The 2026 William & Mary Tribe football team represents the College of William & Mary as a member of the Patriot League during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This is the Tribe's first season in the Patriot after twenty seasons in the CAA.
The Tribe are led by eighth-year head coach Mike London and play their home games at Zable Stadium.
Schedule
Game summaries
at No. 8 Villanova
Statistics W&M VILL First downs 21 20 Plays–yards 77–393 60–427 Rushes–yards 41–130 30–157 Passing yards 263 270 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–36–1 17–30–3 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 31:59 28:01 Team Category Player StatisticsWilliam & Mary Passing Winston Watkins 19/33, 254 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Winston Watkins 21 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Kai Austin 4 receptions, 76 yards, TDVillanova Passing Pat McQuaide 17/30, 270 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Isaiah Ragland 14 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jake Hilton 4 receptions, 132 yards
In the season opener for both teams, the unranked William & Mary Tribe played the No. 7-ranked Villanova Wildcats at Villanova Stadium. Villanova entered the game favored to win by 11.5 points. With 55 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Villanova led William & Mary 32–22. A 40-yard field goal by Max Lipinski narrowed Villanova's lead to seven points with 53 seconds remaining. A successful onside kick allowed William & Mary to resume possession at Villanova's 39-yard line. A 37-yard pass by the quarterback Winston Watkins to the receiver Kai Austin scored a touchdown for William & Mary with 22 seconds left. The successful conversion tied the game. Villanova's quarterback Pat McQuaide them threw his third interception of the game, which was caught by Cade Ellis and left the game with five seconds remaining. Lipinski scored a 45-yard field goal, ending the game 35–32 in what the ESPN announcer Michael Marcantonini called an "absolute thriller". Following their win, William & Mary was ranked No. 17 in Stats Perform's FCS Top 25 Poll and No. 19 in the AFCA's AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll.
Delaware State
Statistics DSUW&M First downs 26 10 Plays–yards 75–366 54–187 Rushes–yards 33–174 39–89 Passing yards 192 98 Passing: comp–att–int 21–42–3 7–15–0 Turnovers 6 1 Time of possession 33:27 26:33 Team Category Player Statistics Delaware State Passing Ui Ale 15/31, 138 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jayden Jenkins 10 carries, 57 yards Receiving Terrence Rone 3 receptions, 42 yards William & Mary Passing Winston Watkins 6/12, 95 yards Rushing Andrew King 15 carries, 73 yards, 2 TD Receiving Khylil Johnson 4 receptions, 83 yards
at No. 9 Lehigh
Statistics W&MLEH First downs 19 25 Plays–yards 73–342 61–486 Rushes–yards 34–144 51–366 Passing yards 198 120 Passing: comp–att–int 25–39–1 7–10–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:42 32:18 Team Category Player Statistics William & Mary Passing Winston Watkins 18/22, 164 yards Rushing Andrew King 11 carries, 78 yards Receiving Kai Austin 10 receptions, 82 yards Lehigh Passing Hayden Johnson 4/6, 84 yards Rushing Luke Yoder 23 carries, 169 yards, 3 TD Receiving Nick Palumbo 3 receptions, 71 yards, TD
Fordham
Statistics FORW&M First downs 27 20 Plays–yards 67-569 66-423 Rushes–yards Passing yards 141 286 Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:13 25:47 Team Category Player Statistics Fordham Passing Gunnar Smith 12/21, 141 yards, 3 TDs RushingYohan-Li Louis15 carries, 206 yards, TD Receiving Ricky Gonzalez II 2 receptions, 41 yards William & Mary Passing Winston Watkins 19/26, 286 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Andrew King 16 carries, 122 yards, TD Receiving Kai Austin 6 receptions, 81 yards, TD
at Duke (FBS)
Statistics W&MDUKE First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics William & Mary Passing Rushing Receiving Duke Passing Rushing Receiving
Holy Cross
Statistics HCW&M First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Holy Cross Passing Rushing Receiving William & Mary Passing Rushing Receiving
at North Carolina Central
Statistics W&MNCCU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics William & Mary Passing Rushing Receiving North Carolina Central Passing Rushing Receiving
Georgetown
Statistics GTWNW&M First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Georgetown Passing Rushing Receiving William & Mary Passing Rushing Receiving
at Colgate
Statistics W&MCOLG First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics William & Mary Passing Rushing Receiving Colgate Passing Rushing Receiving
Lafayette
Statistics LAFW&M First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Lafayette Passing Rushing Receiving William & Mary Passing Rushing Receiving
Bucknell
Statistics BUCKW&M First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Bucknell Passing Rushing Receiving William & Mary Passing Rushing Receiving
at Richmond (Capital Cup)
Statistics W&MRICH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics William & Mary Passing Rushing Receiving Richmond Passing Rushing Receiving
Rankings
References