2025 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team

2025 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football
ConferenceUnited Athletic Conference
Record7–5 (6–2 UAC)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorJohn Kelling (4th season)
Home stadiumEccles Coliseum
2025 United Athletic Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 13 Abilene Christian +^   7 – 1     9 – 5  
No. 5 Tarleton State +^   7 – 1     12 – 2  
Southern Utah   6 – 2     7 – 5  
West Georgia*   5 – 3     8 – 3  
Austin Peay   4 – 4     7 – 5  
Eastern Kentucky   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Central Arkansas   2 – 6     3 – 9  
Utah Tech   1 – 7     2 – 10  
North Alabama   1 – 7     2 – 10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * – Ineligible for the UAC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team represented Southern Utah University as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Thunderbirds were led by fourth-year head coach DeLane Fitzgerald and played their home games at the Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City, Utah.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 306:30 p.m.Idaho State*
ESPN+W 46–245,137
September 67:00 p.m.at San Diego*No. 24
ESPN+L 27–302,564
September 136:30 p.m.No. 18 Northern Arizona*
ESPN+L 49–523,084
September 208:00 p.m.at No. 9 UC Davis*
ESPN+L 34–5017,217
September 276:30 p.m.No. 18 West Georgia
  • Eccles Coliseum
  • Cedar City, UT
ESPN+L 24–275,769
October 45:00 p.m.at No. 3 Tarleton State
ESPN+L 42–5216,412
October 186:30 p.m.No. 13 Abilene Christian
  • Eccles Coliseum
  • Cedar City, UT
ESPN+W 31–242,030
October 256:00 p.m.at Utah Tech
ESPN+W 28–76,814
November 16:30 p.m.No. 22 Austin Peay
  • Eccles Coliseum
  • Cedar City, UT
ESPN+W 33–172,808
November 81:00 p.m.at Eastern Kentucky
ESPN+W 27–174,093
November 156:30 p.m.Central Arkansas
  • Eccles Coliseum
  • Cedar City, UT
ESPN+W 28–213,257
November 2212:00 p.m.at North Alabama
ESPN+W 36–34 2OT7,632

[1][2]

Game summaries

vs Idaho State

See also: 2025 Idaho State Bengals football team
Idaho State Bengals (0-1) at Southern Utah Thunderbirds (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 14 7324
Thunderbirds 15 10 14746

at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, Utah

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. MDT
  • Game attendance: 5,137
  • Referee: Zachary Erdman
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First Quarter
  • SUU – Gabe Nunez 22-yard pass from Bronson Barron (Bronson Barron–Gabe Nunez pass), 10:32. Thunderbirds 8–0. Drive: 5 plays, 52 yards, 2:26.
  • SUU – Mark Bails 13-yard pass from Bronson Barron (Jayden Rogers kick), 3:06. Thunderbirds 15–0. Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 3:02.
Second Quarter
  • SUU – Joshua Dye 32-yard run (Jayden Rogers kick), 13:19. Thunderbirds 22–0. Drive: 4 plays, 67 yards, 1:27.
  • IDST – Damien Morgan 19-yard pass from Jordan Cooke (Trajan Sinatra kick), 10:35. Thunderbirds 22–7. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:44.
  • IDST – Mason Young 15-yard fumble return (Trajan Sinatra kick), 10:20. Thunderbirds 22–14.
  • SUU – Jayden Rogers 20-yard field goal, 4:45. Thunderbirds 25–14. Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, 5:35.
Third Quarter
  • SUU – Niko Alailefaleula 4-yard pass from Bronson Barron (Jayden Rogers kick), 9:45. Thunderbirds 32–14. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:15.
  • SUU – Will Burns 72-yard run (Jayden Rogers kick), 7:01. Thunderbirds 39–14. Drive: 4 plays, 91 yards, 2:13.
  • IDST – Brett Spencer 1-yard run (Trajan Sinatra kick), 2:59. Thunderbirds 39–21. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:02.
Fourth Quarter
  • IDST – Trajan Sinatra 40-yard field goal, 14:45. Thunderbirds 39–24. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 1:48.
  • SUU – Joshua Dye 19-yard run (Jayden Rogers kick), 4:04. Thunderbirds 46–24. Drive: 11 plays, 98 yards, 6:14.
Statistics IDST SUU
First downs 19 28
Total yards 361 563
Rushing yards 23 323
Passing yards 338 240
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–50–1 19–25–0
Time of possession 22:47 37:13
Team Category Player Statistics
Idaho State Passing Jordan Cooke 23/45, 334 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Tytan Mason 3 rushes, 15 yards
Receiving Michael Shulikov 7 receptions, 115 yards
Southern Utah Passing Bronson Barron 19/25, 240 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Joshua Dye 28 rushes, 180 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Shane Carr 6 receptions, 77 yards

