PITTSBURGH – Duquesne kicks off its 98th football season Saturday with a historic local matchup at Pitt, the teams' first meeting in nearly 86 years.\
THE MATCHUP
August 30, 2025 | 12:00 PM | Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
(RV) Duquesne Dukes (0-0, 0-0 NEC)
Pitt Panthers (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
ADDITIONAL INFO / GAMEDAY LINKS
OPENING KICKOFF
2025 Season Opener: Duquesne kicks off its 98th football season with a short trip to Acrisure Stadium to face Pitt, renewing a long-dormant rivalry. The teams last met in 1939, when Duquesne upset the No. 1-ranked Panthers, 21–13. Pitt leads the all-time series 5–2, which began in 1901 and included a four-year stretch of games from 1936 to 1939 before going dormant for 86 years.
National Recognition: Duquesne was the only NEC team to receive votes in the 2025 Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll (2 votes), after finishing 2024 receiving votes and was ranked for four weeks, peaking at No. 19.
Dukes vs. FBS: Pitt will be the 12th FBS opponent Duquesne has faced in program history. The Dukes hold a 1–10 record in those matchups, with their win coming against Ohio (28–26) in 2021. This marks Duquesne's third game against an ACC opponent, following contests at Florida State (2022) and Boston College (2024). Later this season, Duquesne will also travel to Akron (MAC) on Sept. 20, making 2025 the sixth season in which the Dukes face two FBS teams since 2018.
Back-to-Back NEC Champions: The Duquesne Dukes enter 2025 as back-to-back NEC champions, marking the second time in 17 years in the NEC the program has achieved consecutive conference titles. In 2024, Duquesne posted an 8–3 overall record and a 5–1 mark in conference play to claim a share of the regular-season crown. The Dukes return eight of their 15 all-conference honorees, which was the second-most in program history, along with 12 players who started six or more games. Duquesne is one of eight FCS programs to have won consecutive conference titles entering 2025, joining Dartmouth (2), Drake (2), Harvard (2), Richmond (2), South Dakota State (3), UT Martin (4) and Holy Cross (6).
Head Coach Jerry Schmitt: Schmitt begins his 21st season at Duquesne and 26th overall as a head coach. Under his leadership, the Dukes have claimed 10 conference championships (3 MAAC, 7 NEC) and earned three NCAA FCS playoff bids (2015, 2018, 2023). Schmitt's 128 wins at the FCS level rank third among active FCS coaches, and his 156 career victories rank fifth among active FCS coaches. Last season, he passed Dan McCann to become the longest-tenured head coach in program history and is the second-longest tenured coach in the FCS.
Program Success: Duquesne has won 18 conference titles since 1995 and posted a .500 or better record in 29 of 32 seasons at the FCS level. The Dukes lead the NEC since 2011 with 95 overall and 62 conference wins, at least 28 overall and 17 conference wins ahead of any other team, including seven NEC titles, tied with Central Connecticut State for the most in league history.
THE SERIES
Series: Pitt leads 5-2 overall, with all seven meetings at Pitt. The series dates to 1901, and six of the seven games were played in the 1930s, including four straight seasons from 1936–39.
Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 1939 – Duquesne defeated No. 1 Pitt, 21-13, at Pitt Stadium. Duquesne finished the 1939 season ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll, while Pitt went 5-4.
2025 TEAM CAPTAINS
Duquesne's 2025 football captains, selected by team vote, are: #16 DL
A.J. Ackerman (third season), #97 DL
Kevin Kurzinger (third season), #57 OL
Cameron McLaurin (second season), #5 DB
Antonio Epps (second season), #1 LB
Tyson Meiguez, #56 OL
Brian Beidatsch, Jr., #92 DL
Jack Dunkley, and #21 TE
Daniel Tarabrella.
HOMEGROWN
A total of 36 Duquesne players competed in either the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) or Pittsburgh City League during high school, including 14 from Pittsburgh and 22 from surrounding Western PA schools.
NEC PRESEASON POLL / ALL-NEC TEAMS
Preseason Poll: The Dukes were picked to finish second in the 2025 NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Duquesne received two first-place votes and has been picked in the top three in 15 consecutive preseason polls. This marks the 14th time in the last 15 seasons the Dukes received at least one first-place vote.
