Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, August 29
Worcester, Mass.
3:30 PM
Lehigh University
at
Holy Cross
Photo by: Hannah Ally
No. 11 Lehigh to Kick Off 2026 Campaign Saturday at Holy Cross
8/25/2026 1:07:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 143rd season of Lehigh football begins Saturday at Fitton Field with the 11th-ranked Mountain Hawks visiting Holy Cross in the first of three straight Patriot League games for Lehigh to open the 2026 campaign. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 12-1 campaign last season, where Lehigh won its second consecutive league title and tied a school record for victories. Former defensive coordinator Rich Nagy makes his debut as the Vandergrift Family Head Football Coach. Lehigh returns five All-Patriot League selections from a season ago and 13 starters from 2025. Holy Cross looks to rebound from a 3-9 season that followed a run of six consecutive Patriot League titles. The Patriot League is ushering a new era of football with the additions of Villanova and William & Mary increasing league membership for football to 10.
Â
A defensive unit that ranked statistically among the nation's best has keyed Lehigh's 12-1 season in 2025. The Mountain Hawks led the FCS in rushing defense, allowing 70.1 yards per game and red zone defense, allowing scores just 64.5 percent of the time. Lehigh also ranked second nationally in scoring defense (13.9 ppg.), fourth in sacks (3.31) and fourth in total defense (278 ypg.). Excluding the Lafayette game, Lehigh held five of its last six opponents to 37 total points. Lehigh held nine of its 13 opponents under 100 rushing yards including four under 40 yards on the ground.Â
Â
Lehigh had 14 All-Patriot League selections following the 2025 season, with five of the 14 back in the fold for 2026. Running back Luke Yoder, the 2025 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, is a two-time all-league honoree, as is fifth-year offensive lineman Aidan Palmer. Also returning are first team All-Patriot League quarterback Hayden Johnson, tight end Joseph Marranca and punter Connor Poole. Fifth-year safety Nick Peltekian is back after earning all-league honors in 2023 and 2024. Johnson, Yoder, Palmer and Poole were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team in late July, with Yoder named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Â
Senior running back Luke Yoder enjoyed one of the finest rushing seasons in program history in 2025. Yoder carried 198 times for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. A 234-yard, four-touchdown effort in Lehigh's Patriot League title-clinching 42-32 win at Lafayette helped Yoder win Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors, while being a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. The 234 yards against Lafayette were the fourth-highest single game total in program history and the second-most by a Lehigh rusher in a Rivalry game. Yoder became the third Lehigh player to score four touchdowns in a game against Lafayette. The 1,409 yards ranked second on Lehigh's single season list and eighth in the FCS last year. The Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Yoder's 3,067 rushing yards rank fourth on Lehigh's career list. Yoder trails Dom Bragalone '19 by 1,257 yards for the top spot and will try to join Bragalone as the only Lehigh players with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Â
One of Lehigh's defensive strengths in recent years has been its ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. Lehigh has led the Patriot League in sacks in each of the last two seasons. The Mountain Hawks had 43 sacks last season and ranked fourth in the country averaging 3.33 sacks per game. Lehigh had seven sacks in its win over Georgetown and registered six in road wins at Bucknell and Columbia. Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Ochojski led the way with 11. Lehigh lost its top five sack men from a season ago to graduation. Senior Jadin Nelson and fifth-year Nick Peltekian both recorded 1.5 last year to lead all returners. Lehigh returns just 7.5 of its 43 sacks from 2025 with those sacks coming from seven players.
Â
Lehigh did well to control the ground game on both sides of the ball in its 12-1 campaign last year. The Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League in both rushing offense (230.9 ypg.) and rushing defense (70.1 ypg.). Lehigh led the FCS in rushing defense and ranked fourth nationally in rushing offense. The Mountain Hawks had four 300-yard rushing games as a team, with a season-high 343 in the win over Holy Cross. Defensively, Lehigh held seven of its last nine opponents and 10 of 13 overall under 100 rushing yards. The Mountain Hawks allowed a season-low 20 rushing yards in their Nov. 8 win over the Crusaders.
Â
Lehigh has an 85-51-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks are 2-8 in their last 10 openers, with last year's win over Richmond snapping a six-game opening-day losing streak. Lehigh is opening against Holy Cross for the fourth time. The Mountain Hawks won the 2003 opener 38-20 at Goodman Stadium. Holy Cross picked up opening day wins in 1986 (17-14 at Fitton Field) and the Spring 2021 (20-3 at Goodman Stadium).
