KUTZTOWN, Pa. – It's easy to get caught up in the historic run Kutztown University football has enjoyed over the last three years with 37 victories, three consecutive PSAC championships and two national semifinal appearances.
 
But head coach Jim Clements and the third-ranked Golden Bears aren't about talking history, they're about making it. The goals and expectations for the 2026 season are as lofty as ever, but the approach to achieving those never wavers. Kutztown will be laser focused on its weekly task when a new campaign commences tomorrow night at Northeast 10 rival Assumption.
 
The Golden Bears are coming off the best season in program history after racking up a single-season record 14 wins –all consecutively— en route to a second Super Region 1 championship in three seasons. KU obliterated its single-season scoring record with 645 points (43.0 ppg) while allowing just over 14 points per contest. With eight returning starters on both offense and defense, including three-year starting quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), the Maroon and Gold have the hunger and talent to challenge for a trip to McKinney, Texas for the NCAA DII national championship in December.
 
Below are some of the storylines surrounding the Golden Bears heading into 2026:
 
KUTZTOWN CHASING PSAC HISTORY
Kutztown became just the second team in PSAC history to win three consecutive PSAC Championship games with a 28-23 victory over IUP last November. No team in conference history has captured four consecutive unified PSAC titles. Bloomsburg claimed four straight PSAC East titles between 1994-97 and 2000-03 while the State Game was on hiatus from 1988-2007.
 
GOLDEN BEARS EARN HIGHEST PRESEASON NATIONAL RANKINGS
After receiving its highest-ever final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) ranking of No. 3 in 2025, KU opens the 2026 season with its best-ever preseason ranking in the same No. 3 spot. The Golden Bears also closed the 2025 season ranked No. 4 in the D2Football.com Poll and occupy that position in the organization's 2026 preseason poll.
 
OWNERS OF DII'S LONGEST ACTIVE REGULAR SEASON WIN STREAK
KU is riding NCAA Division II's longest active regular season winning streak with 31 consecutive victories dating back to Sept. 16, 2023. The Golden Bears have gone 11-0 in each of their last two regular seasons and haven't dropped a regular season game since a 31-20 defeat at California (Pa.), Sept. 9, 2023.
 
NOVAK IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Fifth-year senior quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) took his game to new heights in 2025. The Manheim, Pa., native set new career-highs with 215 completions, 3,070 passing yards and 31 touchdowns while only throwing one interception on 328 attempts. Novak also rushed for 547 yards and seven TDs. He earned PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Year honors, was a D2CCCA Second Team All-American and a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, presented to the best player in Division II.
 
Novak has posted a 37-4 record as a starter over the last three seasons. He is three wins away from breaking into the top five winningest quarterbacks in DII history and is within reach of the all-time record of 51 wins held by Grand Valley State's Cullen Finnerty (2003-06) and Harding's Cole Keylon (2022-25).
 
RUSHING RECORDS FALL
Kutztown established new single-season team rushing records of 3,284 yards and 50 touchdowns, while averaging the fifth-most rushing yards per game in team history (218.9) in 2025. The dynamic duo of fifth-year seniors Steven Burkhardt (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) and Jaedyn Stewart (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional) return to the backfield. Burkhardt broke out with his first career 1,000-yard rushing season (1,106) and nine TDs. Stewart missed six games due to injury but still shared the team lead in rushing TDs (11) with Luke Maxwell (Estell Manor, N.J./Delsea Regional).
 
RECEIVERS READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT
With Novak slinging the ball around, there are plenty of hungry receivers waiting for their number to be called. Senior Noah Kracyla (Townsend, Del./Middletown) led the Golden Bears with career-highs of 46 catches and 768 yards last fall. Fellow senior Rich Paczewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) put together two 100-yard receiving games, including a 6-catch, 113-yard, 2-touchdown performance in the national semifinals against Harding. Senior Lenniek Preston (Wilmington, Del./Conrad) was tied for second on the team in receiving TDs with five and totaled 436 yards on 26 catches.
 
WINNING STARTS IN THE TRENCHES
It's no secret that the foundation of successful teams is built along the offensive and defensive lines. Kutztown has been fantastic on both fronts during their current run of success and that is expected to continue in 2026.
 
