PHILADELPHIA – Taking on its first nationally-ranked non-conference opponent since 2019, the University of Pennsylvania football team heads up to Bethlehem to face No. 9/10 Lehigh Saturday afternoon at Goodman Stadium.
 
Penn is coming off a hard-fought 24-21 victory over Stonehill last weekend to begin the season 1-0 while Lehigh improved to an unblemished 4-0 following a dominant 41-24 effort on the road at Bucknell.
 
GAME 2 – PENN (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) at #9/10 LEHIGH (4-0, 2-0 Patriot)
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 | Noon
Goodman Stadium | Bethlehem, Pa.
Watch Live on ESPN+ ($) |  Listen Live (QAN)  |  Live Stats
Penn Game Notes (PDF)  | Lehigh Game Notes (PDF)
 

The Lehigh Series
The series which dates all the way back to 1885 resumes on Saturday after a four-year hiatus. Penn has completely dominated its series with Lehigh, holding a 47-15 record.
 
Since Goodman Stadium opened in 1988, the Mountain Hawks have a 7-6 record over the Quakers at home, but dropped the most recent meeting on South Mountain back on Sept. 23, 2017, a record-breaking 65-47 win for the Red and Blue.
 
Penn heads into the weekend on a three-game winning streak against Lehigh and most recently defeated the team at Franklin Field, 20-0, on Oct. 9, 2021.
 
Last Time vs. Lehigh
In their most recent meeting, Penn dominated Lehigh 20-0 at Franklin Field. After a scoreless first half, Penn opened the scoring via Daniel Karrash with a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter, while tacking on a 40-yarder early in the fourth. The Quakers then broke the game open with two rushing touchdowns: Trey Flowers punched in a seven-yard run following a broken play, and Isaiah Malcome capped the win with a 40-yard burst to the end zone. Malcome piled up 201 rushing yards (a career high), and Flowers added 115, marking the first time since 2017 Penn had two 100-yard rushers in one game. Defensively, Penn held Lehigh to just 119 total yards, including -3 rushing yards, forced two turnovers, and recorded four sacks.
 
Hello (Again), Goodman
The Quakers' last visit to Goodman Stadium—on Sept. 23, 2017—was a wild, record-setting offensive display, as Penn outgunned Lehigh 65–47. The two teams combined for 112 points and 1,167 yards on 139 plays, an absurd 8.4 yards per play. Penn piled up 615 total yards (312 rushing, 303 passing), just 13 shy of the program record, while Lehigh amassed 552. Running back Karekin Brooks exploded for 268 yards and three touchdowns—even with a 61-yard run called back by penalty. Penn's defense also made its presence felt, intercepting Lehigh twice (once on a two-point try that was returned 98 yards) and forcing a fumble to spark the game's opening score. In the end, Penn's relentless offense and timely takeaways sealed a decisive nonconference win in a shootout for the record books.
 
Scouting The Mountain Hawks
Lehigh has burst out to a 4–0 start in 2025, entering the national Top 10 in FCS polls as the Brown and White continue their momentum from last season. On the ground, Lehigh's rushing attack has powered much of its success, averaging 234.5 yards per game (ranked fifth nationally) and keeping opponents to just 81.3 yards rushing (ranked seventh).
 
Against Bucknell in Week 4, Luke Yoder and Jaden Green combined for 301 rushing yards and four total touchdowns, while Hayden Johnson tossed two touchdown passes—and was 16-of-20 through the air—in a 41–24 road victory. Defensively, the Mountain Hawks have created turnovers (including three games with an interception for DB Mekhai Smith) and generated pressure in key moments.
 
This balanced performance has enabled Lehigh not only to stay unbeaten, but to pace 2–0 in Patriot League play as it eyes momentum into its fall stretch.
 
Penn vs. Patriot League
The Quakers have had a complete stranglehold on Patriot League opponents as of late, winning eight consecutive games against such teams dating back to Oct. 9, 2021 against Lehigh.
 
In 2024, Penn defeated Colgate (27-17) and Bucknell (31-21). In 2023, the Quakers faced all Patriot League foes in non-conference play with victories over Colgate (20-6), Bucknell (37-21), and Georgetown (42-39 in OT). Going back to a special 2022 campaign, Penn enjoyed wins over the Raiders (25-14) again, Lafayette (12-0), and the Hoyas (59-28) in DC.
 
Quakers Against Nationally-Ranked Teams
Penn is 21-56-3 all-time against teams nationally ranked in AP/TSN/STATS media polls including 6-16 on the road.
 