at San Diego

See also: 2025 San Diego Toreros football team
No. 24 Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1-0) at San Diego Toreros (0-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 24 Thunderbirds - - --0
Toreros - - --0

at Torero Stadium • San Diego, CA

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 6:00 PM PDT
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics SUU USD
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving
San Diego Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 18 Northern Arizona (Grand Canyon Rivalry)

See also: 2025 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team and Grand Canyon Trophy Game
No. 18 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (1-1) at Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 18 Lumberjacks - - --0
Thunderbirds - - --0

at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. MDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Spencer McLaughlin (play-by-play), Dallin Richards (analyst) and Kendall McGuire (sideline)
Statistics NAU SUU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Arizona Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 9 UC Davis

See also: 2025 UC Davis Aggies football team
Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1-2) vs. No. 9 UC Davis Aggies (1-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Thunderbirds 7 13 7734
No. 9 Aggies 14 8 21750

at UC Davis Health Stadium • Davis, CA

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 17,217
  • Referee: Jeff Rink
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Scott Marsh (play-by-play) and Scott Gordon (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (10:53) UCD – Zach Jones 11-yard run, Hunter Ridley kick (Drive: 7 plays, 84 yards, 2:36; UC Davis 7–0)
  • (7:39) UCD – Winston Williams 10-yard pass from Caden Pinnick, Hunter Ridley kick (Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 1:25; UC Davis 14–0)
  • (2:02) SUU – Gabe Nunez 28-yard pass from Bronson Barron, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 2 plays, 52 yards, 0:46; UC Davis 14–7)
Second Quarter
  • (7:01) SUU – Braedon Wissler 15-yard pass from Bronson Barron, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 16 plays, 80 yards, 8:02; Tied 14–14)
  • (5:57) UCD – Jordan Fisher 6-yard run, Dylan Mauro rush (Drive: 2 plays, 63 yards, 0:55; UC Davis 22–14)
  • (1:15) SUU – Joshua Dye 8-yard run (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:34; UC Davis 22–20)
Third Quarter
  • (14:48) UCD – Jordan Fisher 75-yard run, Hunter Ridley kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12; UC Davis 29–20)
  • (11:10) SUU – Will Burns 1-yard run, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 7 plays, 66 yards, 3:31; UC Davis 29–27)
  • (7:55) UCD – Mitchell Dixon 8-yard pass from Caden Pinnick, Hunter Ridley kick (Drive: 1 play, 8 yards, 0:08; UC Davis 36–27)
  • (0:55) UCD – Carter Vargas 23-yard run, Hunter Ridley kick (Drive: 8 plays, 83 yards, 3:33; UC Davis 43–27)
Fourth Quarter
  • (9:29) UCD – Carter Vargas 47-yard run, Hunter Ridley kick (Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 3:46; UC Davis 50–27)
  • (1:15) SUU – Braedon Wissler 1-yard run, Jayden Rogers kick (Drive: 14 plays, 93 yards, 3:32; UC Davis 50–34)
Statistics SUU UCD
First downs 28 18
Total yards 549 519
Rushing yards 233 357
Passing yards 316 162
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–43–1 13–21–0
Time of possession 36:59 23:01
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Utah Passing Bronson Barron 23/43, 316 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Joshua Dye 20 carries, 155 yards, TD
Receiving Gabe Nunez 8 receptions, 106 yards, TD
UC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 13/21, 162 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Jordan Fisher 12 carries, 170 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 3 receptions, 45 yards

