KICKOFF COVERAGE

SERIES HISTORY

FAN INFORMATION

• Gates to Royal Stadium will open at 4:30 p.m.
• The West Lot will have a pedestrian walkway for fans leading up to the stadium.
• Northwestern fans are encouraged to park in the Soho Lot
• Campus Map

ROYAL NOTES

• The Royals are coming an 11-3 season which saw them advance to their fourth straight NCAA Playoff appearance, 13th overall, and advanced to the national quarterfinals.
• Dating back to the 1992 season, the Royals are 24-8 in season-opening games. This is the fourth time in program history that the Royals open up with Northwestern after doing so in 1990, 1991, and 2024.
• Bethel's defense will have a lot of new names in 2025. Returning starters include Taylor Glynn, Devin Williams, and Trevor Jones and the defense will be replacing over 40 combined sacks and 15 interceptions.
• Offensively, the Royals return five starters from a unit that averaged over 50 points per game in the regular season. Junior quarterback Cooper Drews returns after throwing for a school record 43 touchdown passes and a 74% completion percentage in 2024. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• 6: Bethel hosts Northwestern for the fourth time as the Eagles travel just six miles to the Bethel campus.
• 8: The Royals have eight starters returning from last season with the remaining sports being filled by players who saw significant action last season.
• 9: The MIAC changed it's conference scheduling format and for the first time since before Covid, all teams will play everyone once.
• 24: The Royals' defense were "ball hawks" with 24 interceptions last year. In addition, Bethel added 66 sacks.

A HISTORIC TRADITION

• Bethel football is playing in its 77th season, as the program began in 1947 under the direction of head coach Arch Skalbeck. The Royals have amassed a 379-340-7 record since the program's inception, which includes a 235-82 mark since 1994. BU has won six MIAC championships, appeared in 13 NCAA Playoffs and won two NCAA region titles