SENATOBIA – As we are on the precipice of a new college football season, it's time to catch up with all of the former Northwest players who are continuing their college careers at four-year schools. In total, 57 athletes who have worn the red and blue of NWCC will be suiting up for the 2026 season, after a record 33 committed to four-year programs after the 2025 season.
Northwest is very well represented in the power conferences, with eleven players joining teams from the ACC, Big 12, Big 10, and SEC.
Charlotte is the hot landing spot right now for Rangers, with six currently playing for the 49ers. In the Sun Belt, both Arkansas State and Troy are well represented as well, with three former Rangers joining their ranks.
The Rangers are also well represented at the FCS level, with 18 teams represented, including five teams from the SWAC.
The ranks of NCAA Division II programs are also featuring several NWCC alumni, with Delta State holding onto a pair along with a duo at Tuskegee and one more at Arkansas Monticello.
For a full look at who will be playing where, check out the list below. Further down, you can see the opening week schedule and where to find the Rangers on TV through the first week of the season!
ACC
Florida State – Chris Thomas
BIG 12
Central Florida – LaParka Langston
West Virginia – Keon Hutchins, Jaylen Thomas
BIG 10
Illinois – Jakwon Morris
Wisconsin – Julius Pope
SEC
Kentucky – Jordan Knox
Vanderbilt – Miles Miller
Mississippi State – Dre Riley, Jakheem Shumpert
Ole Miss – Roman Womack
PAC 12
Texas State – Amari Smith
American
Charlotte – Jerry Wall III, Reginhard Pierre-Nau, K.D. Gibson, D.J. Burgess, Jaylon Johnson, D'Mariun Perteet,
UT San Antonio – Dylan Spencer
North Texas – Keshawn Davila
Conference USA
Delaware – Josh Humes
Kennesaw State – Monta Sanford, Reed Jesiolowski
Western Kentucky – Elliot Helps
Sun Belt
Marshall – Ja Keyes
Southern Miss – M.J. Johnson
Arkansas State – T.J. Spann, Tanner Welch, Tyeland Coleman
Troy – Marion Keyes, Hayden Wolfe, Hayden Dozier
FCS -
CAA
Campbell – Charles Woodard
Big Sky
Northern Colorado – Keegan Patterson
SWAC
Arkansas – Pine Bluff – Nate Walker
Alcorn State – Elijah Ruffin
Prairie View – Cameron Pascal
Jackson State – Melvin Collins Jr.
Grambling – Lantavious Murphy
MVFC
Indiana State – Britten Traylor
UAC
Tarleton State – Fredd Adams
Austin Peay – Rase Jones, Stratton Smith
Central Arkansas – Jacorey Jones, Cam Young
OVC
Southeast Missouri – Antione Keefer Jr.
UT Martin – Aiden Glover
Southland
Southeastern LA – Carlando Crump
Northwestern State – Zach Wilcke
Southern
Samford – Caulen Dunn
East Tennessee State – Damari Burton
FCS Independent
Chicago State – Caleb Estrada
NCAA Division II
Delta State – Drew Brewer, Zion Edwards
Tuskegee – Johnathan Faulkner, Jamael Johnson
Arkansas Monticello – Charles Thomas
A full list of upcoming games this weekend can be found below!
(*NOTE: All games, dates, times and channels are subject to change. Times listed are Central Standard Time.)
