Football

2026 WIAC Football Preview

MADISON, Wis.--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its preview and predictions for the 2026 football season. The predictions were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
University of Wisconsin-Platteville is predicted to claim the conference title. The Pioneers made the fourth NCAA appearance in program history a season ago and enter the 2026 campaign ranked No. 6 in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25 Poll.
 
A year ago, the conference sent four teams to the NCAA Division III tournament and UW-River Falls emerged with its first national title. The WIAC became the first conference in NCAA Division III history to have four teams compete in the championship.
 
Additional WIAC programs in this year’s D3football.com Poll include: UW-River Falls (seventh); UW-La Crosse (10th); UW-Whitewater (12th); UW-Oshkosh (RV); and UW-Stout Polytechnic (RV).
 
Conference individuals named to the 2026 D3football.com Preseason All-America Team include: UW-La Crosse’s Jack Janke (Second) and Trent Mullen (Second) and UW-River Falls’ Taylor Sussner (Second) and Andre Hall (Third).
 
UW-Platteville is followed in the conference predictions by: UW-La Crosse; UW-River Falls; UW-Whitewater; UW-Oshkosh; UW-Stout Polytechnic; UW-Stevens Point; and UW-Eau Claire.
 
The 2026 season is set to begin Sept. 3, with the conference slate kicking-off Oct. 3.
 
The WIAC will be represented in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl for the sixth straight year against an opponent from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The game will feature the highest-placing team in each conference’s standings that doesn’t secure an NCAA bid. This year’s event will be held at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field in Sun Prairie, Wis., Nov. 21.
 
2026 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
2025 Record
1. UW-Platteville (9-3 overall, 5-2 WIAC)
2. UW-La Crosse (8-3, 5-2)
3. UW-River Falls (14-1, 6-1)
4. UW-Whitewater (8-3, 5-2)
5. UW-Oshkosh (5-5, 3-4)
6. UW-Stout Polytechnic (6-5, 3-4)
7. UW-Stevens Point (4-6, 1-6)
8. UW-Eau Claire (3-7, 0-7)

  
Team Capsules
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Rob Erickson; 4th season at UWEC; 7-23
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  26/15
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  22/13
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  4/7
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Keagan Christy, Sr., LB (2025-Honorable); Brady Puls, Jr., DL (2024-Newcomer of the Year, 2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Ayden Helder, So., QB; Nick Kihn, Jr., WR; Matt Kuczaj, Jr., WR; Paxton Rothmeier, So., RB
 
Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Max Marty, Jr., S; Jimmy McGovern, Jr., DL; Jack Scheldroup, Jr., LB; Ryan Spickerman, Jr., S
 
Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Satchel Johnson, Jr., K; Nolan Kays, Sr., P; Reece Perry, So., K; Connor Radaj, Sr., K
 
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Michael Zweifel; 1st season at UWL; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  40/14
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  34/20
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/3
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  4/7
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  0/2

Returning All-WIAC:  Jack Janke, Sr., WR (2025-First); Trent Mullen, Sr., DB (2024-First, 2025-First)
 
Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Watson Allan, Sr., OL; Keaton Arendt, Sr., WR; Kyle Haas, Sr., QB; Braedon Ott, Sr., RB
 
Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Grant Achterkirch, Sr., LB; Sam Baumgard, Sr., DB; Isaac Dagit, Sr., DL; Ben Ott, Jr., LB
 
Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Maddox Pratt, Sr., K/P
 
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Peter Jennings; 5th season at UWO; 23-17
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  20/15
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  23/14
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  3/8
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  5/6
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Trevor Bahrs, Jr., DB (2025-Honorable); AJ Korth, Jr., QB (2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Nate Branch, Jr., TE; Jackson Brush, Sr., WR; Chris Haag, Jr., OL; Ben Vallafskey, Jr., RB
 
Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Ty Adams, So., DB; Dayshawn Henry, Jr., LB; CJ Relias, Sr., DL; Kellen Wright, Sr., LB
 
Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  John Abernathy, Jr., P
 
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Ryan Munz; 5th season at UWP; 30-14
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  23/10
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  22/10
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  8/3
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  8/3
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Zackary Bothun, Sr., RB (2024-Honorable, 2025-First); Nicholas Brattleaf, Jr., C (2025-Honorable); Elijah Krantz, Sr., LB (2025-Second); Jonah Larson, Sr., G (2025-Second); Harrison Meyer, Sr., DB (2024-Second, 2025-First); Nathan Uselding, Jr., QB (2025-Honorable); Benjamin Younker, Sr., P (2024-First, 2025-First)
 
Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Jaxon Garbisch, Jr., WR; Kristian Gavric, Jr., WR
 
Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Rob Francis, Jr., DB; Cormac Sammons, Sr., DL
 
Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Brady Mobley, So., K
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Jake Wissing; 1st season at UWRF; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  38/14
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  41/7
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  4/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  8/3
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Trevor Asher, Jr., RB (2025-Honorable); Kody Curtis, Jr., DT (2025-First); Andre Hall, Sr., CB (2025-First); Austin Rush, Sr., WR (2025-Honorable); Taylor Sussner, So., SAF (2025-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Ben Wesolowski, Sr., WR (2024-Second, 2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Cade Fitzgerald, Sr., QB; Adam Johnston, Sr., TE; Jai Kalvik, Jr., OL
 
Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Braden Jones, Jr., CB; John Klefstad, Sr., DL; Peter Ladu, Jr., CB; Noah Nusbaum, So., LB
 
Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Brandon Bedlov, Jr., LS
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Luke Venne; 5th season at UWSP; 7-33
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  21/8
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  25/14
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  3/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Rhett Loken, Jr., OL (2025-Honorable); Jacob Scott, Sr., OL (2024-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Charlie Garvey, So., OL; Zack Lynch, Jr., RB; Elijah Mott, Sr., TE; Brayden Wiczek, Sr., WR
 
Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Josh Kristof, Sr., LB; Zander Popp, Sr., DB; Peyton Schwahn, Jr., DL; Greg Westemeier, Jr., CB
 
Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Dakota Stroud, So., P
 
 
UW-Stout Polytechnic
Head Coach:  Clayt Birmingham; 16th season at UWST; 66-85
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  22/9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  30/8
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0
 
Returning All-WIAC:  Walker Beyerl, Sr., DL (2024-Second, 2025-Second); Brooks Brewer, Sr., DB (2024-Second, 2025-First); Ben Bystol, Sr., OL (2025-Second); Avron Carter, Jr., WR/ST (2025-Second); Jesse Ellis, Jr., DB (2025-Honorable); Davonte Evans, Sr., WR (2025-First); Jojo James, So., WR/RET (2025-Second)
 
Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Andrew David, Sr., OL; Mason Frank, Sr., TE; Dalton Mondeau, Jr., OL; Kade Tappen, Sr., WR
 
Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Matt Blank, Sr., DL; Dawson Goodman, Sr., DB; Parker Klavetter, Sr., LB; Braxton Munnikhuysen, Sr., LB
 
Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Matt Larson, So., LS; Brady Prieve, Jr., P
 
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Jace Rindahl; 4th season at UWW; 25-9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  35/20
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  35/16
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Troy Dietzler, Sr., OL (2025-Second); Deven Magli, Sr., DB (2025-Second); Karsten Libby, Sr., LB (2024-Honorable, 2025-First); Noah Moris, Sr., DL (2024-Honorable, 2025-First); Efrein Ramirez, Jr., DB (2025-Second); Brian Stanton, Sr., RB (2025-Second); Tyler Vasey, Sr., WR/RET (2023-Second/Newcomer of the Year, 2024-First, 2025-First/RS, 2025-Honorable/AP)
 
Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Jacques Brooks, So., WR; Aaron Johnson, Sr., OL; Justin Klinkner, Jr., QB; Colin Krzeczkowski, Sr., OL
 
Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Dom Beres, Jr., LB; Ben Bielawski, Sr., DL; Carson Clausen, Jr., DL; Jayden Fowler, Jr., LB
 
Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Hunter Liszka, So., P/K; Dylan Tackett, So., P/K
 
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