Colby football embraces playoff era after best season in 20 years

Colby College’s Mules Gear Up for Historic Playoff Season

Waterville, Maine – After a 6‑3 finish that snapped a two‑decade stretch of sub‑par records, Colby College’s football program is poised for a season of unprecedented opportunity. With the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opening a path to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time, the Mules’ 2026 slate is both a test of grit and a chance to claim a postseason berth for the first time in school history.

The Mules closed last year’s regular season on a high note, beating Bowdoin 16‑6 in the finale and lifting the coveted “CBB trophy.” The win capped a 6‑3 campaign – the best in 20 years and the program’s first winning record since its 7‑1 season in 2005. “It’s something we’ve been waiting for and that we’re incredibly excited about,” senior linebacker Lincoln Merrill said on a Wednesday practice. “All other NESCAC sports have been able to continue playing (except football), so it’s great for our team. We just had a great year, and now, it gives us another bar to set and something else to shoot for.”

Coaching veteran Jack Cosgrove, entering his ninth season at Colby, reflected on the momentum. “I do feel like there’s a better understanding of what it takes to win,” Cosgrove explained. “You can get a sense of excitement that the guys have because winning builds confidence—sometimes too much, so you have to stay humble and hungry. I think we’ve been able to do that.”

Defense has been a cornerstone of the Mules’ success. The last‑season unit gave up just 14.7 points per game, the fewest in the league, and produced six all‑NESCAC honorees—three first‑team (linebacker Jack Mullen, linebacker Sebastien Romain, defensive back Ameer White) and three second‑team (linebacker Declan McNamara, defensive line Joshua Iyonsi, defensive back Drew Ramos). Only White and Ramos return, but senior kicker and tight end Eli Soehren, a former Oxford Hills High quarterback and 2022 Fitzpatrick Trophy winner, praised the squad’s depth: “We’ve got plenty of guys; our back seven is disgusting. This offseason was great for our team and really helped us build on last year.”

Offensively, the Mules will count on sophomore quarterback Patrick Miller, who finished last season as the starter after Miles Drake sustained an injury. Returning senior rusher Antone Moreis and junior receiver Jack Nye will also be key, with Moreis ranking among the conference’s top running backs the previous year.

The 2026 schedule is a gauntlet. The Mules open Saturday against Trinity, a program that has gone 39‑6 over the last decade and captured six of the past nine NESCAC titles. The second week sees Colby hosting Williams, the third week takes the team to Middlebury, and the fourth week ends on the road against Wesleyan. All four opponents posted winning records last season, underscoring the tight competition within the conference.

“(Postseason football) has just been something that’s just been so foreign here, so it’s a huge change, and it’s nice,” Merrill said. “When you’re talking to other people, they’ll ask, ‘Who won your league?’ and it’s just the team with the best record and not playing a final game or win-or-go-home. That aspect will be really fun.”

Cosgrove remains focused on the immediate challenge. “We had a great win against them, and then we go and get our fannies toasted by Williams (38‑0),” he recalled. “So, (the playoffs are) one of those things that a lot of coaches probably aren’t talking about, but it is uplifting and great for the league. It’s icing on the cake at the end of the season.”

With the NESCAC champion now receiving an automatic bid to the 40‑team Division III tournament and additional at‑large spots available, Colby’s 6‑3 record positions it as a contender. Whether the Mules can ride the momentum and secure a playoff spot remains to be seen, but the excitement among players, coaches, and fans alike is unmistakable.

Colby College’s football program has a chance to rewrite its recent history. The question is whether the Mules will rise to the occasion.