MEDFORD, MA (October 7, 2026) -- The Tufts University football team will look to use last week's thrilling 22-21 road win at Bates College as momentum this weekend, hosting Bowdoin College for Parents & Family Weekend on campus. The Jumbos will also be honoring the 1986 New England Champion football squad during the game, who are celebrating their 40th year anniversary this season.
Game Details
Opponent: vs. Bowdoin College (0-3, 0-3 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Somerville, Mass. –
Ellis Oval
Weather: Sunny & Clear, High Mid 60s, Chance of Rain: 0%, Wind: NE 0-5 MPH
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Tufts vs. Bowdoin All-Time
The Jumbos hold a 67-49-2 all-time record against the Polar Bears all-time, though Tufts has won the last 10 games in the series dating back to 2015. The Jumbos are 22-12 at home since the 1954 season, and have held Bowdoin to 3 or more points in four of the last 10 games. Last year in Brunswick, Tufts knocked off the Polar Bears 13-0 in the season opener as
Chartellis Reece scored the game's lone touchdown for the Jumbos. Tufts has not lost at home to Bowdoin since the 2013 season.
A Look At The Jumbos (2-1)
Tufts will come home this weekend after back-to-back road games the last few weeks, as the Jumbos are set for three home games in the next four weeks. The Jumbos are coming off an exciting come-from-behind road win at Bates College last weekend, as the Jumbos scored with less than a minute to play on a
John Getman touchdown reception to make it 21-20. Tufts went for the victory and converted the two-point try on a pass to
Christian Shapiro to make it 22-21. Bates moved the ball down the field but a 33-yard field goal was blocked by
Riley Yaker to secure the victory.
The Jumbos have yet to play a complete game this season, but the offensive unit has been solid through the first three games averaging 23.7 points per game which ranks fifth in the league. The real strength of the Jumbos this season has been its ability to convert in the red zone, as the Jumbos are a perfect 9-for-9 in the scoring area for nine touchdowns. Tufts and Wesleyan are the lone teams in the conference to score a TD in all of their red-zone opportunities.
Tufts is currently fifth in the league in rushing and eighth in passing yardage this season. The Jumbos will look to continue to improve on the defensive side of the ball this weekend, as Tufts is currently ninth in the league in points per game allowed with 30.3 per game. Tufts is allowing 381 yards per game on defense, including 257 through the air.
The Jumbos come into the game ranked fifth in the league in third-down conversions, converting on 40 percent of their chances this season. Tufts is also 5-for-8 on fourth downs this year, second best in the NESCAC. Tufts red zone defense has been solid, getting four stops inside the 20.
Senior
Christian Shapiro is second in the NESCAC in rushing so far this season with 88.7 yards per game, while his five rushing touchdowns are tied for the most in the league. Junior
Hudson Weidman is 33-61 through the air, tossing five touchdowns which is third in the conference.
Junior
John Getman ranks tied for 8th in the NESCAC in receptions with 11 this season, catching one score.
Keller Rogers ranks eighth in yards per game with 52.7 in the conference, and Shapiro leads the NESCAC in total touchdowns with six this season. Shapiro is one touchdown shy of second-place on the all-time touchdown list at Tufts for his career with 25.
Junior
Ryan Horigan is 14th in the NESCAC in tackles with 19 on the season, while
Riley Yaker and
Johnny Ferrelli have 17 and 16 stops, respectively. Sophomore
Lucas Gonzalez has both of the Jumbos interceptions this season, while also breaking up three passes and forcing a fumble.
Safeties
Justin Keller and
Brayden Beyer have also gotten better and better each game, as the pair has combined for 24 stops this season.
The Jumbos will also be honoring the 1986 football team during Saturday's game, a squad that was the New England champions after going 7-1 on the season. The squad shook off an early-season 23-14 loss to Wesleyan to win seven straight to end the season including big home wins over WPI, Bowdoin, Amherst and Bates.
A Look At The Polar Bears (0-3)
Through three games, Bowdoin enters the second half of the season with an 0-3 record, having dropped decisions to Williams, 17-7, Middlebury, 16-0, and Amherst, 22-13.
The Polar Bears have been competitive for stretches, particularly on defense, but have struggled to consistently generate offensive production. Bowdoin has scored just 20 points through three games while allowing 55, averaging 6.7 points per game compared with 18.3 for its opponents. The Polar Bears have also been out-gained 764-711 overall, although the yardage margin is relatively modest because Bowdoin has struggled to turn its possessions into points.
Offensively, Bowdoin has been much more effective through the air than on the ground. The Polar Bears have accumulated 593 passing yards compared with only 118 rushing yards, averaging 197.7 passing yards and 39.3 rushing yards per game. Bowdoin has completed 63 of 121 passes for a 52.1 percent completion rate, but has thrown six interceptions while producing only one touchdown pass.
Quarterback Soren Hummel has handled virtually all of Bowdoin's passing duties and leads the offense with 593 passing yards. Hummel has completed 63 of 119 attempts for 593 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions, with a long completion of 44 yards. He is also Bowdoin's leader in total offense with 567 yards, despite losing 26 yards rushing. Senior running back Sean Ramos has been the team's leading rusher, carrying 37 times for 71 yards, while Nelson Dorsey has added 65 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Neither has scored a rushing touchdown. Through the air, Conrad Babka leads Bowdoin with 12 receptions for 132 yards and the team's lone receiving touchdown, while Jude Baker also has 12 catches for 131 yards.
The defensive side of the ball has been the more consistent unit for Bowdoin. Bowdoin has generated eight sacks for 65 yards and 21 tackles for loss totaling 94 yards, showing an ability to create negative plays despite the team's overall record. The defense has also forced six interceptions, matching the six interceptions thrown by the offense. Bowdoin has held opponents to a 31.6 percent third-down conversion rate and has allowed opponents to score touchdowns on six of nine red-zone opportunities.
Charlie Saurack has been Bowdoin's leading tackler through three games, recording 25 total tackles, including 13 solo stops and 12 assists. He also has 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Angus Leary has been particularly disruptive up front, ranking second on the team with 19 tackles while leading Bowdoin with eight tackles for loss and three sacks, accounting for 39 tackles-for-loss yards. Abe Herzong as added 17 tackles, while Zach Taylor also has 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble.
Special teams have provided some of Bowdoin's more dependable statistical production. Caden Perry has handled both the kicking and punting duties, averaging 40.4 yards on 18 punts with a long of 55 yards. Seven of his punts have been downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, and he has produced two punts of at least 50 yards. Perry is also 2-for-4 on field-goal attempts, with both makes coming from 30-39 yards, and has accounted for all eight of Bowdoin's kicking points. Tucker Stevens has handled the majority of the team's kickoffs, averaging 56.4 yards on five kicks.
Week 4 NESCAC Games
Bates at Williams (1:00 p.m.)
Colby at Wesleyan (1:00 p.m.)
Hamilton at Trinity (1:00 p.m.)
Middlebury at Amherst (2:00 p.m.)
Bowdoin at Tufts (5:00 p.m.
--JUMBOS--
