RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team begins the 2025 season this Saturday (Aug. 30) at Louisville on the ACC Network with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. ET.
 
EKU enters the season coming off a 2024 campaign that saw the Colonels return to the FCS Playoffs with two wins over ranked opponents in No. 7 Tarleton State and No.16 Central Arkansas.
 
The Colonels will have a new man under center in transfer Myles Burkett, who earned the starting job after throwing 1,845 yards and 10 touchdowns, going 145-of-265 through the air, averaging 205 passing yards per game in nine appearances at Albany (Ny.) last season.
 
Saturday will be the first meeting between EKU and U of L since 2021, with the Cardinals winning the previous meetings, holding a 20-8-1 advantage over the Colonels all-time.
 
The last Colonels' victory in the series came in 1985 as EKU earned a 45-21 win on the road in the Derby City.
 
HOW TO WATCH & LISTEN
 
Fans can tune into the ACC Network for the TV broadcast of the game with Jorge Sedano, Rodney McLeod, and Victoria Arlen on the call.
 
Those looking to listen to the game can listen to the EKU Sports Network broadcast with Greg Stotelmyer, Jim Tirey, and Wes Chandler on the call at Colonels All Access on EKUSports.com by following the "Listen Live" button at the top of the home page or on the EKU Sports App presented by KY Air National Guard.
 
The EKU Sports Network broadcast will begin at 2 p.m. with a new hour-long pregame show leading up to kick off to get Colonel fans ready for the action.
 
THE COLONELS
 
EKU's team will feature many new faces alongside quarterback and captain Myles Burkett this season as the Colonels look to return to the playoffs for the third time in four seasons under coach Wells.
 
Two key returners on offense will be running back Brayden Latham, a unanimous All-UAC selection in the preseason alongside freshman All-American wide out Marcus Calwise Jr.
 
In 2024, Calwise led the Colonels in receiving statistics in 2024 with 42 receptions for 526 yards and five touchdowns in each of the Colonels' last four games.
 
Latham returns as a junior in a much larger role after playing behind Joshua Carter a season ago.
 
Last season, the Knoxville, Tenn. native played in all 13 games, rushing for 622 yards on 141 attempts, scoring three touchdowns.
 
Getting better and better as the season went on, Latham had a career-high 103 rushing yards and one touchdown against North Alabama in the regular season finale win that secured EKU a spot in the playoffs.
 
On defense, the Colonels are led by preseason All-American defensive back Jaheim Ward, corner Vito Tisdale Jr., linebacker Braden Sullivan, and defensive lineman Jeremiah Bailey, who all return from last season's team.
 
The maroon doom defense made impressive strides in 2024, and will look to do more of the same this season as they held opponents to only 23.7 points per game, the best of any team in the UAC.
 
The impressive mark was a 10-point improvement from 2023, and the fewest points allowed per game since 2019.
 
Special teams will feature FCS Punter of the Year watchlist member Jacob Baker after a stellar season in 2024, as he led the UAC in all major punting statistics with a new transfer kicker in Buzz Flabiano from UTEP.
 
In the return game, the Colonels will look to all-conference selection Jalen Montgomery, who led the UAC in return average on both kickoffs and punts.
 
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
 
2025 will be the third season for head coach Jeff Brohm with the Cardinals, with a 19-8 record over his first two seasons in the Derby City, including an ACC title game appearance in 2023 and a Sun Bowl win last season.
 
The offense will be spearheaded by running back Isaac Brown, who had a standout season as a freshman in 2024, rushing for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns, setting the program record for most rushing yards by a true freshman.
 
Brown is joined by standout Chris Bell at wide receiver, who caught 43 passes for 737 yards and four touchdowns a season ago, with two games of 100 yards or more in receiving.
 
 On defense, Louisville's veteran linebacker group will look to impress with TJ Quinn and Stanquan Clark returning as the two top tacklers from 2024, with both having 13 tackle games last season.
 
They will team up with defensive lineman Clev Lubin, a transfer from Coastal Carolina who recorded 9.5 sacks last season with the Chanticleers.