($) - Subscription required to watch
ZERO WEEK
Saturday, August 29
Florida State vs New Mexico State – 6:00 PM
Former Ranger: Florida State – Chris Thomas
Where to Watch: The CW
WEEK ONE
Thursday, September 3
Central Florida vs Bethune-Cookman – 6:00 PM
Former Ranger: UCF – LaParka Langston
Where to Watch: ESPN+ ($)
Delaware vs Merrimack – 6:00 PM
Former Ranger: Delaware – Josh Humes
Where to Watch: ESPN+ ($)
Kennesaw State vs West Georgia – 6:00 PM
Former Rangers: Kennesaw State – Monta Sanford, Reed Jesiolowski
Where to Watch: ESPN+ ($)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ #25 Missouri – 7:00 PM
Former Ranger: APB – Nate Walker
Where to Watch: SEC Network
Illinois vs UAB – 8:00 PM
Former Ranger: Illinois – Jakwon Morris
Where to Watch: BTN
Friday, September 4
Indiana State @ Purdue – 6:00 PM
Former Ranger: Indiana State – Britten Traylor
Where to Watch: BTN
Saturday, September 5
North Texas @ #6 Indiana – 11:00 AM
Former Ranger: North Texas – Keshawn Davila
Where to Watch: FOX
West Virginia vs Coastal Carolina – 11:00 AM
Former Rangers: West Virginia – Keon Hutchins, Jaylen Thomas
Where to Watch: TNT
Kentucky vs Youngstown State – 12:00 PM
Former Ranger: Kentucky – Jordan Knox
Where to Watch: SEC Network
Texas State @ #5 Texas – 2:30 PM
Former Ranger: Texas State – Amari Smith
Where to Watch: ESPN
Marshall @ #18 Penn State – 2:30 PM
Former Ranger: Marshall – Ja Keyes
Where to Watch: FS1
Arkansas State @ Memphis – 6:00 PM
Former Rangers: Arkansas State – T.J. Spann, Tanner Welch, Tyeland Coleman
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Tarleton State @ Bowling Green – 11:00 AM
Former Ranger: Tarleton State – Fredd Adams
Where to Watch: ESPN+ ($)
Southeast Missouri State @ Iowa State – 12:00 PM
Former Ranger: Southeast Missouri – Antione Keefer Jr.
Where to Watch: ESPN+ ($)
Charlotte vs The Citadel – 2:30 PM
Former Rangers: Charlotte – Jerry Wall III, Reginhard Pierre-Nau, K.D. Gibson, D.J. Burgess, Jaylon Johnson, D'Mariun Perteet,
Where to Watch: ESPN+
UTSA vs UT Rio Grande Valley – 2:30 PM
Former Ranger: UT San Antonio – Dylan Spencer
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss – 4:00 PM
Former Ranger: Southern Miss – M.J. Johnson
Former Ranger: Alcorn State – Elijah Ruffin
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Austin Peay @ Vanderbilt – 6:00 PM
Former Rangers: Austin Peay – Rase Jones, Stratton Smith
Former Ranger: Vanderbilt – Miles Miller
Where to Watch: SEC Network
Southeastern Louisiana @ South Alabama – 6:00 PM
Former Ranger: Southeastern LA – Carlando Crump
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Troy vs Sam Houston – 6:00 PM
Former Rangers: Troy – Marion Keyes, Hayden Wolfe, Hayden Dozier
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Mississippi State vs UL Monroe – 6:30 PM
Former Rangers: Mississippi State – Dre Riley, Jakheem Shumpert
Where to Watch: ESPNU
Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech – 6:30 PM
Former Ranger: Northwestern State – Zach Wilcke
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Western Kentucky @ Nevada – 9:30 PM
Former Ranger: Western Kentucky – Elliot Helps
Where to Watch: CBS Sports Network
Sunday, September 6
Wisconsin vs #4 Notre Dame (at Lambeau Field) – 6:30 PM
Former Ranger: Wisconsin – Julius Pope
Where to Watch: NBC
#9 Ole Miss vs #24 Louisville (in Nashville, Tenn.) – 6:30 PM
Former Ranger: Ole Miss – Roman Womack
Where to Watch: ABC
Monday, September 7
Florida State vs #19 SMU – 6:30 PM
Former Ranger: Florida State – Chris Thomas
Where to Watch: ESPN
OFF UNTIL WEEK TWO
Grambling – Lantavious Murphy
East Tennessee State – Damari Burton
Central Arkansas – Jacorey Jones, Cam Young
Northern Colorado – Keegan Patterson
Campbell – Charles Woodard
UT Martin – Aiden Glover
Jackson State – Melvin Collins Jr.
Prairie View – Cameron Pascal
Samford – Caulen Dunn
Delta State – Drew Brewer, Zion Edwards
Tuskegee – Johnathan Faulkner, Jamael Johnson
Arkansas Monticello – Charles Thomas
Chicago State – Caleb Estrada
