HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Hampden-Sydney College has been picked in a tie for second in the 2026 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Football Preseason Poll. The Tigers garnered 38 points, including one first-place vote, among the eight schools and are tied with Washington and Lee University behind Randolph-Macon College with its 49 points and seven first-place votes. It's the highest preseason pick for the program since 2021 when the Garnet & Grey were second in the annual poll.

H-SC will compete in its 132nd-year of competition this fall under the direction of third-year head coach Vince Luvara, and features a roster of 154 team members, including 83 returners and/or transfers, along with 71 freshmen. Last fall, the Tigers finished with a final overall record of 7-3, including 5-3 in the ODAC, their best record since 2013 (9-3) and equaling the win total of 2014 (7-4), while the program was also ranked in both Top 25 polls for the first time since 2014.

RMC (49, 7), H-SC (38, 1) and W&L (38) are followed in the coaches' poll by Shenandoah University (33), Bridgewater College (23) and Roanoke College (23), Guilford (NC) College (12) and Averett University (8).

H-SC will be led offensively by senior running back Terry Hicks (Clayton, NC), a First Team All-ODAC selection a year ago. He started all 10 games as a junior with 1,020 rushing yards (10th all-time) on 195 rushing attempts (5.2) and 14 rushing touchdowns (T-7th all-time), adding 10 receptions for 100 receiving yards, to total 1,120 all-purpose yards. Senior wide receiver Manning Lasso (Raleigh, NC) returns after earning Second Team All-ODAC honors for the second-straight season a year ago. He started nine of 10 games in 2025 with 28 receptions for 528 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. Juniors Cash Topinka (Charlotte, NC) and Thomas Wilson (Charlotte, NC) will anchor the offensive line as the duo each started all 10 games a year ago. Topinka earned First-Team All-ODAC, D3football.com First-Team All-Region 3 and VaSID First Team All-State honors, while Wilson was a Second-Team All-ODAC honoree.

The Tigers will be led defensively by junior cornerback Parks Cromwell (Charlotte, NC), a Third Team D3football.com Preseason All-America selection this year after earning First Team All-ODAC, D3football.com Third Team All-Region 3 and VaSID Second Team All-State honors a year ago. He started all 10 games as a sophomore and was fifth on the team with 44 total tackles, including 25 solo and 19 assists, two tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, six pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and three forced fumbles. Junior linebacker Frank Brewer (Charlotte, NC) returns after starting all 10 games as a sophomore and tying for first on the team with 69 total tackles, including 22 solo and 47 assists, three tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one fumble recovered. The defensive line will feature juniors Kenen Barlowe (North Chesterfield) and Jordan Pence (Charlotte, NC). Barlowe started eight of nine games as a sophomore and was seventh on the team with 34 total tackles, including 12 solo and 22 assists, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Pence started nine of 10 games with 21 total tackles, including seven solo and 14 assists, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, two pass breakups and one fumble recovered.

H-SC will open the 2026 campaign on the road at non-conference opponent Wabash College in The Gentlemen's Classic on Saturday, September 5, at 12 p.m. in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The Tigers return to the Hill in week two for their home opener against non-conference opponent Monmouth (IL) College on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. All games can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM, and will also be available worldwide on the Internet at wvhl.net or via the TuneIn Radio App.

2026 ODAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) denotes first place votes received

1.	Randolph-Macon College (7)	49 pts.
2.	Hampden-Sydney College (1)	38 pts.
2.	Washington and Lee University	38 pts.
4.	Shenandoah University	33 pts.
5.	Bridgewater College	23 pts.
5.	Roanoke College	23 pts.
7.	Guilford College	12 pts.
8.	Averett University	8 pts.