MEDFORD, MA (October 14, 2026) -- Coming off another thrilling come-from-behind victory last weekend over Bowdoin College, the Tufts University football team will take its shot at the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) co-leaders right now, as undefeated Trinity College comes to Ellis Oval for conference action at 1:30 p.m. in Somerville. The Jumbos trailed 13-10 late in the fourth quarter to Bowdoin last Saturday, but got a safety off of a blocked punt and then scored a game-winning touchdown with nine seconds left to pick up the 20-13 win.
Game Details
Opponent: vs. Trinity College (4-0, 4-0 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Somerville, Mass. –
Ellis Oval
Weather: Sunny & Clear, High Low 50s, Chance of Rain: 0%, Wind: NE 15-20 MPH
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Tufts vs. Trinity All-Time
Tufts is 19-48-1 against the Bantams all-time, with the series starting all the way back in 1912. Trinity has held the upper hand in the series for much of the 21st century, as the Jumbos have only captured victories three times since 2000. Tufts defeated Trinity 9-7 in 2001, 16-10 in 2007 and 14-8 in 2019. Last season, Trinity knocked off Tufts 41-14 in Hartford and the Bantams have scored over 40 points four of the last five games against Tufts.
A Look At The Jumbos (3-1)
The Jumbos come into Saturday's home tilt with Trinity off back-to-back wins against Bates College and Bowdoin, having to rally in each game. Nonetheless, Tufts is 3-1 and a game back of Trinity, Wesleyan University and Amherst College all at 4-0 midway through the year.
Tufts enters Saturday's game with the fifth-best offensive unit by scoring output, averaging 22.8 points per game while ranking sixth in total offense with 313.5 yards per game. The Jumbos are rushing for 152.8 yards per game, third-best in the conference and that's with starting tailback
Christian Shapiro missing last week's game. Tufts is averaging 160.8 yards per game through the air, and its offensive efficiency rating of 137.2 is fifth in the NESCAC.
Defensively, the Jumbos are seventh in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 26 points per game while its 334 yards allowed per game is also seventh so far this season. Tufts has the NESCAC's sixth-best rush defense at 110 yards allowed per contest.
Individually, Shapiro ranks second in the NESCAC in rushing with 88.7 yards per game while junior
Caden McCallum is 11th in the league with 35.7 yards a contest. McCallum had his first game as a starter last week, getting 26 carries for 84 yards while pulling in a team-high 54 yards through the air on five grabs. Sophomore quarterback
Nate Johnson got his first start of the season under center, and was named NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for 304 total yards including 124 yards and a score on the ground. His 17-yard touchdown run with less than 10 seconds to play was the difference in the win over Bowdoin.
Junior tight end
John Getman leads the team with 13 catches this season for 191 yards, and
Keller Rogers is averaging 20 yards per catch on his eight receptions thus far this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior
Ryan Horigan leads the team with 27 tackles including 2.5 for loss, while
Johnny Ferrelli and
Riley Yaker both have over 20 stops apiece for the Jumbos.
Patrick Keeley leads the team with a pair of sacks this season, while
Lucas Gonzalez has two picks as well.
Senior
Caden Lawlor made his first goal of the season against Bowdoin last week, while first-year punter
Ted Gialanella is averaging 34.47 yards per punt on his 15 kicks this season.
Tufts is fifth in the conference in third-down conversion rate at 40.8 percent, while going 7-for-10 on fourth downs so far. The 10 attempts on fourth down are the most in the NESCAC. Tufts has committed the second-most penalties in the league this year, but the red zone offense is tops in the NESCAC as it has scored 92.3 percent of the time inside the 20-yard line.
A Look At The Bantams (4-0)
It has been full steam ahead for Trinity College this season, as the reigning Co-NESCAC champions have been on a roll through four games. The Bantams have scored 34 or more points in all four games this season, while adding back-to-back shutouts at Bates and at home against Williams College. So far this season, Trinity is tops in the NESCAC in scoring offense and defense, total offense and defense, rushing yards per game and passing defense and total sacks with 11.
Senior quarterback Jaxon Carroll is third in the NESCAC in efficiency this season, while his 1084 yards passing this season ranks third in the NESCAC. He has tossed six touchdowns through four games, averaging 271.0 yards per game through the air. His main target Nolan O'Brien has pulled in 25 balls for 325 yards and one score this season, ranking fourth in the league with 81.3 yards per game. Patrick McCaffrey is eighth in yardage with 58.8 yards per game.
Tailback Jack Tosone is part of a three-headed rushing monster for the Bantams, as he is ranks 10th in the league in rushing with 37.5 yards per game. He's also averaging 42.3 yards receiving per contest. Tate Hoffmeister is fourth in rushing yards per game with 65.0, while Josh Woodford has carried the ball 50 times for 246 yards and four touchdowns. Morenel Castro is 14th in the league in rushing, averaging 10.6 yards per carry on eight attempts.
On the other side of the ball, Trinity has one of the best units in the conference, as Lincoln Moore is sixth in the conference in tackles with 33 this season. Luke Pickard ranks seventh with four tackles for loss this season, while his 2.5 sacks are third-most so far in 2026. Marshall Rice has picked off two balls this year, including a 36-yard pick-six last week, while Joshua Stahl also has a interception for a touchdown.
Trinity ranks third in the NESCAC in third down conversion rate at 46.9 percent, holding teams to just 24.1 percent defensively. Teams have only converted one of the eight fourth downs against Trinity this season.
Head coach Jeff Devanney is in his 21st season at Trinity, going 139-25 at the helm of the Bantams. Trinity is the all-time leader in NESCAC titles with 12, including three since 2022.
Other NESCAC Week 5 Games
Amherst at Colby (1:00 pm)
Bates at Wesleyan (1:00 pm)
Hamilton at Bowdoin (1:00 pm)
Williams at Middlebury (2:00 pm)
--JUMBOS--
