Preseason Momentum
Hope College’s football program has cracked the D3Top 25 preseason rankings, landing at No. 19 nationally and emerging as the highest‑ranked team from the MIAA.
The poll, compiled by a panel of coaches, sports information directors and media members, reflects a total of 173 points awarded to the Flying Dutchmen, underscoring the confidence placed in the squad’s recent progress.
Coach Peter Stuursma, now in his third year at the helm, will guide the team on the road to Denison University in Granville, Ohio, for the season opener, before the home crowd welcomes the University of Wisconsin‑Stevens Point at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium as part of the Orange and Blue Weekend.
The 2025 campaign marked a milestone, with the Dutchmen posting a 9‑2 record and advancing to the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time in program history, a feat they repeated the following season.
North Central College of Illinois, the 2025 national runner‑up, tops the preseason list, but Hope’s upward trajectory signals a competitive season ahead.