The University of Pennsylvania football team will begin its 148th season on Saturday with an away game against Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. This marks the first meeting between the two programs and Penn’s first season opener outside a neighboring state since 2014.
This year, the Quakers have an added incentive: for the first time in over 80 years, they are eligible to compete in the FCS playoffs for a national championship. The change follows decades of postseason exclusion due to the Ivy Group Agreement signed by eight schools in 1945.
Penn is seeking its 19th Ivy League title and its first since 2016. Last season, the team finished with a 4-6 record and tied for sixth place in conference play.
Ray Priore, George A. Munger Head Coach, enters his tenth season at Penn and holds a 5-4 record in season openers. He said last year’s campaign did not meet expectations but noted that this year presents new opportunities with playoff eligibility.
Stonehill enters Saturday’s game with a 1-2 record after securing a narrow win over Maine last week. Quarterback Jack O’Connell has been effective, ranking third nationally in completions per game and fourteenth in completion percentage. The Skyhawks’ defense ranks among the top thirty nationally for scoring defense.
Several Penn players received preseason honors ahead of this campaign. Senior offensive lineman Netinho Olivieri was named to multiple All-America teams, while senior wide receiver Jared Richardson also earned national recognition along with senior offensive lineman William Bergin. Both Olivieri and Richardson were listed on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List.
Liam O’Brien will start at quarterback for Penn after starting four games last year and setting a program single-game record with six passing touchdowns against Cornell on November 9.
Phil Steele named twelve Quakers to its Preseason All-Ivy selections across various positions including Richardson, Bisi Owens, Olivieri, Carter Janki, John Lista (first team), O’Brien, Bergin, David McMorris, Kadari Machen and Julien Stokes (second team).
Bergin was nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team due to his involvement with Uplifting Athletes fundraising efforts supporting children with rare diseases as well as work with Young Quakers Community Athletics and other service initiatives.
With last year’s Bushnell Cup winner Malachi Hosley transferring to Georgia Tech during the offseason, sophomore Donte West will take over as starting running back alongside return specialist Julien Stokes moving into more backfield action.
Penn returns all five starters on its offensive line from last season—a group that helped allow only fifteen sacks throughout 2024—while seniors Richardson and Owens headline what could be one of the league’s top receiving duos.
Team captains for this year include O’Brien (quarterback), Bergin (offensive line), Paul Jennings (defensive line), and Lista (linebacker). Jennings returns after missing part of last season due to injury but previously recorded notable defensive statistics during his sophomore campaign.
Saturday’s game can be watched live via NEC Front Row or listened to through Quaker Audio Network coverage.
