With kickoff under 100 days away it’s time to start looking towards the 2026 football season. Schedule appears to be finalized. Big news from offseason so far is Keefe is back and Noah Ehrlich is in.
Schedule
(H) Lawrence Tech
(A) Murray State
(A) Indiana State
(H) Butler
(A) Morehead State
(H) Drake
(A) San Diego
(H) Presbyterian
(A) Dayton
(A) Stetson
(H) St Thomas
Projected 50+ newcomers again. 0-11 is in play. 2-9 is more what id expect. 4-7 would be awesome. 6-5 is the absolute ceiling
I have never heard of Lawrence Tech.
who is projected to be the starting QB?
I have never heard of Lawrence Tech.
who is projected to be the starting QB?
Lawrence Tech = NAIA, 2-8 in 2025. Southfield, MI.
Hopefully, Paul will publish his last remaining piece on the 2026 team - Incoming Transfers. It must have gotten lost along the way QB Noah Eherlich was a centerpiece of that article.
Probably waiting for roster to be finalized. 7-8 guys always join for camp. Know Ethan Sathers DL from Western Illinois is coming.
In terms of starting QB. My guess is Keefe.
Taking a look at the QB situation.
#2 Rowan Keefe is the returning starter. Lost his spot to Caron in 2024, started through an abysmal 2025. With staff liking continuity, I would imagine he is QB1 to start season
Noah Ehrlich comes in as the third highest recruited player in rivals era to Valpo (Tyler Day/Robert Washington). Did not wow in the spring game. Will be hard pressed to keep off the field.
Marcus Brown and Nathan Downey are the returning depth pieces who saw time. Nathan fits the offense better and was allowed to finish a game, would imagine he is QB3. Brown could play situationally with speed.
Johnny DiBlassio is the lone QB to return with zero snaps. Bo Brunner is the freshman. Don’t see a world where either see meaningful snaps in 2026.
Waddle had one of the more insightful podcast on gonextplay.com . Definitely recommend for anyone who wants to learn how Valpo recruiting / college recruiting works in general. 40 minute listen
Results show that Keefe as the starting QB is not promising. Sorry, I have to say it. Move on with someone new and build the program.
@usc4valpo. I was at the Spring Game. The QB play was very lackluster (other than 1 long run). No throws were completed down field (all short or intermediate routes), a lot of incompletions and there were atleast 2 intercpetions. This happened with Rowan watching in street clothes. If someone else wants the spot they should earn it and it not be given to them. I believe more than 1 QB will see the field especially game 1. Rowan is the guy until someone shows they are deserving.
Both points are right. I was really disheartened there wasn’t better Noah Ehrlich buzz after the spring game and that defense was dominant.
the defense had some pretty poor first half numbers and really overall in the PFL (except some inspiring halves against USD, Butler, and Stetson).
Cedric Benning at RB is what I’ve heard was really the lone bright spot. Aside from a miracle comeback win at Stetson. Last season was one of the three worst since 2000.
We haven’t seen the typical FBS fall haul transfer wise. But I would say 3-4 wins is the ceiling and 0-11 is the basement.
3 wins and heavy retention, Waddle should be very much applauded 0-1 wins and 55 news players again the next season, then just waiting for contract expiration equilibrium point.
I personally enjoy hearing Waddle talk and think he genuinely cares. Just a complete rebuild.
16, Not being close to the program or having been at the spring game, I’m wondering why you aren’t higher in the defense. What I’ve read is that the entire defense is back ( or nearly) and at the spring game they looked solid although guys like Nic Lindino didn’t play.
Much could be said of the offense with several guys out still nursing injuries.
We’ll know a bunch in less than a month!
You’re right using scoring defense isn’t fair with the turnover margin Valparaiso namely Keefe had last season. A lot back at LB/DB. DL is a bit of a rebuild.
To answer your question VU72. The defense allowed 6 yards per play and 400 YPG. I’ll flip the question do you think the defense is an elite PFL unit coming back or is it likely the offense isn’t very good?
Our offense was well below the nat average of 5.5 yards per play and turnover margin was amongst worst nationally. The transfers brought in mid year were all from low end d3 programs sans, 1 rotational DL at a D2, 1 MAC QB, and 1 FCS Scholarship player who was a previous D3 call up.
i just stand by my statement. Would have like to have heard more functionality from the offense. I think with a lot of returners. It’s likely we marginally move to middle to upper middle of pack defensively. If we can limit turnovers , real shot to win a few games
Taking a look at the QB situation.
#2 Rowan Keefe is the returning starter. Lost his spot to Caron in 2024, started through an abysmal 2025. With staff liking continuity, I would imagine he is QB1 to start season
Noah Ehrlich comes in as the third highest recruited player in rivals era to Valpo (Tyler Day/Robert Washington). Did not wow in the spring game. Will be hard pressed to keep off the field.
Marcus Brown and Nathan Downey are the returning depth pieces who saw time. Nathan fits the offense better and was allowed to finish a game, would imagine he is QB3. Brown could play situationally with speed.
Johnny DiBlassio is the lone QB to return with zero snaps. Bo Brunner is the freshman. Don’t see a world where either see meaningful snaps in 2026.
@valpofb16 could I run a couple of questions by you?
First, do you think we saw Keefe's ceiling with the steps forward he took during the last part of the '25 season? (I guess I'm asking if he's capable of lifting the offense to a .500 caliber unit, assuming some other players also emerge.)
Second, was it is a learning-the-system thing that may have kept Ehrlich from being a dominant presence in the spring game? I recall that folks were very enthused that he was coming to Valpo.
Thanks for any insights you can share!
Keefe was wanted by multiple PFL schools and played for a very strong program in high school. He committed to a program that was a dropped touchdown away from a PFL title share. He has shown he can put together strong halves. With coordinator change overs his first two years and no OC his second year. It’s gone about as bad as can go. Hoping he can turn it around. The turnover problem needs to be fixed.
Cant speak much to Ehrlich as I’m not in the program. Top tier recruiting resume in the PFL. Folks should be enthused he’s here. Spring games can be a total wash. All I was saying is I wished there was a bit more buzz after spring.
Like I said previously. Marginal improvement on defense and less turnovers next season. Valpo could have 3-4 wins which would be a nice improvement.
There will be 50+ freshman again so will need to wait and see. It all starts with Lawrence tech. That’s an absolute must win (2-8 last season, lost to IWU 49-3) would be an Adrian level loss
@valpofb16 thanks much for that detailed response, much appreciated — as always.
I understand a wait-and-see stance after last year’s awful season. Perhaps naively, I’ll permit myself a smidgeon of optimism that the QB group can deliver some wins.