GAME 1:  Butler (0-0, 0-0 PFL) at NORTHERN IOWA (0-0, 0-0 Missouri Valley)
Cedar Falls, Iowa / UNI-Dome
Saturday, August 30 -- 2PM ET / 1PM CT
Watch: ESPN+ 

OF NOTE:
- Butler was picked fourth in the 2025 Pioneer Football League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- First-year Head Coach Kevin Lynch served as Ball State's offensive play caller last year, and was the Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach for the Cardinals during the 2024 season.
- Jeremiah Jackson and Danny Orgler represent Butler on the 2025 Preseason All-PFL Team.
- Jackson, Tyson Garrett and Will Mason have all played in 30+ games at BU and have over 100 tackles in their respective careers.
- Jackson set a school record last year with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. Stetson.
- A year ago, Butler's offense led the PFL in scoring offense, red zone offense, 3rd down conversions, first downs, fewest sacks allowed, fewest tackles for loss allowed, and fewest penalties.
- In 2024, the BU defense ranked Top-10 among all FCS teams in in total defense, scoring defense, red zone defense, passing yards allowed, and first downs allowed.
- Butler scored on 47 of their 51 trips to the red zone in 2024. They opened the year scoring on 28-straight over the first seven weeks of the season.
- Reagan Andrew ranked third in the PFL last year in completion percentage and passing efficiency. He was seventh in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
- Ethan Loss ranked second in the PFL last year in receiving touchdowns, third in yards per reception, 10th in receiving yards. Loss surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards last year.
- K/P Ryan Short returns to the program after making 11 field goals in 2024. Short also averaged 38 yards per punt.
- Trey Alsbrooks enters the 2025 season with 99 career tackles.
- Butler added 28 newcomers to the 2025 roster, including transfers from Ball State, Idaho, and Toledo, and Tulane. 
- Butler has played a current Missouri Valley member in 12 of the last 15 seasons, including wins over Murray State (2024) and Youngstown State (2018).

SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA: 2024 was an odd season for UNI. The Panthers won their first two games of the year then went winless until Senior Day to end the campaign with a 3-9 overall record. Two quarterbacks commanded the huddle throughout the year and each  player will return to the program in 2025. Matthew Schecklman passed for 1,276 yards and seven touchdowns while upperclassman Aidan Dunne threw for 955 while adding nine passing TD's. First-year Head Coach Todd Stepsis will have to replace the top two running backs and the top two wide receivers from last year's squad. The defense however returns two tackling machines in Tucker Langenberg and Jonathan Cabral-Martin. Each player suited up in all 12 games and topped 80 tackles on the season. 

Northern Iowa notable alums include Kurt Warner, David Johnson, Brad Meester, and Trevor Penning.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Saturday's game is the first-ever meeting between Butler and Northern Iowa.

2024 RECAP: The Bulldogs won nine games in 2024, marking their highest total since 2013 when Butler shared the PFL crown with Marist (7-1). BU opened the year 5-0, defeated Davidson for the first time since 2016 and notched their first-ever win over St. Thomas.

Butler received votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll before the start of the 2024 season and were ranked No. 23 heading into the season finale.

RECENT SUCCESS: Butler is 23-11 over their last three seasons, winning seven games in both 2022 and 2023 followed by nine in 2024.

The Bulldogs are 15-4 when playing at the Sellick Bowl over the last three years. 

SIDELINE SHAKEUP: First-year head coach Kevin Lynch kept five assistant coaches from last year's staff while adding seven new football minds to the program. The offensive coordinator will be Colin Johnson and Jordan Belfiori was added to serve as the defensive coordinator. Special Teams will once again run through Joe Cheshire.

Kevin Lynch's father, Bill, coached at Butler from 1985-89 and won 36 games over that five-year stretch. He won over 70 percent of his games while on the sideline at BU and was the first coach to accomplish that feat since Pat Page did it from 1920-25!
 
'DAWGS ON D: Butler returns seven starters to a defensive unit that only allowed 16.3 points per game last year, the third-best scoring defense in the country. BU ranked sixth among their FCS peers in total defense limiting the opposition to just 292 yards per game. The Bulldogs also ranked sixth in FCS football in passing yards allowed (158) and seventh in red zone defense.

Butler came up with consecutive shutouts last year for the first time since 1947! The Bulldogs defeated Hanover 53-0 in Week 3 then dominated the action vs. Virginia-Lynchburg in Week 4 (63-0).

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will play at home in Week 2 of the regular season. The 2025 home opener will bring Truman State to the Sellick Bowl for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

The contest on Sept. 6 will be the first meeting between Butler and Truman State, a D2 program that went 8-4 last season. Over the offseason, Truman State removed the interim tag for head coach Kellen Nesbitt. Coach Nesbitt helped the team win eight of their last nine games, marking the fifth-straight season for Truman State to notch eight or more wins.

2025 PFL SCHEDULE - WEEK 1 (All Times Eastern)
Georgetown at Davidson - 1PM
Butler at Northern Iowa - 2PM
Virginia Lynchburg at Valparaiso - 2PM
Allen (S.C.) at Morehead State - 6PM
Presbyterian at Mercer - 6PM
Webber International at Stetson - 6PM
Dayton at Eastern Illinois - 7PM
Lindenwood at St. Thomas - 7PM
New Haven at Marist - 7PM
Upper Iowa at Drake - 7:30PM
Cal Poly at San Diego - 8PM