ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine football team travels to Statesboro to take on Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Broadcast Details:
Saturday's game will be live streamed on ESPN+. The game can be heard locally in Bangor on 92.9 FM The Ticket, in the Portland markets on 100.5 FM and 1310 AM, and nationwide at GoBlackBears.com and on the TuneIn app.

FCS vs FBS -- This game marks the second FBS opponent of the 2025 season for the Black Bears, having lost to Liberty in the season opener, 28-7.

Maine out gained the Flames into the fourth quarter before three late scores skewed the numbers in favor of Liberty.

Last Time Out -- Maine suffered a loss in their home opener against Stonehill on Saturday, Sept. 6, 13-10.

Mo Irefin picked up his first touchdown of the season while Sincere Baines rushed for 106 yards, his second 100+ rushing performance of the season. He had a game-high 54 yard run to help set up the Irefin touchdown.

Top Defense -- The Black Bears head to Statesboro allowing the fewest yards per game in the CAA at 280.0.

Maine ranks third in rushing yards allowed, fourth in passing yards allowed and they allow the fourth fewest points per game.

Georgia Southern Southern Preview -- The Eagles are coming off of their first win of the season, a 41-34 victory over Jacksonville State.

Georgia Southern put up 410 yards of offense while also returning a kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown to grab the victory.

THOMAS CONTINUES HIS IMPACT

Christian Thomas has emerged as not only one of the best defensive players in the CAA, but the entire FCS as he is ranked 7th with 33 tackles, 10th with 5.5 tackles for loss and 15th with 17 solo tackles.

In the CAA, he leads the conference in tackles for loss, is second in total tackles and is fourth in solo tackles.

Against Stonehill last time out, he registered a sack, 2.5 tackles or loss and 5 tackles.

FRONT LINE SHERMAN

Elias Sherman, a transfer out of Central Missouri, recently had his best game of the season as he registered a team season-high 2.5 tackles for loss and his first sack of the season by the Black Bears defense in their matchup against William & Mary.

His 4.5 tackles for loss on the season are the 20th-most in all of the FCS and the fourth-most in the CAA.

BAINES KEEPS BREAKING FREE

Sincere Baines is making the most of the RB1 spot on the depth chart as over the first three games of the season he has averaged 103.7 yards per game, the ninth-highest mark in the FCS and second-best in the FCS. On opening weekend at Liberty, he took a 77-yard run to the end zone on just his second carry of the season.

He heads into week four as the second-leading rusher in all of the CAA with 311 yards, the 10th-highest mark in the FCS.

He leads the CAA in yards per carry as he is averaging nearly 7.8 yards per attempt, the fourth-best mark in the FCS.

TOP OF THE DEPTH CHART

Scott Woods and Mo Irefin are the clear #1 and #2 wide receivers on the Black Bears as they each eclipsed 100 yards for the season last time out.

Woods leads Maine with 16 catches and 109 yards, trailed by Irefin's 9 receptions for 100 yards.

Woods joins Baines as the only two Black Bears to register a receiving touchdown on the season.

O-LINE PRESENCE

Maine will be leaning on a veteran group of their offensive line once again as the combination of Kocan (LT), Iliano (LG), Cruji (C), Boutaugh (RG) and Williams (RT) saw every snap on offense against Liberty and four of the five saw every snap in week two against William & Mary and week three against Stonehill.

The group has only allowed 7 sacks on the season, highlighted by only allowing 1 sack on week two at CAA opponent, William & Mary.

SECONDARY STRENGTH

The Black Bear secondary has recorded 12 pass breakups through the first three weeks, with 8 breakups coming in just the last game against Stonehill.

Led by a pair of All-CAA Preseason Honorable Mentions in Jamaree Gibson (CB) and Devin Vaught (FS), the Black Bears broke up 31 passes a season ago and generated 10 interceptions, three of which came from Vaught. Vaught was a big performer on week one as he set a new career-high with 8 solo tackles and is coming off of a game against Stonehill in which he broke up a pair of passes.

Gibson led all Black Bears with nine pass breakups in 2024.

Jake Kucera started at strong safety after having a strong camp, he appeared in only three games last season for the Black Bears but has seen the bulk of the snaps at safety this season.

PRESEASON HONORS

The Black Bears had five members listed on the All-CAA Preseason list.

Trevin Ewing was named to the All-CAA Preseason Team as a kick returner while Carter Peevy,        Jamaree Gibson, Devin Vaught and Christian Thomas all were named to the Honorable Mentions list.

CLOSE CALL

Since 2013, Maine is 27-21 in games decided by seven points or less.

Maine is 0-2 in one possession games in 2025. 

In 2023, Maine was on the losing end of all three of its games which were decided by 7 points or fewer and they were 1-1 on such games in 2024.

A MAINE WIN WOULD...

... The first win of the season for the Black Bears.

... The first FBS win for Maine since the 2021 season.

... The first road win for Maine since Sept. 28, 2024 at #21 UAlbany.