Football | 8/31/2026 9:30:00 AM
SUNY Cortland will look to earn its sixth straight Empire 8 title, as the 2026 season begins on Sept. 3-5, with all eight teams in action. Empire 8 league play starts on Sept. 19 with one game between Cortland and Hartwick, while the remainder of league play begins on Sept. 26. The regular season Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Football Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the
Empire 8 Network.
2026 Empire 8 Football Players to Watch
Alfred University - Head Coach Bob Rankl
Jack Bestpitch, Jr., SS, Elma, NY/St. Mary’s - Bestpitch was a 2025 third team All-Conference pick at defensive back. He registered two interceptions for touchdowns and added 51 tackles, 35 of them were solo.
Tommy Nyquist, Jr., RB, Warren, PA/Warren - Nyquist was a 2025 third team All-Conference selection at running back. He had an impressive sophomore season where he broke the most rushing carries in a single-game record for the Saxons. He totaled 1,153 yards on 224 rushing attempts with seven touchdowns. On the receiving end, he had 21 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown.
Alfred State College - Head Coach Scott Linn
Chris Bergman, Sr., DB, Akron, NY/Akron - Bergman, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, started in 10 games for the Pioneers in 2025. He had 77 total tackles, 57 of them by himself. He added three interceptions with five passes deflected.
Noah Currier, Sr., RB/RS, Oakfield, NY/Oakfield-Alabama - Currier, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, had an incredible first season in the Empire 8. He earned first team All-Conference accolades as both a running back and all-purpose player. He also earned a third team nod as a return specialist. He was a 2025 D3football.com first team All-Region selection as a return specialist and a second team pick as a running back. He finished his season with 213 carries for 1,234 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. On the receiving side, he had 42 receptions for 357 yards and four touchdowns. As a returner, he had 19 attempts for 501 kick return yards and brought in two touchdowns. Currier is a 2026 D3football.com Preseason All-American.
SUNY Brockport - Head Coach Jason Mangone
Kyle Slywka, Sr., CB, Waterloo, NY/Waterloo - Slywka was a 2025 first team All-E8 pick as a defensive back. He appeared in 10 games in his junior season and recorded 23 tackles, 14 on his own. He added two interceptions and six pass breakups. On special teams, Slywka blocked one kick and returned one punt for 33 yards and a touchdown.
Nolan Slywka, Sr., WR, Waterloo, NY/Waterloo - In 2024, Slywka earned first team All-Conference accolades as a wide receiver. During that season, he had 49 receptions for 791 yards and eight touchdowns. He will be an exciting piece for the Golden Eagles offense.
SUNY Cortland - Head Coach Tom Blumenauer
Nazair Jean-Lubin, Sr., CB, Freeport, NY/Freeport - Jean-Lubin is a two-time E8 Player to Watch. In 2025, Jean-Lubin was a first team D3football.com All-American and a third team Associated Press All-American. He earned first team All-Region II honors by D3football.com and was an E8 first team All-Conference member. In 2024, he held first team All-Conference and D3football.com All-Region honors and earned a third team defense D3football.com All-America nod in as well. He had four interceptions with 11 pass breakups on the season. Lubin was a 2026 D3football.com Preseason All-American.
Mike Rescigno, So., QB, Arlington, NY/Arlington - Rescigno, in his debut for the Red Dragons, had a stellar season. He earned Empire 8 second team All-Conference honors, recording 1,728 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 155 rushing attempts for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Hartwick College - Head Coach Matt Rogers
Rob Kennedy, Sr., LB, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY/Hastings - In 2025, Kennedy had 56 total tackles with 32 of them solo. He had 10.5 tackles for loss for 32 yards. He added three interceptions on the season and took one in for a touchdown.
Akil Williams, Sr., RB, Chester, NY/Chester - Williams had 168 rushing attempts for 730 yards and seven touchdowns. He added six receptions on the season for 25 yards. On special teams, he had six kick returns for 108 yards.
SUNY Morrisville - Head Coach Eric Jendryaszek
DeSean Bruce, Jr., DB, Geneva, NY/Geneva - Bruce saw a significant jump in playing time in his sophomore season. He started in 10 games for the Mustangs and was a staple on the back end of the defense. He recorded two interceptions with 40 total tackles. He had 22 solo tackles and assisted on one for loss.
