JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Aug. 29, 2025) – The ETSU football team will kick off the 2025 season on Saturday when it welcomes Murray State to Johnson City. Kickoff between the Buccaneers and Racers is set for 5:30 p.m. from Bank of Tennessee Field at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium.  

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game Sponsor: Food City
Date: Saturday, August 30
Time: 5:32 p.m.
Location: Johnson City, Tenn. | William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium
Teams: Murray State (0-0, 0-0 MVFC) at (RV) ETSU (0-0, 0-0 SoCon)  
Weather: 77 degrees, sunny
Live Video: ESPN+
TV Crew: Keith Brake (pbp), Mark Hutsell (analyst)
Live Audio: WXSM-AM 640 | HD radio can listen on 101.5 WQUT HD-2
Radio Crew: Jay "Voice of the Bucs" Sandos (pbp), Matt Wilhjelm (analyst), Robert Harper (sideline)
Live Stats: ETSUBucs.com (Statbroadcast)
X: @ETSUFootball
 
THINGS TO KNOW – Please click HERE for all the "Things to Know" for Saturday's matchup with the Racers, presented by Citizens Bank.
 
HEALY IS THE NEW HEAD COACH FOR THE BUCS - For the third time in as many seasons, the ETSU football team will be under new leadership this fall. Will Healy was introduced as the new leader of the Buccaneers in mid-December. Healy, the 21st head coach in the program's history, comes to Johnson City after spending the last two seasons in Assistant Head Coaching roles at Georgia State (2024) and UCF (2023). Prior to those appointments, Healy was the Head Coach at Austin Peay (2016-2018) and Charlotte (2019-2022). Healy, a 2008 graduate of Richmond, is also no stranger to the SoCon, as he is a native of Chattanooga and served as the Wide Receivers Coach for the Mocs for seven seasons (2009-2015).
 
NEW LOOK BUCS - Much like last season, the change of leadership brought in plenty of new players for ETSU during the offseason. Of the current 104 players on the roster, 54 of them are new to the program this season. 32 of those players are transfers, leaving 22 true freshmen on the roster for the Blue and Gold.
 
BACK IN THE BLUE & GOLD - 50 players from last season's team are still in Johnson City for 2025. The Blue and Gold does return running back Devontae Houston, who rushed for 648 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. ETSU also brings back three of its top four pass catchers from last year in Karim Page, Ephraim Floyd, and Hakeem Meggett. Defensively, Ty Anderson, Jimmy Bowdry, Brenden LeBlanc, and Teddy Wilson all return after playing key roles in ETSU's defense a season ago.
 
PRESEASON PROJECTION - ETSU had nine players earn Preseason All-SoCon honors, while the Bucs were picked to finish fourth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll. The All-SoCon First Team honorees for the Blue and Gold were running back Devontae Houston, wide receiver Hakeem Meggett, offensive lineman Ashton Flinn, and pass rusher Nick Hunter. On the second team were offensive linemen Johnathan Cline and Micah Sumpter, defensive lineman Brenden LeBlanc, linebacker Ty Anderson, and kicker Ewan Johnson.
 
SEASON/HOME OPENER STATS – ETSU is 44-43-3 all-time in season openers, including a 6-4 mark since restarting the program in 2015. The Bucs will be looking to start 1-0 for the first time since 2022 when they knocked off Mars Hill, 44-7. As far as home openers go, ETSU is a perfect 8-0 inside its current home stadium and has won by an average of 32 points per contest. The Bucs have not lost a home opener since 1998 (vs. No. 17 Appalachian State, 22-17).
 
ABOUT MURRAY STATE – The Racers are coming off a season where they compiled a 1-11 record. Murray State's lone win came against Mississippi Valley State by a score of 59-8. The Racers had some close calls in 2024, with one-score defeats to Butler (19-17), Indiana State (31-27), and No. 16 Illinois State (40-32). A couple of players to watch for the Racers on Saturday are running back Jawaun Northington and wide receiver JK Carter. Northington has rushed for over 1,100 yards in his college career, while Carter paced Murray State's pass catchers with 42 receptions and 560 yards last fall.
 
SERIES REWIND AGAINST MURRAY STATE – ETSU and Murray State used to be conference rivals in the Ohio Valley Conference. Saturday's matchup will be the first between these two programs since 1978. The all-time series consists of 21 matchups and is deadlocked 9-9-3. Murray State has won the last two meetings with ETSU's last victory coming in 1976, 13-11.
 
For more information on Buccaneer football, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football tab.