University of Maine
Merrimack College
Preview: Black Bears host Merrimack in home opener for Football
9/11/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
Tailgating opens at 1 PM for the 5 PM kickoff
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine football program plays host to Merrimack on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 5 PM.
Broadcast Details:
Saturday's game will be live streamed on FloCollege. The game can be heard locally in Bangor on 95.7 FM, in the Portland markets on 100.5 FM and 1310 AM, and nationwide at GoBlackBears.com and on the TuneIn app.
Promotions:
There will be a pregame parade coming down Munson Rd. and onto Long Rd. as part of the Town of Orono Festival. The Hannaford Kids Zone will be located in front of Alfond Arena. The Black Bears are partnering with Bangor Savings Bank for their annual Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive, with a donation box located outside the main entrance to Alfond Stadium. There will also be a drone show by Grizzly Entertainment Drone Light Shows that is set to begin 15 minutes after the conclusion of the game.
For tickets to Saturday's football game, visit GoBlackBears.com/Tickets or call 207-581-BEAR.
| Maine (1-1, 1-0 CAA) vs Merrimack (0-2) |
| Date & Time | Saturday, Sep. 12 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Venue |
Morse Field at Alfond Stadium (7,541) - Orono, Maine |
| Watch | Web Stream: FloCollege |
| Listen | 95.7 FM (Bangor) // 100.5 FM (Portland) // 1310 AM (Portland) | GoBlackBears.com |
| Live Stats | GoBlackBears.com |
| Game Notes | Maine |
| X | @BlackBearsFB |
Back in Orono -- After starting the season with two-straight road games, the Black Bears are returning to Orono for the first time in 2026 to host Merrimack on Saturday evening.
Over the past two seasons, the Black Bears have held a winning record at Alfond Stadium, going 3-2 each year.
1-1 out of the gate -- The Black Bears started off the 2026 season with a victory as they took down Towson in the CAA opener, 21-18, before falling to App State, 55-3.
In their victory over Towson, Maine opened up the scoring in the second quarter as Eddie Buehler connected with Malik McNeely on a play up the middle of the field for a 16-yard touchdown. Six minutes later, Rashawn Marshall capped off a 90-yard drive by the Black Bears with a 32-yard touchdown run that he broke free on out the left sideline.
Maine capped off their scoring in the second quarter as Buehler connected with Nick Laughlin for a 30-yard touchdown up the middle of the field.
The Black Bears never trailed on the night as they scored the first 21 points on the night unanswered and the defense forced two takeaways in the second half, an interception by Brayden Isaiah off of a deflection by Sam Oppenheimer and then a fumble
recovered by Jake Kucera that was forced by Oppenheimer.
CAA Victory in Week 0
For the first time since the 2024 season, the Black Bears secured their first win of the season in their first game of the season, defeating Towson 21-18. It was the first week 0 game under Head Coach Jordan Stevens and the first time the Black Bears had won their CAA opener under Stevens.
BUEHLER LEADS THE OFFENSE
For the first time in two seasons, the Black Bears rolled 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.
In his first collegiate start, he threw for 199 yards on 63% completion percentage, two touchdowns and had zero turnovers. He added another 198 passing yards against App State in Week 1.
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.
In week 0, they allowed only one sack on a scramble play outside of the pocket and allowed only two sacks at FBS opponent App State.
RUNNING BACK IMPACT
In week 0 the Black Bears scored a pair of touchdowns out of the running back duo of Rashawn Marshall in Nick Laughlin.
Marshall led the Black Bears with 81 rushing yards while Laughlin ranked second on the team in both rushing yards (29) and receiving yards (39).
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.
In week 0, Maine had six sacks and forced two turnovers.
CLOSE CALL
Since 2013, Maine is 31-22 in games decided by seven points or less.
Maine is 1-0 in 2026 in one possession games, beating Towson 21-18 in week 0.
A MAINE WIN WOULD BE...
The first 2-1 start for the Black Bears under Coach Stevens.
The first win at home for the Black Bears in 2026.
The fourth-straight win over Merrimack.
| Maine (CAA) | Category | Merrimack |
| 12.0 (11) | Points | 7.0 |
| 289.5 (9) | Total Offense | 299.5 |
| 91.0 (10) | Rushing Yards | 71.0 |
| 198.5 (6) | Passing Yards | 228.5 |
| 1/2 | Rushing TDs/Passing TDs | 0/2 |
| 28:42 (7) | Offensive Time of Possession | 33:55 |
| 36.5 (10) | Points Allowed | 38.0 |
| 513.0 (13) | Total Defense | 422.0 |
| 205.5 (9) | Rushing Yards Allowed | 149.2 |
| 307.5 (12) | Passing Yards Allowed | 140.5 |
| 4/5 | Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed | 5/4 |
| 37.9 (8) | 3rd-Down Conversions | 26.7 |
| 31.6 (4) | 3rd-Down Conversion Defense | 42.3 |
| +1 (3) | Turnover Margin | -5 |
-UMaine-
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