Football Readies For Final Road Battle Of 2026 Season At Colby

MEDFORD, MA (November 5, 2026) -- The Tufts University football team will look to get back to its winning ways this weekend, heading to Waterville, Maine for the final road game of the 2026 season as the Jumbos battle Colby College Saturday, November 7 at 1 p.m. at Alfond Stadium. Tufts is coming off a heartbreaking 24-21 loss to undefeated Amherst College last week, as the Jumbos were officially eliminated from title contention with the loss to the Mammoths. Colby, on the other hand, is fresh off its first win of the 2026 season as the Mules topped Bates College 21-19 at home in the opening game of the CBB rivalry series with Bates and Bowdoin College. 

Game Details
Opponent: at Colby College (1-6, 1-6 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Waterville, Maine – Seaverns Field at Harold Alfond Stadium
Weather: Cloudy, Mid 40s, Chance of Rain: 30%, Wind: NE 5-10 MPH
Live Coverage: LIVE STATS – LIVE VIDEO

Tufts vs. Colby All-Time
Tufts holds a decided 44-19-1 all-time mark with Colby, dating back to its first meeting back in 1909. The Jumbos had won 10 straight contests until last year, when Colby knocked off the Jumbos in Medford 33-6 on November 1, 2025. The last home win for Colby over Tufts came back in 2013. In the series, it has been one of dominant wins on either side as just two games over the last 12 meetings have been decided by one score. 

A Look at the Jumbos (4-3, 4-3 NESCAC)
Tufts heads into this week's road match-up at Colby with a 4-3 overall record and a 4-3 mark in NESCAC play. The Jumbos are coming off a 24-21 home loss to Amherst on Oct. 31. Earlier victories came against Hamilton (42-28), Bates (22-21), Bowdoin (20-13) and Williams (24-21), while Tufts also fell to Wesleyan (42-7) and Trinity (28-9). The Jumbos are averaging 20.7 points per game, tied for sixth in the NESCAC, and allowing 25.3 points per contest, eighth in the conference.

Tufts has totaled 2,011 yards of offense through seven games, averaging 287.3 yards per game and 4.8 yards per play. The Jumbos rank seventh in the NESCAC in total offense and have recorded 106 first downs, averaging 15.1 per game. Tufts has converted 41.5 percent of its third-down attempts (39 of 94), ranking fifth in the conference, and has been especially effective on fourth down, converting nine of 16 attempts (56.3 percent), the second-best rate in the NESCAC. The Jumbos average 32 minutes and 23 seconds in time of possession per game and have scored on 20 of 21 red-zone opportunities, a 95.2-percent success rate that leads the conference.

The Jumbos have rushed for 957 net yards and 13 touchdowns on 272 attempts, averaging 136.7 yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry. Tufts ranks fourth in the NESCAC in rushing offense. Christian Shapiro leads the ground game with 442 yards and eight touchdowns on 108 carries in five games, averaging 88.4 yards per game. Shapiro ranks second in the conference in rushing yards per game and is among the NESCAC's top touchdown scorers. Caden McCallum has added 194 yards and two touchdowns, while Nate Johnson has rushed for 177 yards and three scores. Johnson has also recorded a team-long 56-yard run.

Tufts has completed 81 of 148 passes for 1,054 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions, averaging 150.6 passing yards per game. The Jumbos rank ninth in the NESCAC in passing offense. Johnson has completed 44 of 79 attempts for 566 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions. Hudson Weidman has completed 37 of 69 passes for 488 yards and five touchdowns, also with two interceptions. Keller Rogers leads the receiving corps with 16 catches for 274 yards and a touchdown, while John Getman has 17 receptions for 217 yards and a score. Matt Rios has added 10 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown, and Shapiro has contributed 11 receptions for 127 yards and a score.

Defensively, Tufts has allowed 2,313 yards of total offense, an average of 330.4 yards per game. The Jumbos rank sixth in the NESCAC in total defense. Opponents have gained 826 yards on the ground and 1,487 through the air. Tufts has surrendered 25.3 points per game, ranking eighth in scoring defense, and has recorded 11 sacks for 82 yards, eight interceptions and 18 pass breakups. Ryan Horigan leads the team with 51 tackles, followed by Johnny Ferrelli with 47 and Justin Keller with 38. Dazer van Leeuwen has contributed 26 tackles and five tackles for loss, while Patrick Keeley leads the team with 4.5 sacks for 31 yards lost.

