LORETTO — The Saint Francis University 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, 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 teams like Washington & Jefferson nationally recognized in some seasons.

The 2026 campaign kicks off on Saturday, 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. Both schools are in Ohio.

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 for the Red Wolves.

“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 (Oct. 31) against Bethany College. The Red Wolves will travel to defending PAC champion Washington & Jefferson 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.”