SRU Quick Facts (PDF)  |  PSAC Notes  |  SRU Roster  |  SRU Schedule
 
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University football team was picked to finish second in the Western Division when the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll was announced Thursday.
 
The Rock received three of the other seven first place votes available from the division's head coaches to sit second in the Western Division poll. Indiana (Pa.) earned the other five first place votes to rank first in the poll. California (Pa.)  was picked to finish in third place. Edinboro, Clarion, Seton Hill, Lock Haven and Gannon rounded out the divisional rankings.
 
"We can't put much stock into the preseason polls," said SRU head coach Shawn Lutz. "We underperformed last year and didn't meet the expectations of our program. A lot of places would love to say they had a winning record and a 6-4 season, but we know that is not good enough in this program. We're taking on a big challenge this year by bringing in a nationally ranked Minnesota Duluth team for the opener, so we will find out a lot about our program the first week."
 
Defending regional champion Kutztown was picked to win the Eastern Division with all six of the other first place votes available. East Stroudsburg was picked second and Shepherd was selected third while earning the one remaining first place vote. West Chester was selected fourth, followed by Bloomsburg, Shippensburg and Millersville rounding out the Eastern Division poll.
 
Slippery Rock enters the 2026 season coming off an uncharacteristic 6-4 season and a third place showing in the PSAC West last fall. The Rock saw a six-year NCAA playoff streak snapped, which was the second longest active streak in the nation. SRU reached the national semifinals in 2024 and the quarterfinals in 2023.
 
The Rock are looking to return to the top of the division standings and win their sixth PSAC West title in the last eight seasons. SRU has put together 16 consecutive winning seasons, which ranks ninth among all active streaks in Division II entering this fall.
 
Slippery Rock will open the 2026 season with the first "Week Zero" game in program history, opting to open the season a week early and take its bye week during the traditional opening week of the season. The Rock will play arguably the toughest first opponent in the PSAC this fall with nationally ranked Minnesota Duluth traveling to Mihalik-Thompson Stadium for the first-ever meeting between the programs Thursday night, Aug. 27.
 
The full PSAC Preseason Coaches Poll and some brief notes about The Rock football team heading into the 2026 season can be found below and in the quick facts document linked above.
 
PSAC WEST PRESEASON COACHES POLL (1st place votes)
1. Indiana (Pa.) (5)
2. SLIPPERY ROCK (3)
3. California (Pa.)
4. Edinboro
5. Clarion
6. Seton Hill
7. Lock Haven
8. Gannon
 
PSAC EAST PRESEASON COACHES POLL (1st place votes)
1. Kutztown (6)
2. East Stroudsburg
3. Shepherd (1)
4. West Chester
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shippensburg
7. Millersville
 
CHANGES IN THE PSAC
The PSAC looks a little different beginning this fall with the addition of provisional member Lackawanna College (Scranton, Pennsylvania). Lackawanna will apply for Division II status during the year after making the move from a two-year school to a four-year institution. The Falcons will play full PSAC schedules this year to help facilitate that process, but the games will not count in the PSAC standings and will not count for NCAA playoff consideration. The addition of Lackawanna to the Eastern Division schedule also moves Lock Haven back to the Western Division, giving the division a full eight team football divisional schedule for the first time since 2023 before the departure of Mercyhurst.
 
LUTZ SET FOR 31ST YEAR AT THE ROCK
Shawn Lutz enters his 31st overall year at Slippery Rock and his 11th year (10th season of competition due to COVID) as head coach in 2026. In nine seasons in charge of the program, Lutz owns an 88-25 overall record with six trips to the NCAA Playoffs, five PSAC West titles, four trips to at least the national quarterfinals and two appearances in the national semifinals.
 
WINNING SEASONS STREAK
Slippery Rock has put together a winning season in each of the last 16 years, which ranks ninth among all Division II programs for the longest active winning seasons streak in the country. The only other program in the PSAC with more consecutive winning seasons currently is California (Pa.), which has strung together 21 winning seasons entering 2026.
 
THE ROCK AGAINST THE PSAC WEST
Slippery Rock lost three games in the division last year, which was incredibly rare in recent memory. The Rock lost just three total PSAC Western Division games between Oct. 21, 2017 and the beginning of the 2025 season, going 40-3 against the Division during that stretch. That included a 38-3 mark against the PSAC West from 2018-24 over six full seasons. The Rock have won or at least shared nine of the 14 PSAC West titles dating back to 2011, leading all programs in the Division. SRU head coach Shawn Lutz is 46-8 against the PSAC West in the last eight seasons and 49-12 against the Division in his career as head coach.
 
NEW OPPONENT FOR OPENER
Slippery Rock will open the next two seasons with "Week Zero" games against the University of Minnesota Duluth, which will mark the first two meetings between the programs. The Bulldogs will travel to SRU this year to open the season Aug. 27 and SRU will return the favor and fly to Minnesota to open the 2027 season next August. UMD went 10-2 last year, won the North Division title in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and reached the NCAA Playoffs before finishing the year ranked No. 16 in the final national poll. The Bulldogs were picked to win their division of the NSIC again this year and were picked second overall in the entire league, behind only Minnesota State.
 
