GAMEDAY CENTRAL | Taylor vs Olivet Nazarene | Game 1

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UPLAND, Ind. - Taylor will open its 2025 season on Thursday, when it welcomes Olivet Nazarene into Turner Stadium for a 7:00 pm start.

SCOUTING TAYLOR: The Trojans posted a 9-2 clip last season for the second-highest single-season win total in program history and set new program records in scoring average (48.4), total yards per game (486.4), rushing yards per game (311.7) and total touchdowns (75). TU will lean on four returning starters on the offensive line in Jonathan Grubbs, Brody Crosby, Alex Boothby and Hayden McDonald as it looks to carry that success into the 2025 campaign.

SCOUTING OLIVET NAZARENE: The Tigers closed their 2024 season with a 4-2 clip and will look to carry that momentum into head coach, Avante Mitchell's, second year with the program. ONU boasted the 24th-ranked passing attack in the NAIA last season with 245.3 yards per outing. Returning senior receiver, Ray Coffey led the way with 79.7 yards per game on a 20.5-yards-per-catch clip.

LAST MEETING: Taylor and Olivet Nazarene turned in an instant classic last season, with Taylor capitalizing on a late ONU turnover to force overtime and coming home with a 58-51 victory. The game featured 56 first downs, 1,104 yards of offense, 15 touchdowns and just two punts.

SERIES HISTORY: Taylor is 17-8 all-time against Olivet Nazarene on the gridiron, and 1-2 against the Tigers under the direction of fifth-year head coach Aaron Mingo.

LAST TIME OUT: The Trojans won the final four games of their 2024 season and carry that four-game win streak into play on Thursday. TU capped the 2024 season with a 20-14 Senior Day win over Concordia. With a win on Thursday, TU would secure a five-game win streak for the first time since winning the final four games of 2015 and the first outing of 2016.

TROJANS IN THE NAIA RANKINGS: Taylor opens the 2025 season just outside of the Top-25 in the NAIA Preseason Poll, earning the 26th-most points in those rankings. TU closed the 2024 season at No. 22 and sat at No. 25 in the NAIA Postseason Poll.

TU IN OPENERS UNDER MINGO: Fifth-year head coach, Aaron Mingo, has enjoyed great success in his four previous season-openers at TU, having gone 4-0 in those affairs. Mingo's mark in home openers is nearly as impressive, as Taylor has gone 3-1 in those tilts.

TICKET INFORMATION: Fans looking to purchase tickets to any Taylor game can do so by visiting TaylorTrojans.com/tickets.

JOIN THE TROJAN CLUB: The Trojan Club is Taylor University's athletics booster organization that is comprised of alumni, supporters and friends of TU, with the purpose of raising funds to further advance the development of Taylor's intercollegiate athletics program. If you have not already, please consider joining by going to www.TaylorTrojans.com/TrojanClub, or calling 765-998-4331.

FOLLOW THE TROJANS ONLINE: Be sure to follow TU on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to catch all of the latest news, scores, videos, photos and more! Simply search TaylorTrojans on Facebook and Twitter, or TaylorUTrojans on Instagram. You can also sign up for customized text and email alerts for our latest news and updates by going to the Fan Zone.

TROJAN SPORTS NETWORK: Taylor University is pleased to continue offering free live video webcasts of most home athletics events throughout the 2025-2026 year. If you are not able to come to the event, simply go to youtube.com/TaylorAthletics to catch the action. Be sure to click the subscribe button to make sure you do not miss any of the action.