ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team will begin its 2025 season this Saturday, September 6 at Bertino Field at Butterfield against No. 3 Johns Hopkins. This is the third straight season in which the Bombers have opened up against Hopkins, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.

IC is coming off a 6-4 season and a second place finish in the Liberty League. The Bombers played a grueling schedule last fall with all four losses (Johns Hopkins, Endicott, Hobart and Cortland) coming to teams who qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship.

This year's team is a younger squad but filled with experience from the sophomore class a season ago. IC heads into the year with just 12 seniors and fifth years, while the junior and sophomore classes account for 57 players.

"Although we are young, the experience we returned is deep," said head coach Michael Toerper, who is now in his fourth season. "We also welcome back key players from past seasons who are coming off injuries and that is huge for us."

The coaching staff hit the recruiting trail hard this offseason to bring more than 50 players, freshmen and transfers, from across the country.

"We cast a wide net in our recruiting efforts, looking for the best and brightest student-athletes, who aren't just from the Northeast," stated Toerper.

Only one of the starting 11 positions on this year's offense is a senior. IC's defense is a bit older with four starting seniors or fifth years, while six starters are juniors and the 11th is a sophomore. There is not a returning punter or kicker on this year's roster who saw action in 2024.

IC's key offensive returners are Matthew Parker, Nicholas Lang, Nicholas Matos, Jimmy Mullevey, Devin Parry and Luke Ellor. On defense, Joe Spirra, Sam Tourangeau, Jon Ramsey, Carson Ciancuielli, Aidan Parry, Andrew Swierbut and Ryan Burns were all starters a season ago.

Ciancuielli was selected as a Third Team Preseason All-American by D3football.com, which was released in mid-August. Ciancuielli is coming off a 2024 season in which he was named First Team All-Liberty League after he logged 24 total tackles with 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss. He also blocked a kick, forced a fumble and notched a pass breakup from his interior line position.

Ciancuielli, along with Mullevey, Lang, Parker and Spirra were all Liberty League selections in 2024.

A few players to look out for this season and spent most of their first year on the JV team are Tian Murray and Chris Scully, who will be looked upon to make an immediate impact. Juniors the likes of Michael Reed, Henry Takacs, Marcus Boyle, Andrew Mellis, Cam Paquette and Jake Green will all see significant playing time this season.

IC will, however, need to fill the holes of significant losses due to graduation. On offense, Jalen Leonard-Osbourne and Jake Williams are no longer on the team, along with two offensive linemen. Defensively, seven starters have departed, most significantly, All-American Jake Connolly, who led the team with 86 tackles. On special teams, Derek Baldin graduated, and he took every field goal, PAT and kickoff each of the past two seasons.

Preseason camp has set the program up to fill those holes as everyone on the roster gained invaluable experience during IC's practices and scrimmages.

"We have a firm understanding of our strengths and what we need to work on following our camp," Toerper said. "It was extremely competitive, and I was most impressed with how our veterans welcomed all the new players. They have helped build a very cohesive program."

This year's schedule is similar to last season, with a few adjustments. The Liberty League added a new affiliate member this season, in Hilbert College, and the league inked an agreement with the Empire 8 to fill non-conference games. Following the opener against Hopkins, IC will head to Alfred and Hilbert on the 13th and 20th. IC returns home to host defending Liberty League champion Hobart on the 27th, and head back on the road for league games at Rochester and St. Lawrence on October 4 and 11. Union and Buffalo State come to South Hill on October 25 and November 1, while RPI hosts IC on November 8. The regular season concludes at home against No. 10 Cortland for the 66th Cortaca Jug on November 15.

"I'm looking forward to the everyday journey with our players and coaches this season," expressed Toerper. "Through the good days and learning opportunities, we will attack everything with enthusiasm and I'm so proud of the unwavering commitment from this team."