GAME 7: Butler (5-1, 2-0 PFL) vs. Dayton (4-1, 1-1 PFL)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Time: 1PM 
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.; Sellick Bowl 
Live Stats: Butlersports.com
Live Stream: ESPN+ 
 
The Butler football team will host Dayton for its third PFL contest of the 2026 campaign on Saturday at the Bud & Jackie Sellick Bowl. 

Last week, Butler took on PFL preseason favorite San Diego, and won in resounding fashion, 41-10. Butler was led on offense by Gabe Passini, who completed 11-of-16 passes for a career-high 217 passing yards, and ran for three touchdowns. Passini's 217 passing yards included the two longest completions of his Butler career: a 66-yard connection with Michael Nix and a 60-yard strike to Jonny Manor.

Sam Manna and Desmin Jackson also tallied rushing touchdowns, while Nix paced the receiving corps with a career-high 113 receiving yards. Manna, a freshman, entered Saturday's game against with 146 yards rushing on the season. His 151-yard outburst came on just nine carries and included a 73-yard touchdown. 
Butler was 5-for-5 in the red zone while the Bulldog defense limited San Diego to a 0-of-3 day inside the 20.

Defensively, Okemdi Eze swarmed the quarterback for a career-high three sacks, and Madden Beriault intercepted two Torero passes, the first two picks of his career. 

THE SERIES: Dayton leads the all-time series, 34-15-1, with the first matchup dating back to 1925. Butler has won two of the last three meetings, taking a 37-10 result in 2023 and a 23-17 win in Dayton last season, with the Flyers winning 21-14 in Indianapolis in 2024. 
 
BULLDOG BLITZ:  

• Butler leads the nation in turnover margin, with a + 2.33 margin. BU has forced 14 turnovers in six games (seven interceptions, seven fumble recoveries). Butler's seven fumble recoveries are ranked eighth nationally in FCS and first in the PFL. 
• Butler's offense ranks 14th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 37.3 points per game.
• The Bulldogs rank fifth nationally in FCS in time of possession and first in the PFL (33:31). 
• BU ranks 13th nationally and first in the PFL in third-down conversion percentage, converting 46.4-percent of their third-down attempts.
• On defense, Butler ranks sixth nationally in fourth-down defense, holding opponents to a 23.5-percent conversion rate.
• Butler has been strong in the run game and stout against it; their rushing defense ranks fourth in the FCS, allowing only 93.2 yards per game, and their rushing offense ranks sixth nationally, averaging 234.3 yards per game. The Bulldogs had a 262-13 advantage in rushing yards in Saturday's win over San Diego.
• Steven Stephany is tied for first nationally in the FCS in forced fumbles with three to his credit.
• Madden Beriault is tied for third nationally in fumble recoveries. The sophomore defensive back has two recoveries to his credit this season, while intercepting two passes, both of which came against San Diego (Oct. 10).
• Eze ranks 13th nationally and second in the PFL in sacks with five.  
• Nick Munson is tied for fifth nationally in receiving touchdowns. The Bulldogs' top target has hauled in six touchdown passes. 
• Jackson is ninth in the FCS in rush yards per carry, averaging 6.84 yards per carry. He also ranks 19th nationally in rushing touchdowns with six.
• Passini is ranked 38th nationally and second in the PFL in completion percentage, completing 62.7 percent of his passes. The junior quarterback is also 31st nationally in passing touchdowns with 10, and 41st in rushing touchdowns with five. 
• Michael Dellumo ranks 23rd nationally in average kickoff return yardage, averaging 23.2 yards per return.
• The Bulldogs are 22-6 when playing at the Sellick Bowl since the beginning of the 2022 season.

SCOUTING DAYTON

• Dayton enters Saturday's matchup with a 4-1 record after downing Morehead State 56-28 last week. The Flyers are 1-1 in PFL play after suffering a 30-22 loss to Drake in their first league game of the season. 
• Bryce Schondelmyer threw for 214 yards and four touchdowns against Morehead State completing 22-of-29 passes in the contest. On the season, Schondelmyer has thrown for 939 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing four interceptions. 
• Luke Hansen and Mason Hackett lead the Flyers on the ground with 282 and 219 rushing yards, respectively. Hansen has run for four touchdowns to lead the team.
• Michael Mussari paces the offense in receiving yards with 365 on 30 catches. 
• Ross Coppock leads the defense with 34 tackles on the season.
• Javawn Brooks has intercepted three passes this season which is tied for third in the FCS.
• Head Coach Trevor Andrews is in his fourth season at the helm of the Flyers, his alma mater. 

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs hit the road next weekend as they head to Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 24 to continue PFL play against Drake. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern (Noon Central). The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and a link to live stats can be found on Butlersports.com.