It's a new season but familiar confines for the St. Lawrence University football team, as they open the 2026 season with their annual Hoffman Cup contest, taking a trip to Northfield, Vt. to face the Norwich Cadets on Friday.

St. Lawrence aims to win their sixth consecutive Hoffman Cup following a 19-3 triumph over their Vermonter foes in September of last season, which helped springboard the Saints to a 4-6 overall record and 3-4 Liberty League mark.

St. Lawrence enters the season after a No. 5 ranking in the Liberty League coaches' poll. Following the Hoffman Cup, the Saints return home Sept. 11 to host St. John Fisher at 7 p.m. at Weeks Field at Leckonby Stadium, then travel Sept. 19 to face Alfred at noon.

Liberty League play begins Sept. 26 at Ithaca at 1 p.m., followed by the Laurentian Weekend match-up against Union College, the Steve Munn '64 Game, back home Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.

St. Lawrence heads to Orchard Park High School Oct. 10 for a 2 p.m. league game against Hilbert College, then returns to Canton Oct. 24 to host Hobart College at 1 p.m. They then close October on the road Oct. 31 at Rensselaer at noon before Senior Day Nov. 7, an afternoon home game against Buffalo State at 1 p.m.

The season wraps Nov. 14 at Rochester, closing out a slate built around seven Liberty League contests and a mix of home dates at Leckonby and road trips across upstate New York and Vermont.

The Saints return a seasoned leadership group in 2026. Captains Ryan Donovan, Savino Morelli, Finn Murphy, and Brennan Twombly lead a senior class of 13.

Donovan and Murphy anchor the returning group on the offensive line, each having started all 10 games up front for the Scarlet and Brown a season ago.

At quarterback, St. Lawrence turns to a pair of experienced arms in Oliver Cheer and Sean Miles. Cheer completed nine of 15 passes for 66 yards last season, while also carrying the ball five times for 13 net yards. Miles saw more extensive action under center, going 18 for 33 through the air for 149 yards and a touchdown, also rushing 16 times for 60 net yards and a touchdown, including a season-long 23-yard scamper.

Caeden Perreault returns in the backfield after logging six carries for 15 net yards last season, with a long run of nine yards at running back. In the receiving corps, Cole Phelan returns after hauling in 11 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown last season, an average of just over 15 yards per catch, with a long reception of 58 yards.

Senior linebacker Savino Morelli returns after leading a physical Saints defense with 73 tackles. Morelli also came up with two fumble recoveries for 14 yards, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

In the secondary, Brennan Twombly, Pat Ryan and Jack Finnegan give St. Lawrence a seasoned back end. Twombly finished with 53 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Ryan was right behind him with 62 tackles, and led the team with five pass breakups. Finnegan added 39 tackles, a 34-yard interception return and two pass breakups.

Up front, Shemmy Bridges-Jones returns after a productive season, recording 38 tackles with four tackles for loss and a sack for six yards, along with a pass breakup and a forced fumble.

It's a series of new faces in the specialties for the Scarlet and Brown after graduating last year's senior kicker Clayton Fogler. Aidan Morris and Rory McGuire take over the kicking and punting duties respectively for the Saints.

Fans unable to make the trip to Northfield for the season opener against Norwich can catch all the action streamed live on FloFootball, part of the FloSports network. Coverage will also be available through the links on the Saints' schedule page for those looking to follow along with live stats throughout the contest.