When taking on teams ranked No. 10 (like Lehigh is this weekend) in the media poll, the Quakers are 4-1-1 with wins on Nov. 10, 1945 (vs. Columbia), Nov. 8, 1947 (vs. Virginia), Oct. 11, 1952 (at Notre Dame), and Oct. 24, 1953 (vs. Navy). 
 
Penn last won a nationally-ranked contest at No. 22 Princeton on Nov. 19, 2022 and have dropped two games since. This is the third time—and first since Sept. 27, 2003—the Quakers are facing a nationally-ranked Mountain Hawks program. That year, No. 21 Penn took down No. 19 Lehigh, 31-24. Penn holds a record of 2-1 against Lehigh when they are ranked.
 
A Gutsy Start
Penn edged Stonehill last Saturday, 24-21, behind a clutch 45-yard field goal by freshman Mason Walters with nine seconds remaining. The Quakers raced out quickly, highlighted by an explosive 69-yard touchdown reception by Jared Richardson just 50 seconds into the contest and Julien Stokes' 63-yard punt return TD. Richardson finished the day with five catches for 103 yards, his fifth career 100+ yard game. After the Skyhawks rallied in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 21, Walters' first collegiate kick gave Penn the victory. On defense, Carter Janki led the team with two sacks for a loss of 10 yards, while John Lista had a team-leading 11 tackles.
 
Players of the Week
Penn hauled in a pair of Ivy League weekly honors following the Week 1 victory as Stokes took home Ivy Special Teams Player of the Week and Walters earned Ivy Rookie of the Week for his performance.
 
It's the first time since Oct. 23, 2023 that two Penn players earned weekly honors in the same week (Richardson, offense; Malachi Hosley, rookie) and just the second instance of Special Teams/Rookie in the same week since Kyle Olson (S) and Matt Hamscher (R) on Oct. 20, 2008.
 
Stokes ripped off a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown to give the Quakers a 14-0 lead over the Skyhawks late in the first quarter. He also returned two kickoffs for 60 yards and finished with 131 total return yards for the contest. It was Penn's first punt return TD since Isaiah Malcome vs. Delaware in 2019 and the first return touchdown of any kind since Stokes' 97-yard kickoff return at Brown in 2022. Stokes currently leads FCS football in punt return yards per attempt at 23.7.
 
Walters certainly had his first big moment wearing the Red and Blue on Saturday, knocking down a game-winning field goal—on his first attempt as a collegian—from 45 yards out with nine seconds remaining to lift the Quakers to their first victory of the season. It was Penn's first game-winning field goal since Karrash—also on his first career attempt—hit a 22-yarder with two seconds remaining to stun Brown at Franklin Field in 2019.
 
J-Rich Moving Up The Record Books
After a five-catch, 103-yard effort in a victory over Stonehill last Saturday, Richardson is already making his way up the all-time receiving list, upping his career total to 1,575 and passing Rory Starkey Jr. '22 (1,549) for eighth. He's just 40 yards away from passing Doug O'Neill '00 (1,614) for seventh in program history.
 
In The National Rankings
It's been just one game in the 2025 season for Penn, but that doesn't mean its not featured heavily in the FCS national rankings.
 
The Quakers are tied for first in fourth-down conversion percentage (1.000), third in punt return defense (0.00), third in punt returns (23.67), fifth in fewest penalties (6), ninth in red zone defense (.667), 11th in total defense (266.0 ypg), and 16th in rushing defense (96.0 ypg).
 
Preseason Honors
There has been no shortage of preseason honors bestowed upon the Red and Blue with multiple student-athletes receiving national laurels ahead of the 2025 campaign.
 
Senior offensive lineman Netinho Olivieri has been front and center for Penn this preseason, taking home All-America honors from Stats Perform (third team), FCS Football Central (third team), and Phil Steele (third team).
 
Senior wide receiver Richardson joined Olivieri on Phil Steele's All-America list, while also being honored by FCS Football Central along with senior offensive lineman William Bergin.
 
Olivieri and Richardson were also tabbed to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List.
 
O'Brien's Offense
Penn enters the 2025 season with a starting quarterback not named Aidan Sayin for the first time since the 2021 season.
 
A familiar face after starting the final four games of last year, Liam O'Brien is back for his senior season and is one of the Quakers' four co-captains.
 
O'Brien completed 66 percent (76-115) of his pass attempts for 1,018 yards, 13 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. His signature performance of the year came at Cornell on Nov. 9, recording a single-game program record six passing touchdowns and seven total TDs in a shootout 67-49 victory over the Big Red. That performance earned the signal caller Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors.
 
