Rochester NY Sports: Your Fall 2026 Guide to Local Teams

Fall in Rochester NY is a sports lover's dream: the Red Wings are playing October baseball for the first time in over a decade, Friday night lights are burning across Section V, and hockey season is right around the corner. Here's your guide to Rochester sports this fall, from high school fields to the pros — put together by neighbors who believe showing up for local teams is one of the best ways to love this city.

Rochester Red Wings: October Baseball in the Flower City

For the first time since 2013, the Rochester Red Wings are playing postseason baseball.

The Wings finished the regular season 90-58, winning the International League's second-half title with a wild 15-8 win over the Buffalo Bisons on September 20 — a game featuring eight home runs and 19 hits. Then on September 22, they took Game One of the International League Championship Series, beating the Memphis Redbirds 4-3 behind three hits and a go-ahead fifth-inning homer from shortstop Seaver King. Manager Matt LeCroy told his clubhouse "we fought, and we ain't finished." Team MVP Trey Lipscomb has anchored the lineup, and King was named the Washington Nationals organization's Offensive Player of the Year, with Andrew Pinckney and Roméro Jr. earning organizational honors too. The Red Wings play at Innovative Field in downtown Rochester.

Section V Football: Friday Night Lights Across Rochester NY

Nothing says fall in Rochester like Section V high school football. Week 4 kicks off Friday, September 25. Through three weeks, Monroe tops the MaxPreps Section V rankings at 3-0, followed by Brighton, Hilton, Canandaigua Academy, and Rush-Henrietta — all unbeaten. The season opened September 3 with Victor knocking off reigning Class AA champion Penfield 25-13 in the eighth annual Teddi Bowl. This week's slate is stacked: Webster Schroeder vs. Victor and Pittsford vs. Penfield headline Friday night.

College Football: St. John Fisher Starts 3-0

The St. John Fisher Cardinals are 3-0 for the first time since 2019, with wins over FDU-Florham (38-8), St. Lawrence (30-10), and crosstown rival University of Rochester (14-13). Second-year head coach Ed Raby Jr. has Fisher rolling behind senior quarterback Ryan Whitney.

Hockey Season Is Almost Here: Amerks and RIT Tigers

The Rochester Americans open the 2026-27 AHL season Friday, October 2, against the Toronto Marlies at Blue Cross Arena. October home dates include the Syracuse Crunch (Oct. 9), Utica Comets (Oct. 21), Hershey Bears (Oct. 28), and Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Oct. 30). The RIT Tigers open at home Saturday, October 3, at 5:05 PM against Niagara at the Gene Polisseni Center, then play the Brick City Homecoming game October 17 against Michigan State at Blue Cross Arena.

Rochester Knighthawks: Reloading for November

The Rochester Knighthawks open their seventh NLL season Saturday, November 28, at home against the Halifax Thunderbirds at Blue Cross Arena. New pieces include goalie Drew Hutchison and reigning NLL Defensive Player of the Year Callum Jones.

Come Sit With Us

We love Rochester sports because we love Rochester, period. We're Rochester NY Affinity Church — a new church network launching Sunday, September 27, 2026. Come find your people at smsnovel.com.