University of Maine
Towson University
PREVIEW: Football opens up 2026 season at Towson on Thursday night
8/25/2026 6:00:00 PM | Football
First Week 0 game for the Black Bears under Coach Stevens
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine football program is set to begin the 2026 season on Thursday night as they travel to Towson for a CAA matchup.
Broadcast Details:
Saturday's game will be live streamed on FloCollege and on the FloSports Channel on Prime Video. 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.
| Maine (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Towson (0-0, 0-0 CAA) |
| Date & Time | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Venue |
Johnny Unitas Stadium (11,198) - Towson, MD |
| Watch | Web Stream: FloCollege |
| Listen | 92.9 FM The Ticket (Bangor) // 100.5 FM (Portland) // 1310 AM (Portland) | GoBlackBears.com |
| Live Stats | GoBlackBears.com |
| Game Notes | Maine |
| X | @BlackBearsFB |
CAA Action Out of the Gate-- The Black Bears will open up the 2026 season with a CAA matchup for the first time under Head Coach Jordan Stevens and for the first time overall since the 2021 season when they hosted Delaware. The trip to Towson is the first time since the 2018 season, where the Black Bears came away with the victory, 35-28.
Under Coach Stevens, the Black Bears have a 8-8 record in the CAA over the past two seasons.
2025 Recap -- The Black Bears had their best season under Coach Stevens in 2025, boasting a 6-6 record and a winning record in the CAA at 5-3. The Black Bears began the season with tough losses at Liberty, where they led or were tied until the fourth quarter, a one-point defeat at William & Mary, and a 13-10 loss against Stonehill on a late, hail-mary touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Black Bears responded to the 0-4 start with the longest program winning streak since 2018, nabbing each of the next six games, three of which were won by 20 or more points.
The Black Bears fell against a pair of nationally ranked opponents to end out the season in #9/#11 Rhode Island and #25 New Hampshire.
Maine was the top defense in the league last season, allowing just 325.1 yards per game.
BUEHLER UNDER CENTER
For the first time in two seasons, the Black Bears will be rolling out a new signal caller to open up the season in Week 0 as Eddie Buehler earned the job coming out of camp.
Buehler is a Redshirt Sophomore out of North Kingstown, R.I., who has been with the Black Bears for the past three seasons.
O-LINE IS BACK
The Black Bears return four of their starting five offensive linemen from a season ago as All-CAA Lineman and Preseason All-American, Anthony Iliano, leads the crew of Andrew Kocan, Jack Boutaugh and Noah Stanley back for their second-straight season as the frontline of the offense.
Last season, the crew allowed only 18 sacks (1.5 per game) on the season, which featured a stretch of nearly four complete games without allowing a single sack.
MARSHALL TOPS THE CHART
Coming off of a Freshman All-American season in his first taste of college football, Rashawn Marshall leads the Black Bears running back core out on Week 0.
Marshall had 831 all-purpose yards, which was broken down into 684 rushing yards (5.3 YPC) and 147 receiving yards.
He had five touchdowns on the season, four of them being rushing scores while one was a receiving touchdown.
TOP DEFENSE
Last season, the Black Bears were the best defense in the CAA in terms of fewest yards allowed per game at 325.1.
The Black Bears also allowed the fourth-fewest points per game at 24.1, which ranked 35th in the FCS. Maine allowed just 37 touchdowns on the season.
Maine had 29 sacks and forced 11 fumbles on the year.
CLOSE CALL
Since 2013, Maine is 30-22 in games decided by seven points or less.
Maine was 3-3 in one possession games in 2025.
A MAINE WOULD WIN...
The first conference opening win for the Black Bears under Coach Stevens.
The first opening week win for the Black Bears since the 2019 season.
The first Week 0 win for Coach Stevens as Head Coach of the Black Bears.
| Maine (CAA) | Category | Towson (CAA) |
| 24.2 (10) | Points | 26.8 (7) |
| 355.1 (7) | Total Offense | 371.2 (5) |
| 163.8 (4) | Rushing Yards | 105.8 (12) |
| 191.3 (11) | Passing Yards | 234.4 (4) |
| 19/17 | Rushing TDs/Passing TDs | 13/23 |
| 30:27 (4) | Offensive Time of Possession | 26:39 (14) |
| 24.3 (4) | Points Allowed | 25.1 (6) |
| 325.1 (1) | Total Defense | 379.8 (9) |
| 132.8 (4) | Rushing Yards Allowed | 171.5 (11) |
| 192.3 (5) | Passing Yards Allowed | 208.3 (7) |
| 19/17 | Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed | 28/9 |
| 34.7 (12) | 3rd-Down Conversions | 40.0 (4) |
| 43.1 (8) | 3rd-Down Conversion Defense | 44.6 (11) |
| +2 (6) | Turnover Margin | 0 (8) |
-UMaine-
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