The Braves enter the fall after closing the 2025 campaign with four consecutive victories, giving a veteran group something to build on under head coach Nick Davis. Ottawa's expectations have also been recognized around the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, as the Braves were selected to finish second in both the KCAC Dr. Ted Kessinger Division Preseason Coaches' and Media Polls.

Ottawa placed 14 student-athletes on the 2026 KCAC Football Dr. Ted Kessinger Division Preseason Team, which was selected by the division's head coaches: Luke Edwards, Anthony Powell, Malakai Hudson, Rowdy Keith, De'Anthony Curtis, Jayden Johnson, Shane Sexton, Bryson Nolan, Cade Monroe, Donovan Martin, Ethan Yinger, Elijah Hann, Liam Aldridge, and Ike Prengel. 

Saturday is the 87th game between Ottawa University and Kansas Wesleyan University. The Braves lead the series 44-37-5 but the Coyotes are on a two game winning streak against the Braves. OU's last win at AdventHealth Field against KWU happened on Nov. 4, 2023, 27-24 in overtime. Ottawa is 26-16-3 against Kansas Wesleyan in Ottawa. OU is 1-9 in its last 10 games against the Coyotes. The first ever meeting between the two team happened on Oct. 19, 1908 in Ottawa. The Braves won the game 30-5. OU lost last season to KWU in Salina on Aug. 30, 27-10. 

In 2025, Ottawa averaged 373.8 yards of total offense per game, including 123.7 rushing yards and 250.1 passing yards. The Braves averaged 28.9 points per contest. Defensively, OU surrendered 366.3 yards per game, allowing 179.1 yards on the ground and 187.2 through the air. Ottawa's opponents averaged 28.4 points per game. 

Ottawa was ranked 42nd in the NAIA in scoring (318), 46th in points per game (28.9), 38th in total offense (4,112), 40th in yards per game (373.8), 23rd in passing yards (2,751), 21st in passing yards per game (250.1), 42nd in rushing attempts (375), 28th in rushing touchdowns, 37th in first downs, 30th in rushing first downs (100), 37th in passing first downs (116), 41st in first downs per game (21.2), 38th in third down conversion percentage (.400), 16th in fourth down conversion percentage (.590), 18th in kick return average (23.7), 41st in field goal percentage (.684), 21st in PAT percentage (.972), 49th in average per punt (36.0), third in fumbles recovered (11), and 25th in sacks (27). 

Luke Edwards led the Ottawa passing attack in 2025, completing 208-of-356 passes for 2,552 yards and 15 touchdowns. He completed 58.4 percent of his attempts and threw eight interceptions. Anthony Powell paced the Braves on the ground with 466 rushing yards on 110 carries. He averaged 4.2 yards per attempt and scored five touchdowns. Jayden Johnson was OU's leading receiver, finishing the 2025 season with 65 receptions for 862 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 5.9 catches per game.

Defensively, Ethan Yinger led Ottawa with 53 tackles. He also recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five pass breakups. Cade Monroe ranked second on the team in tackles in 2025. He added nine tackles for loss, one sack and two pass breakups.

Ottawa enters the season just one victory shy of a major program milestone. The Braves have compiled a 599-509-46 record in 1,154 games and, with their next win, will become just the third NAIA football program to reach 600 all-time victories. Baker University currently leads the NAIA with 661 wins, followed by Missouri Valley University with 647.

Taken from https://kwucoyotes.com

KWU head coach Matt Middleton and the Coyotes endured and in fact thrived last fall despite a mind boggling slew of knee injuries that included All-America running back Luke Armstrong, leading receiver Will Wilcox and defensive lineman Diego Davis, one of the top unit's top players. Quarterback Henry Austad played much of the season with a knee injury that would have sidelined many.

The newcomers will bolster a group of returning starters who played a lot of football and were successful. Davis and Wilcox lead the list along with offensive linemen Jacob McCaskill, Samuel Lanza Ruffino and Juan Luna, linebacker Myles Elam and safeties Taylor Collins and Robert Rezex. The starting quarterback job is up for grabs with a trio of transfers vying to be under center when the season starts August 29 at Ottawa. Caleb Deal comes from Division II Northwestern Oklahoma State, Wyatt Oak from Division II Southwest Minnesota State and Alec Jackson from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

KWU had five players named to the 2026 Bissell Division Preseason All-Division Team: Tight end Mason Ross, receiver Will Wilcox, offensive lineman Jacob McCaskill, linebacker Myles Elam and defensive back Taylor Collins were the Coyote honorees.

In 2025, Kansas Wesleyan averaged 397.9 yards of total offense per game, including 192.8 yards on the ground and 205.1 yards through the air. The Coyotes averaged 26.3 points per contest. Defensively, KWU held opponents to 302.7 yards of total offense per game. The Coyotes allowed 107.1 rushing yards and 195.6 passing yards per contest while surrendering an average of 20.5 points per game.

Henry Austad led the Kansas Wesleyan passing attack in 2025, completing 196-of-313 passes for 1,900 yards and 12 touchdowns. He completed 62.6 percent of his attempts. D'Heaven Domena paced the Coyotes on the ground with 1,388 yards on 262 carries. He averaged 5.3 yards per attempt, scored 10 rushing touchdowns and fumbled just once during the season. Rhadarious Lomax-Spivey was KWU's leading receiver, finishing with 56 receptions for 701 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Jamison Price led the Coyotes with 81 tackles. He also recorded eight tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass breakups. Myles Elam ranked second on the team with 66 tackles, adding 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and one pass breakup.