Â
Lehigh is opening its season with a Patriot League contest for the second consecutive season, after previously not having done so in a normal season since 2003. The Mountain Hawks only played league games in the three-game Spring 2021 season. Prior to that, the last time Lehigh opened its season against a Patriot League opponent was 2003, when the Mountain Hawks defeated Holy Cross 38-20 at Goodman Stadium. That year, Lehigh opened with back-to-back home league games, with the Mountain Hawks beating Fordham in week two. Lehigh opened with a league game 12 times from the formation of the Patriot League in 1986 through 2001, with Fordham (8 games) serving as the most popular league opponent.
Â
Holy Cross opens its season looking to bounce back from a 3-9 campaign in 2025 that included a 3-4 record in league play. Prior to that, Holy Cross had won or shared the previous six Patriot League titles. The Crusaders were picked sixth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, with guard Cam Nolan earning Preseason All-Patriot League honors along with several preseason All-America nods. Nolan is one of four Crusader captains along with edge Carlo Crocetti, linebacker Adam Due and defensive back Chisom Onwuzurigbo. Holy Cross used three quarterbacks last year with Cal Swanson and Dominic Campanile both returning. Both quarterbacks appeared in six games for the Crusaders last season. Crocetti is the top returning tackler with 48 stops. He also had 9.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and an interception last season.
Â
Lehigh and Holy Cross get together for the 42nd time with Lehigh leading the series 21-19-1. The Mountain Hawks have won the last two meetings, which followed a six-game Crusader winning streak in the series. These teams first met in 1924 and did not meet again until 1986. Lehigh and Holy Cross are meeting in a season opener for the fourth time. The Mountain Hawks won the 2003 opener at Goodman Stadium, while the Crusaders claimed opening day wins in 1986 (in Worcester) and the Spring 2021 (Goodman).
Â
Saturday's game kicks off just after 3:30 p.m. from Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on FOX Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFOXSports.com beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Â
Lehigh will play another Patriot League road game next weekend as the Mountain Hawks travel to Washington, D.C. to face Georgetown, Sept. 5 at 12:30 p.m. at Cooper Field. The Mountain Hawks have won two straight against the Hoyas.
Â
Â
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
Â
Â
A defensive unit that ranked statistically among the nation's best has keyed Lehigh's 12-1 season in 2025. The Mountain Hawks led the FCS in rushing defense, allowing 70.1 yards per game and red zone defense, allowing scores just 64.5 percent of the time. Lehigh also ranked second nationally in scoring defense (13.9 ppg.), fourth in sacks (3.31) and fourth in total defense (278 ypg.). Excluding the Lafayette game, Lehigh held five of its last six opponents to 37 total points. Lehigh held nine of its 13 opponents under 100 rushing yards including four under 40 yards on the ground.Â
Â
Lehigh had 14 All-Patriot League selections following the 2025 season, with five of the 14 back in the fold for 2026. Running back Luke Yoder, the 2025 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, is a two-time all-league honoree, as is fifth-year offensive lineman Aidan Palmer. Also returning are first team All-Patriot League quarterback Hayden Johnson, tight end Joseph Marranca and punter Connor Poole. Fifth-year safety Nick Peltekian is back after earning all-league honors in 2023 and 2024. Johnson, Yoder, Palmer and Poole were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team in late July, with Yoder named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Â
Senior running back Luke Yoder enjoyed one of the finest rushing seasons in program history in 2025. Yoder carried 198 times for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. A 234-yard, four-touchdown effort in Lehigh's Patriot League title-clinching 42-32 win at Lafayette helped Yoder win Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors, while being a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. The 234 yards against Lafayette were the fourth-highest single game total in program history and the second-most by a Lehigh rusher in a Rivalry game. Yoder became the third Lehigh player to score four touchdowns in a game against Lafayette. The 1,409 yards ranked second on Lehigh's single season list and eighth in the FCS last year. The Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Yoder's 3,067 rushing yards rank fourth on Lehigh's career list. Yoder trails Dom Bragalone '19 by 1,257 yards for the top spot and will try to join Bragalone as the only Lehigh players with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Â
One of Lehigh's defensive strengths in recent years has been its ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. Lehigh has led the Patriot League in sacks in each of the last two seasons. The Mountain Hawks had 43 sacks last season and ranked fourth in the country averaging 3.33 sacks per game. Lehigh had seven sacks in its win over Georgetown and registered six in road wins at Bucknell and Columbia. Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Ochojski led the way with 11. Lehigh lost its top five sack men from a season ago to graduation. Senior Jadin Nelson and fifth-year Nick Peltekian both recorded 1.5 last year to lead all returners. Lehigh returns just 7.5 of its 43 sacks from 2025 with those sacks coming from seven players.
