MEDFORD, MA (September 30, 2026) -- The Tufts University football squad will look to shake off a 42-7 loss on the road to Wesleyan University last week, traveling north to take on Bates College Saturday under the lights at 7 p.m. in the third game of the season. Tufts will play just road one game under the lights this season, as Bates will be celebrating Homecoming up in Lewiston. Both squads are looking to respond from big losses, as Bates was defeated 43-0 last week at home to Trinity College.
Game Details
Opponent: at Bates College (0-2, 0-2 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Lewiston, Maine –
Garcelon Field
Weather: Clear, Low 50s, Chance of Rain: 0%, Wind: NE 0-5 MPH
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Jumbos vs. Bates All-Time
The Jumbos hold a decided 65-17-4 edge against Bates since their first meeting back in 1875, the first intercollegiate football game ever held in the state of Maine. Bates did win last year's meeting in Somerville, coming back to pick up a 35-28 win on October 11, 2025. Since 2014, Tufts has gone 9-2 against the Bobcats including 5-0 up in Maine. The last win for Bates at home was 2013, a 20-16 victory. Tufts has a 29-8-2 record in Lewiston in the series history.
A Look At The Jumbos (1-1, 1-1 NESCAC)
The Tufts University football team comes into the weekend with an offensive unit that sits in the top half of the NESCAC standings, as the Jumbos currently are averaging 24.5 points per game, fourth-best in the NESCAC. The 264.5 yards per game ranks seventh in the NESCAC, with the fourth-best rushing attack with 129.0 yards per game so far through two games.
Tufts is converting 41.7 percent of its third downs through two weeks, tied for fifth place, while ranking second in the league with an 80 percent success rate on fourth downs (4-5). Tufts has scored on all six red zone trips so far this season. Defensively, the 35 points per game allowed is ninth in the NESCAC as the Jumbos rank last in passing yards allowed with 265 per game. Tufts is tied for third in sacks with three, and is getting off the field on third downs in a 33.3 percent clip.
Individually, senior
Christian Shapiro ranks second in the NESCAC in rushing yardage with 77.5 per game, scoring a league-high four times. His stretch of nine straight games with a rushing touchdown ended last weekend at Wesleyan. Junior signal caller
Hudson Weidman is 17th in the NESCAC in rushing with 24 yards per game, while his passing efficiency ranks fourth in the conference. Weidman is one of two starting quarterbacks to not throw an interception this season.
The Jumbos have spread the ball out offensively through the air, but junior
Keller Rogers ranks sixth in the league in yards per game with 64.5 and a touchdown. Junior
John Getman has a team-high six catches for 63 yards, while
Granville Anderson II has caught three passes for 34 yards and a score.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior captain
Ryan Horigan and senior
Riley Yaker each have 14 tackles on the season to pace the Jumbos. Both rank in the Top 10 in the conference in that category, while
Johnny Ferrelli also has 12 stops and a tackle for loss. Safety
Brayden Beyer has eight tackles, while
Dazer van Leeuwen has made seven stops to go with a sack.
First-year punter
Ted Gialanella ranks fourth in the NESCAC in punts inside the 20 with three this season. Tufts is also one of five NESCAC teams not to attempt a field goal yet this year.
A Look At The Bobcats (0-2, 0-2 NESCAC)
Bates is coming off a 43-0 loss to Trinity College, and the Bobcats are dealing with the loss of one of their best players as All-NESCAC running back Ryan Lynskey was injured during the first week of the season. Bates ranks last in the conference in total offense with 149 yards per game, as they have rushed for 29 yards per game, also 10th in the conference.
Michael Seward ranks 18th in the NESCAC in rushing yards with 48 on the season through two games on 26 carries. Quarterback Jack Seward is 23-for-49 this season passing, throwing four interceptions through two games while posting 240 total yards. Riley Provencher has caught seven balls for 99 yards, while Ryan Gleason and Jeff Vidou each have pulled down four receptions as well.
Bates has one of the best linebackers in the NESCAC in Ryan Rozich, who has 16 total stops along with two tackles for loss and two pass break-ups. Liam Keaney also has 12 stops, including 3.5 for loss on 2.5 sacks, and Michael Spencer, Payton Francis and Carmel Crunk each have an interception on the season.
Punting duties have been split for the Bobcats, as Alex Kvaratskhelia has a long of 58 yards including three inside the 20. Bates has not attempted a field goal, but Marcos Ruiz has made both of his extra point attempts.
Other NESCAC Week 3 Games
Bowdoin at Amherst (1:00 PM)
Colby at Middlebury (1:00 PM)
Wesleyan at Hamilton (1:00 PM)
Williams at Trinity (1:30 PM)
Tufts at Bates (7:00 PM)
--JUMBOS--