Isaac Sylvain, Sr., RB, Schnectady, NY/Green Tech High Charter - Sylvain, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, earned second team All-Conference honors at running back. He recorded 202 rushing attempts for 999 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 17 receptions for 82 yards on the season.
St. John Fisher University - Head Coach Ed Raby Jr.
Tim Vanderbrink, Sr., DB, Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West - Vanderbrink, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a top producing defender before suffering a season-ending injury midway through his 2025 season. In six games, Vanderbrink made 58 total tackles with 39 solo and 3.5 for loss. He recovered two fumbles and forced two more. His play earned him second team All-Conference accolades.
Ryan Whitney, Sr., QB, Geneseo, NY/Geneseo - Whitney, since becomin the Cardinals' starter in 2024, has been a top dual-threat quarterback in the region. Over 18 games, Whitney has completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,678 yards with 18 touchdowns. He has rushed for 725 yards and six scores on 192 carries. He is the first Cardinals quarterback since 2011 to record multiple 100-yard rushing games in a season.
Utica University - Head Coach Blaise Faggiano
Logan Frederick, Gr., TE, Little Falls, NY/Little Falls - Frederick enjoyed a historic season in 2025. He appeared in 10 games catching 74 passes for 867 and 12 receiving touchdowns. His prowess earned him E8 first team All-Conference accolades as well as first team all-ECAC. Frederick was also named D3football.com first team All-Region. On the national side, Frederick was a Walter Camp Division III All-American, D3football.com fourth team All-American as well as AP Division III second team All-American. He is a 2026 D3football.com First Team Preseason All-American.
Tyler Szalkowski, Gr., QB, Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute - Szalkowski racked up the accolades in 2025, playing in 11 games, completing 285 passes for 3,638 yards and 33 touchdowns. His performance earned him first team Empire 8 All-Conference in addition to being named the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year. He broke multiple single-season records, was given a D3football.com National Team of the Week nod and earned second team All-ECAC.
Final 2025 Empire 8 Football Standings
Cortland (8-3, 7-0 E8) - League Champions
Utica (8-3, 6-1 E8)
St. John Fisher (7-4, 5-2 E8)
Brockport (7-4, 4-3 E8)
Alfred State (5-5, 3-4 E8)
Alfred (4-6, 2-5 E8)
Hartwick (4-6, 1-6 E8)
Morrisville (0-10, 0-7 E8)
2026 Empire 8 Football Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Award Winners
- Mike Baloga, Cortland, Sr., K/P, New Windsor, NY/Cornwall - 2024 Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Year, 2024 D3football.com first team All-Region (as a kicker)
- ADante Bianchino, Utica, OL, Albany, NY/Shaker - 2025 D3football.com third team Guard All-Region
- Connor Cosgrove, Hartwick, So., Warwick, NY/Don Bosco Prep - 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Sam Cotton, Cortland, Jr., WR, Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley - 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Noah Currier, Alfred State, Sr., RB/RS, Oakfield, NY/Oakfield-Alabama - 2026 D3football.com Preseason All-American, 2025 D3football.com first team All-Region return specialist, D3football.com second team All-Region running back
- Nicholas DeForrest, Utica, Sr., Rome, NY/Holland Patent - 2024 D3football.com second team Specialist All-American, 2024 D3football.com first team Special Teams All-Region
- Logan Frederick, Utica, Gr., TE, Little Falls, NY/Little Falls - 2026 D3football.com Preseason All-American, 2025 Associated Press Division III second team All-American, 2025 D3football.com fourth team All-American, 2025 Walter Camp Division III All-American, 2025 D3football.com first team All-Region
- Ethan Gallo, Cortland, Jr., RB, Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley - 2024 D3football.com second team Running Back All-Region
- Nathan Hernandez, Utica, Jr., DB, Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville - 2025 D3football.com first team Special Teams All-Region
- Nazair Jean-Lubin, Cortland, Sr., CB, Freeport, NY/Freeport - 2026 D3football.com Preseason All-American, 2025 first team D3football.com All-American, 2025 third team Associated Press All-American, 2025 D3football.com first team Defense All-Region 2024 D3football.com third team Defense All-American, 2024 D3football.com first team Defense All-Region
- Tyler Szalkowski, Utica, Gr., QB, Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute - 2025 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year
- Nazhier Wilson, Brockport, So., LB, Rochester, NY/James Monroe - 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year