No. 18 West Georgia

See also: 2025 West Georgia Wolves football team
No. 18 West Georgia Wolves (4-0) vs. Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1-3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 18 Wolves 3 14 7327
Thunderbirds 3 0 14724

at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. MDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Spencer McLaughlin (play-by-play) and Dallin Richards (analyst)
Statistics UWG SUU
First downs 23 18
Total yards 348 295
Rushing yards 206 89
Passing yards 142 206
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–26–0 17–28–1
Time of possession 31:48 28:12
Team Category Player Statistics
West Georgia Passing Davin Wydner 14/26, 142 yards, TD
Rushing Latrelle Murrell 21 carries, 80 yards
Receiving Jordan Dees 5 receptions, 69 yards
Southern Utah Passing Bronson Barron 15/26, 186 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Joshua Dye 16 carries, 56 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Mark Bails 4 receptions, 93 yards, TD

at No. 3 Tarleton State

See also: 2025 Tarleton State Texans football team
Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1-4) vs. No. 3 Tarleton State Texans (5-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Thunderbirds 14 21 7042
No. 3 Texans 14 14 17752

at Memorial Stadium • Stephenville, TX

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Kyle Youmans (play-by-play), Hek'ma Harrison (analyst) and Kendra Sheehan (sideline)
Statistics SUU TAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tarleton State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 13 Abilene Christian

See also: 2025 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team
No. 13 Abilene Christian Wildcats (4-3) vs. Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1-5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 13 Wildcats - - --0
Thunderbirds - - --0

at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT

  • Date: October 18
Statistics ACU SUU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Abilene Christian Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Utah Tech

See also: 2025 Utah Tech Trailblazers football team
Southern Utah Thunderbirds (2-5) vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers (1-5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Thunderbirds - - --0
Trailblazers - - --0

at Greater Zion Stadium • St. George, UT

  • Date: October 25
Statistics SUU UTU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Utah Tech Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 22 Austin Peay

See also: 2025 Austin Peay Governors football team
No. 22 Austin Peay Governors (5-3) vs. Southern Utah Thunderbirds (3-5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 22 Governors - - --0
Thunderbirds - - --0

at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT

  • Date: November 1
Statistics APSU SUU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Austin Peay Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Eastern Kentucky

See also: 2025 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team
Southern Utah Thunderbirds (4-5) vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels (4-5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Thunderbirds - - --0
Colonels - - --0

at Roy Kidd Stadium • Richmond, KY

  • Date: November 8
Statistics SUU EKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Central Arkansas

See also: 2025 Central Arkansas Bears football team
Central Arkansas Bears (0-0) vs. Southern Utah Thunderbirds (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bears - - --0
Thunderbirds - - --0

at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT

  • Date: November 15
Statistics CARK SUU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Central Arkansas Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at North Alabama

See also: 2025 North Alabama Lions football team
Southern Utah Thunderbirds (0-0) vs. North Alabama Lions (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Thunderbirds - - --0
Lions - - --0

at Braly Municipal Stadium • Florence, AL

  • Date: November 22
Statistics SUU UNA
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Utah Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Alabama Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
STATS FCSRV24RV———
CoachesRVRV————

References

  1. ^ Kelley, Kevin (December 23, 2024). "Southern Utah announces 2025 football schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  2. ^ "Southern Utah Football Unveils Action-Packed 2025 Schedule". Southern Utah University, Department of Athletics. December 23, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.