2025 The Citadel Bulldogs football team

2025 The Citadel Bulldogs football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record4–8 (3–5 SoCon)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinators
  • Patrick Covington (3rd season)
  • Lamar Owens (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread option
Defensive coordinatorRaleigh Jackson (3rd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumJohnson Hagood Stadium
2025 Southern Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 7 Mercer $^   8 – 0     9 – 3  
Western Carolina   6 – 2     7 – 5  
East Tennessee State   5 – 3     7 – 5  
Wofford   5 – 3     6 – 6  
Chattanooga   4 – 4     5 – 7  
Furman   4 – 4     6 – 6  
The Citadel   3 – 5     4 – 8  
Samford   1 – 7     1 – 11  
VMI   0 – 8     1 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by third-year head coach Maurice Drayton and played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3012:00 p.m.No. 1 North Dakota State*
ESPN+L 0–3810,695
September 63:30 p.m.at Samford
ESPN+W 40–134,017
September 137:00 p.m.at Gardner–Webb*
ESPN+L 13–234,522
September 202:00 p.m.Mercer
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN+L 0–3811,339
September 276:00 p.m.at Chattanooga
ESPN+W 28–106,725
October 112:00 p.m.Valdosta State*
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN+W 38–148,693
October 182:00 p.m.Western Carolina
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN+L 38−459,151
October 252:00 p.m.at Furman
ESPN+L 14–2410,017
November 12:00 p.m.VMI
ESPN+W 35–2411,127
November 81:00 p.m.at No. 6 (FBS) Ole Miss*
SECN+/ESPN+L 0–4967,326
November 152:00 p.m.Wofford
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN+L 14–1612,909
November 221:00 p.m.at East Tennessee State
ESPN+L 26–289,049
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[1][2]

Game summaries

No. 1 North Dakota State

See also: 2025 North Dakota State Bison football team
No. 1 North Dakota State Bison (0-0) at The Citadel Bulldogs (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Bison 0 17 14738
Bulldogs 0 0 000

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: NE at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 10,691
  • Referee: Jake Grombach
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Pete Yanity (play-by-play), Jay Sonnhalter (analyst) and Dave Friedman (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter
  • (13:36) NDSU – Eli Ozick 31-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 3:55; North Dakota State 3–0)
  • (5:10) NDSU – Barika Kpeenu 2-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 12 plays, 90 yards, 6:22; North Dakota State 10–0)
  • (1:36) NDSU – RaJa Nelson 34-yard pass from Cole Payton, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 7 plays, 84 yards, 1:57; North Dakota State 17–0)
Third Quarter
  • (14:13) NDSU – Barika Kpeenu 1-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 2 plays, 1 yard, 0:34; North Dakota State 24–0)
  • (4:54) NDSU – DJ Scott 1-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 12 plays, 82 yards, 7:14; North Dakota State 31–0)
Fourth Quarter
  • (5:07) NDSU – Isiah St. Romain 15-yard pass from Nathan Hayes, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 12 plays, 95 yards, 7:20; North Dakota State 38–0)
Statistics NDSU CIT
First downs 25 8
Total yards 519 126
Rushing yards 256 104
Passing yards 263 22
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–22–0 2–6–0
Time of possession 36:03 23:57
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota State Passing Cole Payton 11/17, 192 yards, TD
Rushing Cole Payton 11 carries, 101 yards
Receiving RaJa Nelson 2 receptions, 60 yards, TD
The Citadel Passing Quentin Hayes 1/3, 14 yards
Rushing Israel Benjamin 16 carries, 54 yards
Receiving Javonte Graves-Billips 1 reception, 14 yards

at Samford

See also: 2025 Samford Bulldogs football team
The Citadel Bulldogs (0-1) at Samford Bulldogs (0-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
The Citadel 0 10 102040
Samford 0 6 0713