Creating turnovers has been a strength for the Tufts defense. Ferrelli leads the Jumbos with three interceptions, while Lucas Gonzalez and Cameron Pineda have two apiece and Horigan has one. Ferrelli also has four pass breakups, and Gonzalez has four. Tufts has recorded 32 tackles for loss totaling 133 yards. The Jumbos have allowed opponents to convert 42.9 percent of their third-down attempts and have surrendered 23 touchdowns on 25 red-zone opportunities. Generating pressure and limiting opponents' scoring chances will be important as Tufts looks to rebound against Colby.

Caden Lawlor has made three of four field-goal attempts, including a long of 37 yards, and is 14-for-15 on point-after attempts. Ted Gialanella has handled most of the punting, averaging 35.3 yards on 31 punts, with nine downed inside the 20-yard line. Rogers leads the kick-return unit with 286 yards on 16 returns, averaging 17.9 yards per return, while Granville Anderson II has averaged 18.5 yards on six returns. 

A win this weekend would secure a winning campaign for the Jumbos, which would be their eighth since 2015. 

A Look at the Mules (1-6, 1-6 NESCAC)
Colby enters its contest with Tufts at 1-6 overall and in NESCAC play, but the Mules have shown resilience and the ability to compete in tight games. Colby earned its first victory of the season on Oct. 31, holding off Bates, 21-19, and had previously challenged unbeaten Amherst before falling 21-15 on Oct. 17. The Mules have scored 80 points through seven games, averaging 11.4 points per contest, while allowing 24.9 points per game. Their 174 points allowed rank seventh in the NESCAC, while the team has continued to find opportunities to make games competitive.

Colby has produced 1,575 yards of total offense, averaging 225.0 yards per game. The Mules have accumulated 89 first downs, including 51 through the air, and have shown a willingness to move the ball with their passing attack. Colby has converted 29 of 87 third-down opportunities (33.3 percent) and three of 11 fourth-down attempts. The team has also been effective at protecting the football, losing just one of its four fumbles while recording five interceptions.

The passing game has been the foundation of Colby's offense, accounting for 1,078 yards and eight touchdowns. The Mules have completed 103 of 184 passes, a 56.0-percent completion rate, while averaging 154.0 passing yards per game. Jagger Matera has led the way with 622 yards and five touchdowns on 59 completions, while Stephen Gill has added 314 yards and three touchdowns. Matera has also contributed 18 rushing yards, giving Colby a versatile option at quarterback.

Jack Nye has emerged as Colby's leading receiving threat, recording 35 catches for 495 yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging 70.7 receiving yards per game and 14.1 yards per catch, with a long reception of 57 yards. Alex Clapp has added 16 receptions for 214 yards, averaging 13.4 yards per catch, while Sean Trinder has contributed 13 catches for 138 yards. The group has combined for eight receiving touchdowns, with Nye accounting for five of them.

Colby's ground game has totaled 497 net yards, averaging 71.0 yards per game, with two rushing touchdowns. Antone Moreis leads the Mules with 218 yards on 59 carries, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. Chrishon Capra-Hobbs has added 161 yards on 41 carries and is averaging 3.9 yards per attempt. Both backs have provided consistent involvement in the offense, with Moreis also contributing as a receiver.

Defensively, Colby has recorded 505 total tackles, led by Lincoln Merrill's 54 and Aidan Cole's 53. Nicholas Cox has added 41 tackles and an interception, while Owen Haight has made 35 tackles and leads the team with 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The Mules have totaled 32.5 tackles for loss for 132 yards and 10 sacks for 83 yards. Haight's ability to disrupt opposing offenses has been a notable part of the defensive effort.

The Mules have also created opportunities in the secondary, recording five interceptions and 18 pass breakups. Drew Ramos leads the team with two interceptions and has added three pass breakups. Colby has limited opponents to 2,472 yards of total offense, or 353.1 per game, and has allowed 988 rushing yards and 1,484 passing yards. The defense has been particularly active in creating negative plays, with 35 total tackles for loss and 13 sacks allowed by opposing offenses, while continuing to work toward more consistent stops.

Special teams have provided additional contributors. Avi Gotshalk has converted two of four field-goal attempts, including a season-long 42-yarder, and is 10-for-10 on extra points. Sam Graziano has averaged 36.1 yards on 22 punts, with three landing inside the 20-yard line, while Corey Aubuchon has averaged 33.8 yards on 12 punts. Colby has also shown promise in the return game, with Noah Abdur Rahim averaging 14.7 yards on three kick returns and Drew Ramos recording two interceptions on defense.

Other Week 8 NESCAC Games
Hamilton at Middlebury - 12:30 PM
Williams at Wesleyan - 1 PM
Trinity at Amherst - 1 PM
Bowdoin at Bates - 1 PM

--JUMBOS--