’26 Patriot League Football Preview: Georgetown

Predicted Order of Finish: 10th

One of the best things about previewing Georgetown is that I can take a look at what one of my favorite reads, Hoya Saxa, has on their football team.  His work and love for his team can be read in its entirety here, but below are what I’ve been able to figure out for myself.

His lede is such a good starting point when trying to look at the Hoyas, I’ll reprint it in its entirety here.

“Nine months removed from its best season in 15 years, the 2026 Georgetown Hoyas should have a sense of momentum about it, having won a total of 16 games since 2023, the most in a three-season run in 27 years,” he said. “It doesn’t seem that way, and with good reason: the loss of 30 players to graduation and a half-dozen to the transfer portal, the arrival of Villanova and William & Mary to the Patriot League, and a schedule that leaves nothing to chance, all seem to be land mines on the 2026 calendar for a Georgetown team which lacks the depth of its Patriot League brethren.”

His diagnosis is spot-on. Georgetown enters a new Patriot League era with what will be a completely brand-new offense – with a new offensive coordinator and a huge number of brand-new players – and little runway to have that unit gel before playing two immense League games to open the season.

The Hoyas lost a ton to graduation (mostly) and the transfer portal (partially), but a patricularly big portal loss was RB Savion Hart, who was Georgetown’s top rusher with 818 yards and 10 TDs. He ended up transferring to Georgia State, as did QB Danny Lautner to Syracuse.

In addition, QB Dez Thomas II graduated last year, who represented the largest share of offense to replace on the team. That means the Hoyas will definitely be breaking in a new QB and four new offensive linemen.

As a result, a large number of newcomers have arrived, some via the transfer portal, others as true freshmen.  Considering the fresh void at RB, RB Clay Ash, a former walk-on at West Virginia, looks like a prime candidate to make a mark.  The Hoyas’ new offensive coordinator Jack McDaniels figures to have several decent backs to work with as well, with junior RB Jayden Sumpter returning as well (352 yards, 2 TDs).

That leaves QB Jack Johnson (17-38, 1 TD, 1 INT) the only QB on the roster who played last season, though QB Jacob Holtschlag saw time in 2024. QB Aiden Krause and newcomer QB Gavin Beard finish the QB room, and one of these four student-athletes will be starting on opening day. WR Hassan Mahasin (32 catches, 295 yards, 2 TDs) is the only WR with more than 100 yards receiving who returns, so the Hoyas will look very different on offense out of necessity.

The defense seems in better shape with DL Chigozle Oge-Evans returning (27 tackles, 6 ½ TFL, 4 sacks) and DB Brian Lloyd (28 tackles, 1 INT, 8 pass breakups) as well, but there’s still a lot of production that needs to be replaced, like LB Giancarlo Rufo (103 tackles, 7 TFL) and DL Cooper Blomstrom (47 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 1.2 sacks).

The good news is Georgetown returns their main return man from last year in Hassan Mahasin (471 return yards), as well as P Josh Leff (39.22 avg.) and PK Thomas Anderson (longest FG 48 yards).

To me, Georgetown’s questions on offense really swamp all the other considerations, especially considering their schedule will get drastically harder and jump right into league play against Lafayette then Lehigh, who were 6-1 and 7-0 respecitvely in Patriot League play last year.

Can the incoming freshmen and transfers replace a significant amount of last year’s statistical production on both offense and defense?  In the best of times, it’s difficult to replace a starting QB, RB, a 1,000-yard receiver in WR Jimmy Kibble, and a linebacker with over 100 tackles – the Hoyas have to replace all of this production and more.

Fearless Prediction: If their new-look team can gel in camp and beat one or the other of Lehigh or Lafayette at home to start the year, it could set up a successful season in which the Hoyas show they are up to the challenge of a tougher Patriot League. If not…