Preseason All-Ivy
Phil Steele announced its annual Preseason All-Ivy selections to begin the month of August and the Quakers were well represented with 12 honorees.
 
Richardson, WR Bisi Owens, Olivieri, DL Janki, and LB John Lista were tabbed to the first team with O'Brien, Bergin, DL David McMorris, LB Kadari Machen and RS Stokes—for kick returner, punt returner, and all-purpose—on the second team.
 
Those Are Some Good Works!
Not only was he recognized for his effort on the field, Bergin also got some love off for his work in the community by being nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
 
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
 
Bergin, a team captain for the 2025 season, is a key contributor to the Penn Football chapter of Uplifting Athletes, where he helps coordinate team fundraising events either through games or lifts to raise money and awareness for children with rare diseases. He and his teammates involved helped raise over $7,000 two years in a row.
 
In addition, Bergin has been involved with Young Quakers, an organization partnered with the University of Pennsylvania's Netter Center that works with Philadelphia kids ages 6-18. He's also a member of the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy (PAWLA) and Penn's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
Like other football student-athletes, Bergin has also donated his time to helping at Get in the Game Bone Marrow drives for NMDP.
 
Running Back Room
There's a name not listed on the two-deep that made quite the impact last season. Running back Malachi Hosley, who won the Bushnell Cup for Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, transferred from Penn to Georgia Tech in his hometown Atlanta during the offseason.
 
With Hosley departed, it allows others to step up in his place, beginning with sophomore Donte West, who put together a strong spring and impressive fall to earn the starting spot.
 
Already a mainstay as a kick returner and wide receiver, Stokes comes back to Penn for his final season in University City, but this time as a tailback as he looks to get much of his playing time alongside West in the backfield. Juice has 16 rushing attempts in his career from 2021-24, along with two touchdowns.
 
Sean Williams, Jr. and freshman Tommy Lafayette are also expected to get reps heading into the early part of the season. Lafayette rushed for 1,000+ yards and 12 touchdowns during his senior season at North Gwinnett in Georgia.
 
Five Up Front
It's not every day you get five returning offensive linemen on your roster, but Penn has that exactly heading into the start of the year.
 
It's a mammoth O-Line with all five starters weighing over 300 pounds. Spearheaded by first-team All-Ivy selection Olivieri at left tackle and second-team All-Ivy honoree
Bergin at center, the duo with a combined weight of 620 pounds is joined by senior Maxwell Freeman at right guard, junior Luke Sacchetti at left guard, and junior Aaron Kruse at right tackle.
 
This formidable group did wonders in run blocking for Hosley in 2024, who racked up nearly 1,200 yards on the ground en route to being named Ivy Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, the offensive line allowed just 15 sacks all season, the ninth-fewest number in FCS football.
 
Reliable Receivers
Penn may have the Ivy League's top wideout duo in seniors Richardson and Owens—neither of whom played receiver in high school.
 
Richardson, a two-time All-Ivy pick (first team in 2023, second team in 2024), led the Quakers last season with 684 yards and seven touchdowns. Notably, he became the first Penn Quaker to register a pair of three-touchdown games in a career after he hauled in nine grabs for 141 yards and three TDs at Cornell.
 
After a promising sophomore season in 2023, Owens broke out late in 2024 as one of QB Liam O'Brien's favorite targets, posting 538 yards and five scores, highlighted by a 107-yard, two-touchdown performance vs. Harvard.
 
Alex Haight returns in the slot after an injury-shortened 2024, while versatile Davis Ellis and two-way player Jayden Drayton—who will debut at defensive back—add depth.
 
Yes, Captains
Penn has four captains leading the charge in 2025 with QB O'Brien, OL Bergin, DL Paul Jennings, and LB Lista.
 
Jennings is the latest Quaker to be a two-time captain after earning the honor in 2024 as well. The senior missed a significant chunk of time in 2024 due to injury and comes back healthy and ready to go. Jennings was impressive in 2023, recording six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks over 10 games for the Red and Blue.
 
Follow The Action
Action returns to ESPN+ this weekend with Marco Socci (play-by-play) and Lance Haynes (analyst) on the call. For Penn radio, Matt Leon (play-by-play) and Hench Murray (analyst) will provide the call on the Quaker Audio Network.
 
For the latest on Penn football, follow @PennFB on X (formerly Twitter), @PennFootball on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.