DAYTON - The University of Dayton football team will kick-off the 2025 season Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ET at Eastern Illinois University. The season opener will take place at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Ill. and be streamed live on ESPN+.

SERIES HISTORY
Dayton and Eastern Illinois are meeting for just the second time in program history with the Flyers leading 1-0 all-time. The two teams' lone match-up came in a 17-10 win for UD at home on Sept. 11, 2021. 

NEXT UP
The Flyers will return to Welcome Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 12 p.m. for the home opener against Thomas More. It will be Youth Day for Dayton Football. 

CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
• The Flyer co-captains for the 2025 season are linemen Ryan Iiams and Ben Huefner, as well as defensive back Cam Cope. 
• Iiams is a senior lineman in his third season at UD after transferring over from Robert Morris. The Springboro, Ohio native earned preseason all-conference accolades and was named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll the past two seasons. 
• Huefner is a redshirt junior out of Powell, Ohio and is coming off his most productive season in 2024, making three starts in 11 games while earning PFL Academic Honor Roll for the third time.
• Cope is also a redshirt junior and the lone defensive captain on the team. The Cincinnati native was a preseason all-conference selection as well and started all 10 games he appeared in last season. 

PRESEASON PFL
• Multiple Flyers were named to the 2025 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League, as chosen by the PFL.  Dayton's selections were junior Mason Hackett, junior Gavin Lochow, senior Ryan Iiams, and redshirt junior Cam Cope. 
• Hackett and Lochow earned Second Team All-PFL accolades in 2024 while Iiams and Cope received Honorable Mention last season. 
• Phil Steele's College Football Magazine named five Flyers to six positions on its Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team.  On the first team were Mason Hackett (running back), Logan Forcum (punter), Paul Kelly (punt return), and Gavin Lochow (all-purpose). Ryan Iiams (offensive line) was the lone Flyer on the Preseason Second Team.

QUICK HITS
• Dayton enters the 2025 season under the direction of third-year head coach Trevor Andrews, who has guided the Flyers to a 10-12 record so far and looks to improve on its win total once again this fall. 

• The Flyers return a veteran group on offense including their top passer, rusher, and receiver. Juniors Drew VanVleet, Mason Hackett, and Gavin Lochow will power the offensive attack for Dayton while seniors and team captains Ryan Iiams and Ben Huefner will anchor the offensive line. 

• The defense will see a lot of new faces however in the starting line-up, but has a talented group of newcomers to mix with the returning players with expectations still high for the Flyers. UD held opposing teams to just 17.0 points per game in 2024 while limiting opponents to just 242.9 yards per outing. 

• The special teams unit stayed mostly intact with seniors Robby Smart and David Maurer handling placekicking duties while junior Logan Forcum will be the main punter. Breakout returnmen Gavin Lochow and  Paul Kelly will join junior transfer Michael Mussari on kick and punt return responsibilities. 

• Dayton was picked to finish to fifth in the Pioneer Football League poll behind preseason favorites San Diego, Drake, St. Thomas, and Butler. The Flyers were tabbed to finish ahead of the likes of Morehead St., Presbyterian, and Davidson. 

• The PFL Preseason All-Conference teams were announced as well with three Flyers recognized on offense and one on defense. Running back Mason Hackett, all-purpose player Gavin Lochow, and offensive lineman Ryan Iiams were chosen on the offensive side of the ball while cornerback Cam Cope was selected on the defensive side. 

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