SRU football 2026 preview: What to watch, 3 things to know and schedule
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — For Slippery Rock, it’s time to get back to the basics.
But when a college football program has won five division titles and gone to the NCAA Division II playoffs six times in Shawn Lutz’s nine years as head coach, that’s a hard concept to fathom.
Lutz is using it to recover from last year’s 6-4 record — the worst won-loss mark in his tenure as head coach.
“Six wins is unacceptable with us,” said Lutz, who sports an 88-25 overall record as Rock coach. “We’ve gotten away from the portal a little bit and have 40 freshman recruits coming in.
“With the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule, redshirts have been done away with. Freshmen can get on the field much easier now and we have a team that cares about Rock football, guys who care about being here.”
Running back JayJay Jordan is back in the fold after leading the PSAC in rushing with 1,375 yards in 2025. He was named the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year in the process.
The transfer portal didn’t claim him. He wouldn’t allow it.
“This is home to me and I wanted to stay home,” Jordan said. “I embrace this university and my teammates.”
Jordan scored 14 touchdowns last season, 12 rushing and two more among 20 pass receptions.
“The numbers are the numbers,” Jordan said. “I want to improve on them because that will help the team win and that’s what I’m here to do.
“I’m putting no limits on myself. My personal goal is the Division II Heisman (the Harlon Hill Trophy). We haven’t had one of those since (quarterback) Roland Rivers. Why not go for it?”
Lutz will give him every opportunity to attain such an honor.
“JayJay is a special player, so quick … he explodes through the hole,” the coach said. “He’s capable of returning punts and kickoffs, but we want to preserve him in that sense. We have other guys who can do that.
“We definitely want to give him the football more. I’d like to see him get at least 20 carries a game, We want to ride that horse. Luke McCoy is a solid returning back who will spell him, but no doubt, JayJay will be the prime guy in our offense.”
“I want to be a team guy, a leader on the field,” Jordan said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can produce on offense. I’m just one of them.”
1: Who’s calling the shots behind center? Sophomore DaOne Owens returns after starting eight games last season — the most starts by an SRU freshman quarterback in more than a decade. He threw for 1,682 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 302 yards and seven scores.
But he is not the clear-cut starter.
“(Junior) Brad Hoffman is definitely pushing him,” Lutz said. “DaOne was solid last year, but he hasn’t gotten any better. Brad has been coming on strong since spring ball. This is a competition.
“I like to know who my quarterback is entering camp, but I don’t mind this. Competition makes everybody better. Whoever isn’t the starter will probably have a package or two set up to get him in the game.
“Hoffman is a big kid (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) who has command of the offense. Both of these guys can run and throw. It will be interesting.”
2. Defense, defense: The Rock will continue with its 4-2-5 defense, anchored by potential all-conference linebackers Teddy Gregory and Jacob Snow. The latter was limited to four games last season due to a broken arm. Gregory missed two games with a groin injury.
“This could become one of the best defenses we’ve ever had,” defensive coordinator Dom Razzano said. “Any great defense we’ve had in the past started with dominance up front. We have that capability this year.”
Nick Frisco, Trever Valenti and Daniel Toosen provide experience at tackle. Brett Kwoka and Brian Young are anchors at end. Freeport graduate and senior safety Ben Lane anchors the secondary.
“We’re finally healthy up front and we should benefit from that,” Razzano said.
3: Kicking it up a notch: SRU converted only four of nine field goal attempts last season, missing four kicks from inside 40 yards.
“We need to be a lot better with our kicking game,” Lutz said. “We need to develop more confidence in that part of our game.”
The Rock have a pair of kickers vying for time. One is Pittsburgh Central Catholic graduate Billy Lech, who redshirted last season. He was WPIAL Kicker of the Year in 2024, booting a district-long 54-yard field goal.
The other is Connor Macek, a sophomore transfer from Division III Wittenberg. He kicked a 48-yard field goal last season.
“Both of these guys can kick or punt,” Lutz said. “One may handle one duty, one may handle the other. But we’re definitely looking for more consistency in that department.”
- Aug. 27 (Thu.), 6 p.m. — vs. Minnesota-Duluth
- Sept. 12, 6:35 p.m. — at East Stroudsburg
- Sept. 19, noon — at Millersville
- Sept. 26, noon — at California (Pa.)*
- Oct. 3, 6 p.m. — vs. Gannon*
- Oct. 10, 6 p.m. — vs. Seton Hill*
- Oct. 17, 2 p.m. — vs. IUP*
- Oct. 24, 1 p.m. — vs. Lock Haven*
- Oct. 31, noon — at Clarion*
- Nov. 7, 4 p.m. — vs. Edinboro*
- Nov. 14, 1 p.m. — vs. Lackawanna
*PSAC game
- 2025: 6-4
- 2024: 12-2*
- 2023: 12-2*
- 2022: 10-3*
- 2021: 9-3*
*Made NCAA playoffs
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during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer runs with the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer runs with the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer cuts the corner during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer receives a kickoff during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer protects the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Ethan Trettel shakes a defender during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Snow during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Snow runs through a drill during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Snow looks to make a play during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's JayJay Jordan, left, runs the ball with Martel Palmer, right, alongside him during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens throws a pass while a defender closes in during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens throws the ball to a receiver during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens passes to a receiver during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's JayJay Jordan looks for room to run during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer cuts the corner during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens throws a short pass during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz talks to his players during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's JayJay Jordan receives a kickoff during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz walks out with the players during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz watches a play during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