TOUGH STRETCH TO BEGIN SEASON
Slippery Rock will not play a home game in the month of September. The Rock open the year at home against Duluth Aug. 27 and then will play three straight road games in September, including two overnight trips. SRU visits East Stroudsburg, which was picked second in the PSAC East, for a 6:30 p.m. night game Sept. 12 and then turns around the next week and travels to Millersville for a noon game Sept. 19. The Rock then open the PSAC West schedule on the road at perennial power California (Pa.) Sept. 26.
 
HOME FOR FIVE OF SEVEN
The opening road swing means that SRU will play five of its last seven regular season games at home between Oct. 3 and Nov. 14. The only road trips in that stretch will be visits to rival Indiana (Pa.) Oct. 17 and a trip to Clarion Oct. 31. SRU will host Gannon Oct. 3, Seton Hill Oct. 10, Lock Haven Oct. 24, Edinboro Nov. 7 and Lackawanna (or the PSAC title game) Nov. 14.
 
SPECIAL EVENTS
Oct. 10 – 6 p.m. vs SHU - Hall of Fame game (HoF class inducted Friday, Oct. 9)
Oct. 24 – 1 p.m. vs. LHU – Homecoming
Nov. 7 – 4 p.m. vs. Edinboro – Salute to Military and First Responders
Nov. 14 – 1 p.m. vs. Lackawanna – Senior Day
 
NO VILLAGEFEST - SRU COMBO THIS YEAR
With no home games in September, the annual Slippery Rock VillageFest will take place on a date where there is no SRU home game for the first time in 19 years. The VillageFest will return to a Saturday with home SRU football in 2027.
 
FIVE NIGHT GAMES ON THE CALENDAR
Slippery Rock will play five games starting at 4 p.m. or later this fall, including four that start at 6 p.m. or later. Four of those will be home games (Aug. 27, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Nov. 7) and one will be on the road (Sept. 12). SRU had a streak of 37 straight night game wins snapped with a loss to California (Pa.) last year, but maintains and incredible record when the lights are on. The Rock are 37-1 in their last 38 games that started at 4 p.m. or later and have not lost a road night game since 2009. SRU is 48-10 all-time at home since lights were installed at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium in 2003.
 
NEW COACHES
Slippery Rock welcomed one new face to the full-time staff this offseason with the addition of defensive backs coach LaTraviaus Kingsland, who joined the staff after working in Australia with the Geelong Buccaneers last year. SRU also added a number of familiar faces to the staff this offseason, with Cory Dinger moving from a GA role to a full-time spot as linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator. Former SRU All-American defensive tackles Munchie Johnson and John Sabo Sr. will coach the defensive line and former SRU student intern Cooper Boozel will serve as a graduate assistant on the defensive side.
 
ROSTER MAKEUP
Slippery Rock brings back 46 letterwinners from 2025, including 28 on offense and 18 on defense. Of those 46 returners, 13 are returning starters that made at least four starts last year. SRU returns six offensive starters and seven defensive starters. The majority of the roster are newcomers with most of that group being incoming freshmen.
 
NO MORE REDSHIRTS
The NCAA Division II passed new eligibility rules Aug. 5 that will grant Division II athletes five years of eligibility from the start of their college careers or their 19th birthday, whichever comes first. That means there will be no more redshirts in college football. Last year, true freshmen could play in three games without using a season of eligibility. This year, there is no reason to have to sit freshmen, meaning many more first-year players are likely to get playing opportunities throughout the year.
 
JORDAN HEADLINES RETURNERS
Running back JayJay Jordan is back to lead the group of returning starters. Jordan, who was the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year and an All-America honoree last season, was among the top five Division II players in the country in most rushing and all-purpose categories in 2025. He ran for 1,375 yards and racked up 14 total touchdowns in just 10 games a season ago. Jordan is expected to get the lion's share of carries this year. He will be joined in the backfield by returners Luke McCoy and Eryck Moore-Watkins, along with Allegheny transfer Dominic Berarducci.
 
QB ROOM
Slippery Rock returns starting QB DaOne Owens, who made eight starts as a redshirt freshman last year to become the first freshman to start that many games at SRU in more than a decade. Owens threw for 1,682 yards with 14 TD and five INT while rushing for 302 yards and seven TD. He will be pushed by returner Brad Hoffman, who had a stellar spring and offseason. Hoffman has been developing in the SRU system over the last two seasons and looks ready to earn playing time in 2026. The QB room also includes last year's backup QB David Bahm, Frostburg State transfer Tanner Pfeuffer and returner Ben Moore, along with true freshman Jeff Thompson III.
 
