Football | 6/26/2026 9:35:00 AM

LORETTO, Pa. -- The Saint Francis football program has enjoyed great success under head coach Chris Villarrial winning conference championships in 2016 and 2022. As the University transitions to Division III, coach Villarrial and his staff promise to honor the program's legacy while continuing to build on a winning tradition.
 
After signing a contract last season Villarrial said, "My commitment remains to developing well-rounded student-athletes who achieve excellence both in the classroom and on the field."
 
In 2026, The Red Wolves will not be eligible to compete in the post-season and opted to play an eight-game schedule in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Saint Francis has a history with some of the teams in the Presidents' Athletic Conference dating back many decades. The PAC is highly respected in Division III, with the race to win the conference is often described as a dog fight.
 
The season kicks off Sept. 26 at home versus Grove City. The Wolverines closed the 2025 regular season with seven straight victories to secure one of the 13 at-large bids in the NCAA Division III tournament.
 
Saint Francis then travels to Hiram on Oct. 3 before visiting Case Western Reserve on Oct. 10.
 
Homecoming is set for Oct. 17 with a 1 p.m. start against St. Vincent.  The two schools played often when legendary head coach Art Martynuska roamed the sidelines.
 
"We're excited to establish some new rivalries as a member of the PAC conference," Villarrial said. "Western Pennsylvania remains a hotbed for hard-nosed physical football, and we found recruits who are determined to make a name for themselves at Saint Francis."
 
Other highlights on the schedule include a home game on Halloween against Bethany College. And Saint Francis will travel to defending PAC champion Washington & Jefferson College on Nov. 7. W& J features a high-scoring offense that went 8-0 in conference play last season.
 
Villarrial praised his coaching staff for the hard work they did to find some talented recruits and transfer students.
 
"What really excites me is knowing the people who are here are committed to this program and the University. We did it before, we can do it again."
 
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See the full 2026 football schedule.
 
Don't forget the annual Saint Francis football golf outing is set for July 17 at the Summit Country Club in Cresson, Pa. For more details click here.