A new era has officially dawned for William and Mary football as it begins its inaugural season in the Patriot League.
While the switch brings new foes and unfamiliar territory, the Tribe’s primary objective remains unchanged: to establish a dominant physical presence and compete for championships.
Head coach Mike London made it clear that while the competition may look different for the Tribe, the team’s overarching identity will not.
“We want to take this to a national stage and have our Williamsburg family say, ‘That’s my team, that’s what it’s all about,” London said at the Patriot League’s 2026 media day.
This mindset trickles down the entire program.
“We want to start strong,” junior middle linebacker Harrison Johnson said. “We want to be a fast and physical defense, we want to be calculated and smart, but we also want to run to the ball like our hair is on fire.”
Despite the change in conference, coaches said Tribe leadership remains a point of consistency. This season’s captains are fifth-year defensive lineman Davin Dzidzienyo and senior tight-end Sean McElwain.
“My captains are outstanding leaders and some of the other guys defensively that have played have opportunities as well,” London said.
Prior to the 2026 campaign, the Patriot League took immediate notice of the Tribe’s talent, honoring several players on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Headlining the defensive selections is Dzidzienyo. Coming off of a season-ending injury in 2025, Dzidzienyo’s return to the game brings an immediate boost to the Tribe’s pass rush and locker room leadership.
Joining him on the preseason honors list are McElwain, who posted 12 receptions for three touchdowns in seven games and 186 yards, and senior defensive back Bryce Barnes, who secured the secondary with 34 tackles, a forced fumble and three pass breakups. The last William and Mary athlete recognized for their performance is junior linebacker Stephon Hicks, who led the nation with four blocked punts throughout the 2025 season — including one against Hampton that was returned for a touchdown and one against Albany that the Tribe converted to a safety.
On the team-wide level, the Tribe was selected third in the preseason Patriot League poll, tied with local rival Richmond. The Green and Gold also garnered seven votes in the nationwide coaches poll.
Despite high honors in the preseason, London said he is ensuring his team does not get ahead of itself and focuses on the task at hand.
“We are worried about just us,” London said. “You have to play your way into the opportunity to be in contention and talk about being relevant for championship play and postseason play.”
London also emphasized the importance of commitment amid constant player movement through the transfer portal.
“We are going to concentrate on the ones who decided to stay and compete for championships with the skillset they have,” he said.
The Tribe knows that its success this season will come from the team as a whole, not just individual players across the roster.
“The new guys are integrating really well, [and] we have a really tight-knit culture here where we are all family,” Dzidzienyo said.
The Tribe officially kicks off its 2026 campaign on the road against Villanova Friday, Aug. 28. Villanova — also making its Patriot League debut — is coming off a 12-3 record in the Coastal Athletic Association. Last season, the Wildcats reached the Football Championship Subdivision playoff semifinals but fell to Illinois State 30-14.
Villanova was voted as the No. 1 preseason team in the Patriot League, placing seventh in the FCS-wide coaches preseason poll.
London said he understands the challenge that lies ahead in the opener.
“We are excited about where we are and where we are headed,” he said.