TIGHT END GROUP IS STRONG
Slippery Rock returns three tight ends that earned starts last year, including starter Carson Heckathorn, who was injured after the fourth week of the season and missed most of the year. He was among the top pass catchers on the squad before the injury. That paved the way for Vincent Berardi and Lou Swartz to earn starts. Both men are back this year to give SRU a deep and talented tight end room that also includes Holy Cross transfer George Bousum and returner Tyler Heckathorn.
 
DEEP RECEIVING ROOM
Slippery Rock welcomes back Northwestern graduate Reggie Fleurima, who missed most of last year with an injury. Fleurima is joined by John Sabo, the top returning pass catcher from a year ago with 387 yards and four TD. SRU also welcomes back returners Ethan Trettel and Telly Palmer in the slot and outside targets Brandon Ross, Nathaniel McKnight III and Hamilton Gates. The room added transfer slot receiver Jahmil Perryman from St. Francis (Pa.) and transfer outside receiver Jabril Carter from Fordham, along with three-star high school recruit JuJu Johnson from Farrell High School.
 
OFFENSIVE LINE
The biggest question mark for the offense will be the offensive line, which returns just one starter from a year ago. Consensus All-American left tackle Joe Cooper, who started every game the last three years, is now starting for the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League. Luke Caldwell is the only returning starter on the offensive line after starting every game last year at right tackle. The unit also welcomes back left tackle Jake Jonassen, who was expected to start last year but missed the entire season with an injury. Center Mohamed Aly returns after getting snaps a year ago, as does Varrius Farrell, who saw playing time as a true freshman last fall. The unit will also see former tight end Christian Werling moving to the offensive line after Werling bulked up in the offseason to make the move. Returners Brian Frasco and Donovan Randle are also expected to push for reps on the line.
 
DEFENSIVE LINE BOLSTERS DEFENSE
SRU returns its entire defensive line from a year ago and gets a boost from the return of former starter Daniel Tooson, who missed the entire 2024 and 2025 seasons with injuries. Tooson will join former All-PSAC end Brett Kwoka and All-PSAC tackle Trever Valenti, along with returning ends Brian Young Jr., Elijah Halley and Jett Franz and tackle Nick Frisco to give SRU a deep defensive line that should be able to rotate multiple players with experience throughout the year.
 
LINEBACKERS
Both primary starters in The Rock's 4-2-5 setup are back this year with All-PSAC honorees Jacob Snow and Teddy Gregory Jr. returning to the lineup. Both have struggled with injuries in recent years, including Snow, who only played 3.5 games last fall. If they can stay healthy, they represent one of the top 1-2 linebacker combos in the region. They are joined by returner Tyree Johnson, who missed the 2025 season with an injury, along with sophomores Spencer Barninger, John Frangos and Troy Lucas, who all saw snaps as true freshmen last year.  
 
SECONDARY
The secondary will be the only unit on the defense with new starters this year. The group returns safety Ben Lane, who racked up 40 tackles last year and can play in multiple positions across the unit, along with safeties Carmen Metcalfe and Kwalil Shepperson, who combined for 43 tackles last fall, and Evan Harper, who played in all 10 games. SRU welcomed three transfer defensive backs expected to make an impact, including Michael Cornick III from Wilkes, Shyne Kalilikane-McMoore from Moorpark College and Owen Suah from Delaware Valley.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Slippery Rock lost its kicker, punter, longsnapper and holder from last season and will roll out an entirely new unit of specialists in 2025. Wittenberg transfer kicker Connor Macek is expected to compete with returner Billy Lech for the kicking duties as they enter camp as the only kickers on the roster. Longsnapper Lucas Benson is likely to take over the snapping duties. The Rock have a plethora of athletes to experiment with in the return game.
 
FREE LIVE VIDEO
While many conferences in Division II have gone to a pay-per-view model in 2026, the PSAC and Slippery Rock will continue to offer fans free viewing of all PSAC mandated contests. All 11 Slippery Rock regular season football games will be available for free viewing on the Rock Athletics Digital Network and the PSAC Sports Digital Network. Games can be accessed on any web browser on any phone, tablet or computer and can also be accessed with any Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Android TV streaming devices. Simply visit the app stores on those devices and search for "Rock Athletics Digital Network" to download the application for free to enjoy live Rock football games on your connected TV. To access the broadcasts on the web, visit RockAthletics.com/video.
 
THE ROCK STATION TO CARRY ALL GAMES
Slippery Rock will continue its partnership with The Rock Station, 97.7 FM, with Bob Cupp and Glenn Thompson returning to call the action for all home and away games in 2026 over the FM station in Butler County. The coverage area for the radio broadcasts will also expand to Beaver County this year with WBVP 1250AM / 99.3 FM also carrying all 11 games. Each live audio broadcast will be available for free online at 977rocks.com and over the air on 97.7 FM in Butler County and 99.3 FM in Beaver County. Each game will include a 15-20 minute pregame show with an interview with head coach Shawn Lutz.
 
TICKET INFORMATION COMING SOON
Season ticket and parking packages will go on sale soon with 2025 ticket holders being given the chance to renew first. Single-game tickets and parking will follow. More information and links to purchase will be announced in the next week.
 


To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).