 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
31.8
(80)
Adjusted Offense
National #80 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
AdjO
27.3
(125)
Adjusted Defense
National #125 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
AdjD
TCNJ
Projected W-L: 4.4-5.6 (2.8-4.2)
Return
Prod.
Total
28%
(237)
Returning Production
National #237 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
22%
(235)
Returning Offense
National #235 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
Off.
35%
(222)
Returning Defense
National #222 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
1%
Auto Bid Odds
National #150 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #127 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-0.3
(122)
Rating
National #122 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
22.3
(154)
Adjusted Offense
National #154 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
AdjO
22.6
(89)
Adjusted Defense
National #89 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
AdjD
Kean
Projected W-L: 4.6-5.4 (2.5-4.5)
Return
Prod.
Total
79%
(19)
Returning Production
National #19 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
85%
(21)
Returning Offense
National #21 of 243
Conference 2nd of 8
Off.
70%
(55)
Returning Defense
National #55 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #155 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #131 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-1.0
(125)
Rating
National #125 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
23.6
(145)
Adjusted Offense
National #145 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
AdjO
24.6
(100)
Adjusted Defense
National #100 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
AdjD
William Paterson
Projected W-L: 3.5-6.5 (2.0-5.0)
Return
Prod.
Total
76%
(29)
Returning Production
National #29 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
87%
(17)
Returning Offense
National #17 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Off.
62%
(87)
Returning Defense
National #87 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #165 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #153 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-6.2
(144)
Rating
National #144 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
20.7
(165)
Adjusted Offense
National #165 of 243
Conference 7th of 8
AdjO
26.9
(122)
Adjusted Defense
National #122 of 243
Conference 6th of 8
AdjD
Vermont State Castleton
Projected W-L: 2.7-7.3 (0.5-6.5)
Return
Prod.
Total
70%
(55)
Returning Production
National #55 of 243
Conference 4th of 8
82%
(27)
Returning Offense
National #27 of 243
Conference 3rd of 8
Off.
55%
(137)
Returning Defense
National #137 of 243
Conference 5th of 8
Def.
Post-
Season
Auto Bid
0%
Auto Bid Odds
National #202 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
0%
At-Large Odds
National #189 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
At-Large
0%
Bowl Odds
National #119 of 243
Conference 1st of 8
Bowl
Team
Ratings
Rating
-23.8
(210)
Rating
National #210 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
15.0
(206)
Adjusted Offense
National #206 of 243
Conference 8th of 8
AdjO
38.8
(206)
Adjusted Defense
National #206 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