Football | 8/4/2026 3:46:00 PM

LATROBE, Pa - The countdown to kickoff can officially begin.

Saint Francis introduced itself as the newest football member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference during the league's Media Day, with head coach Chris Villarrial and defensive back Campbell Melzer representing the Red Wolves.

Many questions from reporters centered on the University's transition from Division I to Division III. Villarrial acknowledged the change hasn't been easy, but said he's excited to get back to coaching football and continue building on the program's tradition.

Now entering his 17th season at the helm, Villarrial led Saint Francis to Northeast Conference championships in 2016 and 2022. He pointed to the program's track record of developing talent, highlighting former wide receiver EJ Jenkins, a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Elijah Surratt, who arrived at Saint Francis as a freshman in 2022 and is now in training camp with the Baltimore Ravens.

"That's what we do. We develop players. And that is something we are going to continue to do," Villarrial said.

Melzer is one of several veteran players who chose to remain at Saint Francis through the transition.  The senior defensive back is embracing a leadership role. He said the group's belief in one another and in the coaching staff made his decision to stay an easy one.

"I trust my coaches, I trust my teammates who stayed with me and the kids from my class who I came here with. We want to finish what we started," Melzer said.

Both Villarrial and Melzer said they understand the level of competition awaiting the Red Wolves in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. They praised the depth of talent throughout the league and welcomed the opportunity to compete against programs with strong football traditions. Villarrial said the challenge of building new rivalries is one of the more exciting aspects of joining the league.

PAC Commissioner John Onderko, entering his 21st season, welcomed Saint Francis as the conference's 12th member — now the largest membership in conference history.

"There's never been more interest, more coverage in our conference than what there is right now," Onderko said.

Saint Francis opens its first PAC season on Sept. 26 against Grove City, which was picked second in the preseason poll. As Saint Francis reclassifies from Division I to Division III, the team will play an eight-game schedule in 2026, all against PAC opponents, but the games will not count in the conference standings while SFU reclassifies.

You can follow Saint Francis football all season long on the PAC Digital Network.

2026 PAC Football Preseason Poll (Predicted order of finish)
School	Points (first place votes)	2025 Record (PAC)
1. Washington & Jefferson College	497 (37)	8-3 (8-0)
2. Grove City College	453 (5)	8-3 (7-1)
3. Westminster College	395 (3)	8-3 (6-2)
4. Case Western Reserve University	361	4-5-1 (4-4)
5. Geneva College	339	6-5 (6-2)
6. Allegheny College	250	4-6 (4-6)
7. Waynesburg University	222	4-6 (4-4)
8. Saint Vincent College	201	2-8 (1-7)
9. Hiram College	152	3-7 (2-6)
10. Thiel College	87	1-9 (1-7)
11. Bethany College	79 (1)	1-9 (1-7)
Saint Francis University*		0-11 (0-7 NEC)

* - Ineligible for PAC Championship as school transitions from Division I