Football 9/4/2025 1:40:00 PM

EKU to face Houston Christian in Home Opener

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University will welcome Houston Christian to CG Bank Field at Roy Kidd Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 6) for the Colonels’ 2025 home opener.

The game is slated to begin at 6 p.m. ET, with the game theme being a maroon out for EKU fans presented by Coca-Cola.

The Colonels return to the friendly confines of RKS after a 51-17 loss on the road to Louisville to open the 2025 season.

On the other side of things, the Huskies come to Richmond following a 69-0 win at home against Arkansas Baptist (NAIA) in week one.

After going undefeated at home last season for the first time since 2014, EKU will be fighting to extend a seven-game home winning streak dating back to the final game of the 2023 season, a 36-24 win over Stephen F. Austin.

The two programs have met just once before in 2020, with HCU taking the win, 33-30.

Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ with the voice of the Colonels, Greg Stotelmyer, providing play-by-play with Jim Tirey as the analyst.
The audio stream on the EKU Sports Network, presented by Kentucky 811 will feature Wes Chandler on play-by-play duties and Eternal Colonel Patrick Nations with analysis.
Fans should tune in by following the “Listen Live” button at the top of the EKUSports.com home page or on the EKU Sports App presented by Kentucky Air National Guard. The audio broadcast will start a 5 p.m. with a pregame show leading up to kickoff.
For Saturday’s home opener against Houston Christian fans are encouraged to wear maroon for a Maroon Out. Additionally, EKU will be giving out free maroon t-shirts sponsored by Coca-Cola to the first 1,000 fans.
The day is highlighted by a day full of activities prior to and during the football game.
The game day experience begins Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. when all parking and tailgate lots open for the general public. The Colonel Courtyard will be a highlighted experience of the tailgate atmosphere. New this season, the Colonel Courtyard space will extend into the Alumni Coliseum parking lot creating a more open experience for all those attending the game and tailgate. This space opens at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and will feature music, band and spirit squad performances at Earle Combs Stadium, food trucks, inflatables, sponsors, and more.
Students planning to attend the game and tailgate can expect a variety of experiences to enhance their day. Pizza will be given out to students at the student tailgate area beginning at 3:00 p.m. while supplies last.
Tomorrow's game will feature the College of Health Sciences and the Graduate School as the Colleges of the Game. They will be featured in the Colonel Courtyard and tailgate space surrounding, as well as in-game announcements.
While you are inside Roy Kidd Stadium, don't forget to enjoy the variety of concessions offered by EKU Dining Services and Aramark. This weekend's featured item of the game is Brisket Mac and Cheese! The mac and cheese special is served with a creamy mac and cheese topped with our chef’s smoked barbecue brisket on top. This item is served fresh at all of our concession locations throughout the stadium.
EKU Athletics will also continue to host a family zone located above the hill behind the cannon with inflatables and yard games for kids and families inside the stadium, while providing access to view the game.
Please note that the stadium light show will be played after EKU scores, between quarters, and other crucial moments during the game. A graphic will be shown on the video board before the light show begins and light show announcements will be read over the public address system throughout the game.
Tickets are available 24 hours a day at EKUSports.com. Game day tickets can be purchased online, through QR codes outside the venue, or via two sales booths at the front of Roy Kidd Stadium opening 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
Gates will open 90 minutes prior to kickoff each week. Upon gate arrival, fans will incur security measures through metal detection and bag checks. As in previous seasons, EKU will be enforcing a clear bag policy. To help your progress into the stadium in a timely manner, we ask you arrive slightly earlier, travel light with only essential, non-prohibited items, and cooperate with security staffing when entering.
All EKU students receive FREE admission to EKU Athletics sporting events. Student seating is located in sections L, M, and N and will always enter through Gate 1. Students will need to have their valid EKU ID to enter.
Parking is complimentary for all EKU regular season home games for the 2025 season. Select areas require a pass that comes as benefit of being a football season ticket holder or Colonel Club member. For those wanting to enter the Alumni Coliseum parking lot, be aware that the main entrance to this lot may close down closer to game time and the alternate route into the parking lot through Model Laboratory School should be used. EKU provides FREE general parking for the following campus lots: Alumni Coliseum West, Brockton, Commonwealth, Dizney, Hanlon, Van Hoose, Parking Garage, ADA Lot.
ADA accessible seating is available inside the stadium located in sections J, N, & R of the east side of the venue. Stadium entry points for ADA seating are Gate 5 (Moberly Gate) or Gate 6. ADA accessible parking is available in the Moberly/OSTC Lot beyond the north side of the stadium. Courtesy cart service will also be available to limited mobility fans. Normal pickup locations for this service are located near the main walkway off of the E/K Lot moving towards the stadium just beside the Colonel Courtyard. These carts are for limited mobility fans and select companions only.
A full, detailed game day information page can be found here.

THE COLONELS

EKU will look for more of the same out of defensive back Vito Tisdale Jr. as in last week’s game, the Bowling Green, Ky. native became the first Colonel since Joseph Sayles in 2019 to have two interceptions in the same game, and the first to have a pick-six since Sayles in 2022.

Fellow defensive back and preseason All-American, Jaheim Ward, led EKU in tackles against the Cardinals with eight total, including one tackle for loss. Ward also provided a pivotal pass breakup that led to Tisdale’s second interception.

On offense, the Colonels will look to bounce back after being held to 150 yards of total offense against Louisville, but they were able to find a bright spot in sophomore running back Brady Hensley, scoring his first collegiate touchdown last Saturday.

In the kicking game, newcomer Buzz Flabiano nailed his first-ever field goal as a Colonel with a 38-yard conversion, while punter Jacob Baker averaged 42.6 yards per punt with two going for over 50 yards and another two downed inside the 20.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

HCU made easy work of NAIA foe Arkansas Baptist in week one, rushing for 405 yards on the ground with a total of 534 yards of offense.

Leading the way offensively was running back Xai’Shaun Edwards, who rushed for four touchdowns and 175 yards on 17 total carries, averaging 10.3 yards per rush.

The Huskies' defense was stout throughout, limiting Ark. Baptist to just two first downs throughout the entire game.

HCU is led by head coach Jeff Bachtel, who is in his second season in charge with a record of 6-7 at HCU. Before joining the Huskies, Bachtel spent two seasons as the coach of Division III Howard Payne, his alma mater, going 7-3 in both seasons.