LEWISBURG — Bucknell kicks off its 140th season of football when it visits Air Force on Saturday for the 2025 opener. This will be the Bison’s first meeting with the Falcons and begins just the fourth 12-game schedule in program history.

Bucknell enters the season on the heels of a record breaking 2024 campaign where the team broke 13 individual records, seven team records and scored the most single-season points in program history. Bucknell’s record-breaking offense returned seven of its 11 starters for the 2025 campaign and added in some exciting transfers to help build talented depth. 2024 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, Ralph Rucker returns for his final season with the Bison as a captain, alongside Rucker is returning PL Rookie of the Year running back Tariq Thomas.

Bucknell saw five players on the 2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, Sam Milligan, Aaron Davis, TJ Cadden, John Ohnegian and Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Ralph Rucker IV. The Bison will be under the direction of head coach Dave Cecchini for the seventh season.

Air Force is led by head coach Troy Calhoun, who is in his 19th season at the academy. The Falcons are coming off of a 5-7 overall season where they defeated San Diego State 31-20 to cap off their year on a four-game winning streak and build momentum heading into the 2025 season. Air Force returns punter Luke Freer for his senior season. Freer earned second-team All-Mountain West and second-team All-Colorado honors in 2024. Air Force has an 18-game winning streak in season openers.

The Bison are coming off of a 6-6 season in 2024, where they went 4-2 in the Patriot League and held both the conference Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in Tariq Thomas and Ralph Rucker IV respectively.

Bucknell is looking to start off its season with a win for the first time since 2020.

The Bison were picked to finish fourth in the 2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Poll.

Alongside Ralph Rucker IV (PL Offensive Player of the Year) and Tariq Thomas (PL Rookie of the Year), the Bison are returning two other Patriot League first-team selections in return specialist TJ Cadden and special teams standout Sam Milligan. Bucknell also returns two Patriot League second-team selections in offensive lineman and 2024 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, John Ohnegian and punter Matt Schearer.

The Bison welcomed a host of new faces to the staff during the offseason; offensive coordinator Drew Folmar, tight ends coach P.J. Barr, defensive line coach Kentwan Balmer, running backs coach Jerome Smith, wide receivers coach Sam Costantino, linebackers and special teams coach Chase Murdock and Strength and Conditioning Coach Tim Warren.