The offensive line returns three starters in guard Adam Conklin (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North), center CJ Conti (Sea Isle City, N.J./Ocean City) and right tackle Shane Hartman (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge). There are vacancies to fill at left tackle and guard following the graduations of All-American Ryan Schernecke (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland), who recently signed with the New York Giants practice squad, and three-time All-PSAC East selection Billy Everitt (Abington, Pa./Abington). The Golden Bears have developed offensive linemen well and have veterans within the program ready to step into those roles.
 
There are no holes to fill among the starting defensive linemen, with ends Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) and Jason Fermaintt (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) and tackles Kyree Butler (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) and Mikey Gray (York, Pa./William Penn) all back in the fold. Retter, the 2024 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year, was slowed by injuries early in 2025 but recovered to an All-American level in the postseason with 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery in KU's three NCAA playoff victories.
 
Retter (First Team Defense) and Butler (Second Team Defense) were named to the 2026 D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List.
 
LINEBACKERS EAGER FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES
All-American Brandon Hile (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) and All-PSAC East pick Brandon Strausser (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) graduated from last year's team, leaving two openings at linebacker alongside fifth-year senior and two-time all-conference honoree Eden Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Governor Mifflin). Johnson registered 59 tackles (24 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last year.
 
While there will be new starters joining the Governor Mifflin grad, the candidates to step into those spots are upperclassmen with plenty of experience. Junior Ty Kephart (Grantville, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) ranked fourth on the team in tackles (53), senior Jamie Rivera was sixth (45) and fifth-year senior Austin Leyman (Elmer, N.J./Woodstown) collected 39 tackles a season ago.
 
Along with leading the PSAC and ranking second in DII in scoring defense (14.1 ppg), Kutztown had one of the best rushing defenses in the nation. The Golden Bears allowed just 77.9 yards per game and eight TDs over 14 games before facing Harding's unique offense that ran the ball on 47-of-48 plays for 389 yards and seven TDs in the national semifinals.
 
STRONG SECONDARY RETURNS
Kutztown's overall strength as a defensive unit showed in per game averages rather than big tackle and interception numbers due to their ability to keep opposing offenses off the field. The secondary played a big part in that, limiting opponents to a PSAC-low 171.9 passing yards per game.
 
The experience and depth throughout the Golden Bears' roster provide optimism for another deep playoff run in 2026. Senior Zach Perta (Swoyersville, Pa./Holy Redeemer) is expected to start at one corner for the second straight year after producing 29 tackles (24 solo), five pass breakups and an interception a year ago. Flanking him should be fifth-year senior Tyrell Ford (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East), who transferred from Saint Francis prior to the 2025 season. Ford ranked second on the team with six pass breakups last season.
 
Senior Jhaisir Harden (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) and fifth-year senior Mike Fayemi (Philadelphia, Pa./South Philadelphia) are the probable starters at the safety positions. Harden finished with a team-high two interceptions and 34 tackles (26 solo), while Fayemi made 47 tackles (30 solo), broke up three passes and forced two fumbles.
 
The Golden Bear secondary is notorious for rotating and keeping players fresh throughout games. Expect corners Trey Hamlin III (Townsend, Del./Caravel Academy) and Amir Anderson (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) along with safeties Justin Gonzalez (Union, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) and Kashon Jones (Millville, N.J./Millville) to see plenty of action.
 
BIG CHANGES FOR SPECIALISTS
While long snapper Ryan Benjamin (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and the kick/punt returners are in place from a season ago, KU's kicking game will have a distinctly different look. Senior Dakota Campbell (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro) is likely to take over punting duties from four-year punter Nate Millard (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone). The Bears brought in a pair of freshmen kickers in Peter Fiorello (Strasburg, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and Gavin Pereira (Spotswood, N.J./Spotswood).
 
Kutztown didn't need to rely on field goals last year while scoring a program-record 91 touchdowns but were just 2-of-5 in limited attempts.
 
HOME SCHEDULE
Following Thursday's opener at Assumption, Kutztown will return to Andre Reed Stadium for its home opener against former KU head coach Raymond Monica and Clarion on Saturday, Sept. 12.
 
The Golden Bears' five-game regular season home schedule also includes Shepherd (Sept. 26, Family Day), Lackawanna (Oct. 10), West Chester (Oct. 24, Homecoming) and Bloomsburg (Nov. 7, Senior Day/Hall of Fame/Military Appreciation Day).
 
Tickets for all home games are available at KUBears.com/tickets.