at Pete Hanna Stadium • Homewood, AL

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 2:30 PM CDT
  • Game weather: Cloud • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 4,017
  • Referee: Michael Farmer
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Blake Gardner (play-by-play), Damian Mitchell (analyst) and Christina Chambers (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter
  • (14:46) SAM – Jake Garner 40-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 13 yards, 1:17; Samford 3–0)
  • (8:34) SAM – Jake Garner 20-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 60 yards, 4:25; Samford 6–0)
  • (6:03) CIT – Javonte Graves-Billups 43-yard pass from Cobey Thompkins, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:31; The Citadel 7–6)
  • (0:03) CIT – Ben Barnes 40-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 0:36; The Citadel 10–6)
Third Quarter
  • (11:21) CIT – Ben Barnes 28-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards, 3:17; The Citadel 13–6)
  • (3:03) CIT – Sayre Smothers 31-yard fumble recovery, Ben Barnes kick (The Citadel 20–6)
Fourth Quarter
  • (13:48) CIT – Bradlee Jones 59-yard fumble recovery, Ben Barnes kick (The Citadel 27–6)
  • (11:17) SAM – CJ Evans 5-yard run, Jake Garner kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:31; The Citadel 27–13)
  • (4:34) CIT – Javonte Graves-Billups 13-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, 2-pt conversion failed (Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 1:32; The Citadel 33–13)
  • (1:45) CIT – Quentin Hayes 18-yard run, Jake Garner kick (Drive: 4 plays, 27 yards, 1:32; The Citadel 40–13)
Statistics CIT SAM
First downs 15 26
Total yards 330 452
Rushing yards 162 90
Passing yards 168 362
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–13–0 43–62–3
Time of possession 29:51 30:09
Team Category Player Statistics
The Citadel Passing Cobey Thompkins 9/11, 155 yards, TD
Rushing Cobey Thompkins 13 carries, 76 yards
Receiving Javonte Graves-Billips 6 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD
Samford Passing Quincy Crittendon 40/56, 324 yards, 3 INT
Rushing Quincy Crittendon 14 carries, 35 yards
Receiving Jaden Gibson 10 receptions, 91 yards

at Gardner–Webb

See also: 2025 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team
The Citadel Bulldogs (1-1) at Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (1-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 0 0 7613
Runnin' Bulldogs 10 7 3323

at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 4,522
  • Referee: John Kellermeier
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Ford Martin (play-by-play) and Bryson Byrnes (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (7:14) GWU – Charles Viorel 26-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 42 yards, 5:34; Gardner–Webb 3–0)
  • (0:47) GWU – Caleb Borders 11-yard pass from Nate Hampton, Charles Viorel kick (Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:08; Gardner–Webb 10–0)
Second Quarter
  • (6:15) GWU – Chris Lofton 67-yard pass from Nate Hampton, Charles Viorel kick (Drive: 2 plays, 69 yards, 0:43; Gardner–Webb 17–0)
Third Quarter
  • (11:02) GWU – Charles Viorel 33-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, -1 yards, 0:39; Gardner–Webb 20–0)
  • (1:39) CIT – Sebastien Boyle 2-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 4:00; Gardner–Webb 20–7)
Fourth Quarter
  • (10:57) GWU – Charles Viorel 27-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 5:35; Gardner–Webb 23–7)
  • (0:02) CIT – Braylon Knauth 1-yard pass from Cobey Thompkins (Drive: 8 plays, 99 yards, 1:31; Gardner–Webb 23–13)
Statistics CIT GWEB
First downs 14 16
Total yards 307 334
Rushing yards 210 118
Passing yards 97 216
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–11–0 15–25–0
Time of possession 30:50 28:23
Team Category Player Statistics
The Citadel Passing Cobey Thompkins 6/10, 97 yards, TD
Rushing Garrison Johnson Sr. 13 carries, 73 yards
Receiving Braylon Knauth 3 receptions, 44 yards, TD
Gardner–Webb Passing Nate Hampton 13/22, 206 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Quasean Holmes 17 carries, 90 yards
Receiving Chris Lofton 3 receptions, 90 yards, TD

Mercer

See also: 2025 Mercer Bears football team
Mercer Bears (1-1) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (1-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bears 10 7 71438
Bulldogs 0 0 000