Â
Lehigh did well to control the ground game on both sides of the ball in its 12-1 campaign last year. The Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League in both rushing offense (230.9 ypg.) and rushing defense (70.1 ypg.). Lehigh led the FCS in rushing defense and ranked fourth nationally in rushing offense. The Mountain Hawks had four 300-yard rushing games as a team, with a season-high 343 in the win over Holy Cross. Defensively, Lehigh held seven of its last nine opponents and 10 of 13 overall under 100 rushing yards. The Mountain Hawks allowed a season-low 20 rushing yards in their Nov. 8 win over the Crusaders.
Â
Lehigh has an 85-51-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks are 2-8 in their last 10 openers, with last year's win over Richmond snapping a six-game opening-day losing streak. Lehigh is opening against Holy Cross for the fourth time. The Mountain Hawks won the 2003 opener 38-20 at Goodman Stadium. Holy Cross picked up opening day wins in 1986 (17-14 at Fitton Field) and the Spring 2021 (20-3 at Goodman Stadium).
Â
Lehigh is opening its season with a Patriot League contest for the second consecutive season, after previously not having done so in a normal season since 2003. The Mountain Hawks only played league games in the three-game Spring 2021 season. Prior to that, the last time Lehigh opened its season against a Patriot League opponent was 2003, when the Mountain Hawks defeated Holy Cross 38-20 at Goodman Stadium. That year, Lehigh opened with back-to-back home league games, with the Mountain Hawks beating Fordham in week two. Lehigh opened with a league game 12 times from the formation of the Patriot League in 1986 through 2001, with Fordham (8 games) serving as the most popular league opponent.
Â
Holy Cross opens its season looking to bounce back from a 3-9 campaign in 2025 that included a 3-4 record in league play. Prior to that, Holy Cross had won or shared the previous six Patriot League titles. The Crusaders were picked sixth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, with guard Cam Nolan earning Preseason All-Patriot League honors along with several preseason All-America nods. Nolan is one of four Crusader captains along with edge Carlo Crocetti, linebacker Adam Due and defensive back Chisom Onwuzurigbo. Holy Cross used three quarterbacks last year with Cal Swanson and Dominic Campanile both returning. Both quarterbacks appeared in six games for the Crusaders last season. Crocetti is the top returning tackler with 48 stops. He also had 9.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and an interception last season.
Â
Lehigh and Holy Cross get together for the 42nd time with Lehigh leading the series 21-19-1. The Mountain Hawks have won the last two meetings, which followed a six-game Crusader winning streak in the series. These teams first met in 1924 and did not meet again until 1986. Lehigh and Holy Cross are meeting in a season opener for the fourth time. The Mountain Hawks won the 2003 opener at Goodman Stadium, while the Crusaders claimed opening day wins in 1986 (in Worcester) and the Spring 2021 (Goodman).
Â
Saturday's game kicks off just after 3:30 p.m. from Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on FOX Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFOXSports.com beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Â
Lehigh will play another Patriot League road game next weekend as the Mountain Hawks travel to Washington, D.C. to face Georgetown, Sept. 5 at 12:30 p.m. at Cooper Field. The Mountain Hawks have won two straight against the Hoyas.
Â
| Date: | August 29, 2026 |
| Opponent: | Holy Cross Crusaders |
| Kickoff: | 3:32 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Fitton Field/23,500/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Worcester, Mass. |
| Lehigh's 2025 record: | 12-1 overall, 7-0 Patriot League |
| Holy Cross' 2025 record: | 3-9 overall,3-4 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 21-19-1 |
| Video: | ESPN+ |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Steve Lomangino and Connor Brown beginning at 2:30 p.m. |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh led the FCS in rushing defense (70.1 ypg.) and red zone defense (0.645) in 2025. •The Mountain Hawks ranked fourth nationally in rushing offense (230.9 ypg.) and fewest sacks allowed (0.69) last season. •Lehigh's roster features 23 first-years, 16 sophomores, 34 juniors, 18 seniors and three fifth-years. •The Mountain Hawks out-rushed Holy Cross 344-20 in last year's win at Goodman Stadium. |
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
Â
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
RB
/ FootballFriday, August 21
Thursday, August 20
Wednesday, August 19
Tuesday, December 02
