The Gagliardi Trophy is one of the most prestigious honors in Division III football. First presented in 1993, the award recognizes the most outstanding Division III college football player each season.
Named after John Gagliardi, who served as head football coach at Carroll College from 1949 to 1952 and at St. John's University (Minnesota) from 1953 to 2012, where he won national championships in 1976, 2003, 2005, and 2006, the award recognizes the Division III player who best exemplifies excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.
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University of Wisconsin-River Falls quarterback Kaleb Blaha became the latest recipient of the award earlier this year, finishing the season with 4,971 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes.
Here are ten players who could win the Gagliardi Trophy this upcoming season.
Jaxon Schreiber | QB | Mt. St. Joseph
Jaxon Schreiber has established himself as one of the top dual-threat quaterbakcs in Division III. In 2025, he put together one of the best passing seasons in Division III throwing for 3,608 yards and 47 touchdowns while averaging 328 passing yards per game. His ability to produce explosive numbers makes him a leading early contenders for the Gagliardi Trophy.
Mike Rescigno | QB | Cortland
Mike Rescigno was one of Division III's most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in 2025, throwing for 1,728 yards and 22 touchdowns while adding 1,068 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground. The Cortland standout set the program's single-season rushing record for a quarterback and earned second-team All-Empire 8 honors.
Caleb Romano | QB | Geneva
Caleb Romano had quite a season for himself last year as he finished among the nation's passing leaders in 2025, totaling 3,471 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. His consistency and ability to move Geneva's offense make him a player to watch entering the new season.
Tyler Green | QB | Denison
Green enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025, ranking second nationally with 3,440 passing yards while throwing 29 touchdown passes. He has helped lead the team to an overall 6-4 finish in the season. If Denison can work on a consistent winning streak this season, Green could find himself in the Gagliardi conversation.
Cole Crotty | WR | John Hopkins
Cole Crotty was one of Division III's top receivers in 2025, hauling in 86 receptions for 1,414 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging more than 100 receiving yards per game. The Johns Hopkins standout played a key role in one of the nation's most explosive passing offenses.
Trey Feeney | QB | Saint John’s [MN]
Trey Feeney is expected to lead one of Division III's most successgul programs into 2026. With Saint John's regularly competing for conference championships and deep playoff runs, a productive first season as the starter could quickly put him on the national radar.
Cooper Drews | QB | Bethel
Drews enjoyed a breakout junior campaign in 2025, throwing for 3,310 yards and 43 touchdowns while completing 66.8% of his passes. He helped lead Bethel to a 12-1 record and an appearance in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals, establishing himself as one of the nation's top quarterbacks entering 2026.
Scott Ballentine | QB | DePauw
Ballentine emerged as one of Division III's most efficient passers in 2025, totaling 3,234 passing yards and 34 touchdowns while completing nearly 66% of his passes. He led DePauw to another strong season and finished among the national leaders in passing, making him a legitimate dark-horse candidate for the Gagliardi Trophy.
Garret Wilson | QB | North Central [IL]
Wilson steps into the spotlight at perennial powerhouse North Central after an impressive 2025 season in which he threw 42 touchdown passes, the third-most in Division III. As the returning quarterback for a program that reached the national semifinals and regularly competes for championships, Wilson will have every opportunity to build one of the strongest Gagliardi Trophy résumés in 2026.
Brady Kelly | QB | Coe
Brady Kelly emerged as one of Division III's most prolific passers in 2025, completing 68.5% of his passes for 3,046 yards and 32 touchdowns while leading one of the nation's top passing offenses. His combination of efficiency and production made him one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
2026 College Football Season Dates To Know
The Season Start Date:
The 2026 college football season is set to kick off on August 27th with Week Zero and then will jump into full Week One action on Sept. 5.
NCAA D1 FBS National Championship:
The 2027 National Championship game is scheduled for January 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
NCAA D1 FCS Championship:
The 2027 FCS National Championship Game will take place on Jan. 11 at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
NCAA D2 Championship:
The 2026 NCAA Division II Football Championship is scheduled on December 19th at the McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
NCAA D3 Championship:
The 2027 NCAA Division III Football Championship will be held on Jan. 9th at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia.
Who Won Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?
- Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
- Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
- Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
- Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14
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