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 11,339
  • Referee: Bruce Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
Statistics MER CIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Mercer Passing
Rushing
Receiving
The Citadel Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Chattanooga

See also: 2025 Chattanooga Mocs football team
The Citadel Bulldogs (1-3) vs. Chattanooga Mocs (1-3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 7 14 7028
Mocs 7 3 0010

at Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 6:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: N at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 6,725
  • Referee: Michael Farmer
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Chris Goforth (play-by-play), Chris Barnett (analyst) and Mackenzie Johnson (sideline)
Statistics CIT UTC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
The Citadel Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Chattanooga Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Valdosta State (DII)

See also: Valdosta State Blazers football
Valdosta State Blazers (DII) (2-2) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (2-3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Blazers (DII) 0 7 0714
Bulldogs 14 10 7738

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Rain
  • Game attendance: 8,693
  • Referee: Jeff Page
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
Statistics VAL CIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Valdosta State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
The Citadel Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Western Carolina

See also: 2025 Western Carolina Catamounts football team
Western Carolina Catamounts (4-3) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (3-3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Catamounts 7 17 14745
Bulldogs 14 3 71438

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 9,151
  • Referee: Bruce Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (11:23) CIT – Braylon Knauth 61-yard pass from Cobey Thompkins, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 1 play, 61 yards, 0:13; The Citadel 7–0)
  • (9:07) WCU – Malik Knight 14-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:10; Tied 7–7)
  • (0:53) CIT – Quentin Hayes 5-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 4:27; The Citadel 14–7)
Second Quarter
  • (10:41) WCU – Josiah Thomas 5-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:03; Tied 14–14)
  • (5:17) CIT – Ben Barnes 42-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, -4 yards, 2:01; The Citadel 17–14)
  • (1:56) WCU – Markel Townsend 7-yard run, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:21; Western Carolina 21–17)
  • (0:00) WCU – Marcus Trout 25-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 1:05; Western Carolina 24–17)
Third Quarter
  • (11:35) WCU – James Tyre 9-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:19; Western Carolina 31–17)
  • (5:31) CIT – Beau Herrington 12-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:02; Western Carolina 31–24)
  • (2:48) WCU – Malik Knight 37-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 6 plays, 51 yards, 2:36; Western Carolina 38–24)
Fourth Quarter
  • (12:21) CIT – Quentin Hayes 8-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:27; Western Carolina 38–31)
  • (3:01) WCU – Dominic Dutton 18-yard pass from Taron Dickens, Marcus Trout kick (Drive: 10 plays, 87 yards, 4:57; Western Carolina 45–31)
  • (1:36) CIT – Cobey Thompkins 20-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:25; Western Carolina 45–38)
Statistics WCU CIT
First downs 29 15
Total yards 515 410
Rushing yards 146 278
Passing yards 369 132
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–33–1 5–9–0
Time of possession 29:44 30:16
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Carolina Passing Taron Dickens 28/33, 369 yards, 5 TD, INT
Rushing Markel Townsend 15 carries, 90 yards, TD
Receiving James Tyre 7 receptions, 112 yards, TD
The Citadel Passing Cobey Thompkins 3/5, 111 yards, TD
Rushing Quentin Hayes 15 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Braylon Knauth 2 receptions, 69 yards, TD

at Furman (rivalry)

See also: 2025 Furman Paladins football team and The Citadel–Furman football rivalry
The Citadel Bulldogs (3-4) vs. Furman Paladins (4-3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 0 0 14014
Paladins 6 3 8724

at Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: E at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 10,018
  • Referee: Jake Grombach
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dan Scott (play-by-play), David Cobb (analyst) and Tom Van Hoy (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (11:43) FUR – Ian Williams 45-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 3:17; Furman 3–0)
  • (3:56) FUR – Ian Williams 36-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 60 yards, 5:37; Furman 6–0)
Second Quarter
  • (1:06) FUR – Ian Williams 21-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:48; Furman 9–0)
Third Quarter
  • (13:05) CIT – Jihad Marks 46-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:55; Furman 9–7)
  • (9:43) CIT – Jihad Marks 46-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 1:15; Citadel 14–9)
  • (3:30) FUR – Jayquan Smith 2-yard run, Jayquan Smith rush (Drive: 4 plays, 40 yards, 1:58; Furman 17–14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (3:21) FUR – Jayquan Smith 7-yard run, Ian Williams kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:39; Furman 24–14)
Statistics CIT FUR
First downs 15 17
Total yards 337 351
Rushing yards 133 140
Passing yards 204 211
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–18–0 16–22–0
Time of possession 28:09 31:51
Team Category Player Statistics
The Citadel Passing Quentin Hayes 11/15, 194 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Quentin Hayes 13 carries, 39 yards
Receiving Jihad Marks 3 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD
Furman Passing Trey Hedden 16/22, 211 yards
Rushing Ben Croasdale 19 carries, 91 yards
Receiving Evan James 8 receptions, 126 yards

VMI (Military Classic of the South)

See also: 2025 VMI Keydets football team and Military Classic of the South
VMI Keydets (1-7) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (3-5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Keydets 7 7 7324
Bulldogs 0 0 72835

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 11,127
  • Referee: Jeff Page
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (0:55) VMI – Nana Utsey 1-yard run, Jack Joyce kick (Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 4:44; VMI 7–0)
Second Quarter
  • (0:10) VMI – Malik McNeely 9-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Jack Joyce kick (Drive: 15 plays, 98 yards, 6:16; VMI 14–0)
Third Quarter
  • (11:14) VMI – Noah Grevious 59-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Jack Joyce kick (Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:51; VMI 21–0)
  • (6:50) CIT – Jihad Marks 19-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:24; VMI 21–7)
Fourth Quarter
  • (14:58) VMI – Ben Shrewsbury 26-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 88 yards, 4:20; VMI 24–7)
  • (12:28) CIT – Quentin Hayes 6-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards, 2:27; VMI 24–14)
  • (10:36) CIT – Jihad Marks 72-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 2 plays, 88 yards, 0:26; VMI 24–21)
  • (4:33) CIT – Garrison Johnson Sr. 11-yard run, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 3:28; The Citadel 28–24)
  • (0:12) CIT – Jihad Marks 33-yard pass from Quentin Hayes, Ben Barnes kick (Drive: 4 plays, 42 yards, 1:00; The Citadel 35–24)
Statistics VMI CIT
First downs 19 24
Total yards 463 511
Rushing yards 202 329
Passing yards 261 182
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–29–0 7–10–0
Time of possession 30:34 29:26
Team Category Player Statistics
VMI Passing Collin Shannon 21/29, 261 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Leo Boehling 14 carries, 149 yards
Receiving Noah Grevious 11 receptions, 138 yards, TD
The Citadel Passing Quentin Hayes 5/7, 175 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Cobey Thompkins 11 carries, 101 yards
Receiving Jihad Marks 4 receptions, 168 yards, 3 TD

at No. 6 (FBS) Ole Miss

See also: 2025 Ole Miss Rebels football team
The Citadel Bulldogs (4-5) vs. No. 6 (FBS) Ole Miss Rebels (8-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 0 0 000
No. 6 (FBS) Rebels 21 14 7749

at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS

Statistics CIT MISS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
The Citadel Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Ole Miss Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Wofford (rivalry)

See also: 2025 Wofford Terriers football team and The Citadel–Wofford football rivalry
Wofford Terriers (0-0) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Terriers - - --0
Bulldogs - - --0

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EST
Statistics WOF CIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Wofford Passing
Rushing
Receiving
The Citadel Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at East Tennessee State

See also: 2025 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team
The Citadel Bulldogs (0-0) vs. East Tennessee State Buccaneers (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs - - --0
Buccaneers - - --0

at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium • Johnson City, TN

  • Date: November 22
Statistics CIT ETSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
The Citadel Passing
Rushing
Receiving
East Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. ^ "2025 The Citadel Football Schedule". citadelsports.com. The Citadel Athletics. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  2. ^ "2025 The Citadel Football Schedule". fbschedules.com. FBSchedules. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
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