Hope College football builds on playoff experience for 2026 season

Hope College football enters the 2026 season ranked No. 19 in the American Football Coaches Association and d3football.com polls. The Flying Dutchmen have secured playoff appearances in each of the past two seasons and now maintain a standard of postseason contention under coach Peter Stuursma. The team opens its 2026 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Denison in Ohio. Quarterback Alex Thole returns as the starter after a successful first season in the system, while the program features significant depth in the running back corps. Having addressed past questions regarding the defensive backfield, the roster prepares for its first matchup with an experienced group of starters.

• 8:00 AMYahoo Sports — Hope College football has set 'the standard' for program: 3 keys to playoff return