Preseason All-NEC Selections: Seven Duquesne players earned preseason All-NEC honors; running back
Taj Butts (R-Sr.), wide receiver
Joey Isabella (Gr.), offensive lineman
Michael Fallah (Gr.), defensive linemen
A.J. Ackerman (Gr.) and
Jack Dunkley (Jr.), and defensive backs
DJ Cerisier (R-So.) and
Antonio Epps (R-Sr.).
SACK DUNKLEY ON NATIONAL WATCHLIST
Duquesne junior defensive lineman
Jack Dunkley was named to the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List. The award recognizes the national defensive player of the year in FCS. Dunkley is the lone NEC honoree and one of 30 players nationally.
Dunkley was a 2024 First Team All-NEC selection, he tied for the conference lead with 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He ranked 12th nationally with 0.86 sacks per game while forcing an NEC-best three fumbles. He is Duquesne's first Buchanan Award Watch List honoree since Christian Kuntz was a finalist in 2016.
PRESEASON RECOGNITION
Jack Dunkley (No. 11 - Defensive End),
Noah Canty (No. 19 - Tight End),
Joey Isabella (No. 22 - Wide Receiver) were all featured on Hero Sports' list of top returning players in the FCS for this season at their respective positions.
STREAKS INTACT FROM 2024
Defense has a takeaway in 10 straight games.
WR
Joey Isabella touchdown catch in eight straight games - the longest active streak in the FCS ... Multiple catches in nine straight and 60+yards in seven consecutive outings.
DL
Jack Dunkley tackle for loss in six straight ... Sack in four of last five.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Duquesne led the Northeast Conference in scoring last season, averaging 29.5 points and 383.8 yards per game overall. The Dukes were even more explosive in conference play, posting 36.7 points and 427.7 yards per game - the highest scoring conference season since joining the NEC in 2008.
Under the direction of offensive coordinator
Anthony Doria, entering his 10th season in the role and 15th overall on staff, Duquesne showcased a balanced and efficient attack. The Dukes ranked second in the NEC in both passing touchdowns (32) and passing yards per game (230.7), while also finishing second in rushing yards per game (153.1). Their 42 total touchdowns over 11 games tied for the league lead.
Efficiency was a hallmark of the offense. Duquesne led the NEC in third-down conversions at 42.8 percent and topped the entire FCS in fourth-down conversion rate, converting 18 of 20 attempts (90 percent). Nationally, the Dukes ranked 22nd in team passing efficiency and 20th in yards per completion.
Duquesne returns six offensive starters in 2025 and four All-NEC selections from the 2024 season: wide receiver
Joey Isabella (First Team), offensive linemen
Brian Beidatsch, Jr. (First Team),
Michael Fallah (Second Team), and
Cameron McLaurin (Second Team).
Five players that made six or more starts return from an offensive line that ranked third in the FCS allowing just 0.64 sacks per game and did not allow a sack five times.
The Dukes were also eighth in the FCS and led the conference in tackles for loss allowed (3.8 per game).
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Defensive coordinator
Mickey Jacobs, a former Duke who also spent four seasons on the coaching staff at Pitt, enters his second season in the role and fourth overall on the Duquesne staff. Last season, the Dukes led the Northeast Conference in scoring defense, allowing 18.3 points per game in league play. The defense held three opponents to single digits and contributed to an eight-game win streak.
The unit finished the season with nine interceptions, 27 sacks, and nine forced fumbles, recovering four for a total of 13 takeaways. Duquesne also scored two defensive touchdowns.
Nationally, the Dukes ranked 14th in third-down defense, 19th in first-down defense, 21st in red-zone defense, and 23rd in rushing defense.
Duquesne returns six defensive starters, including four all-conference selections:
A.J. Ackerman and
Jack Dunkley on the defensive line,
Antonio Epps and
DJ Cerisier at defensive back.
Duquesne returns 12 of the 19 players who recorded at least 15 tackles last season, along with four of the six players who forced fumbles.
DUKES BY THE NUMBERS
19 - Number of Dukes on the roster who have already earned their undergraduate degree.
29 - Number of seasons Duquesne has posted a .500 record or better in 32 FCS seasons ... In that span, Duquesne has captured 225 wins and 18 conference titles.
37 - Number of new players on the 2025 Duquesne roster, including 18 freshman, 1 sophomore addition and 18 transfers.
42 - Number of Dukes entering at least their fourth season of collegiate football (out of 110 on the roster).
62 - Number of Duquesne's NEC wins since 2011, the most by any team by at least 17 wins (St. Francis has 45), which has led to seven NEC titles and three FCS playoff appearances during that span.
88 - Number of all-time wins versus 2025 opponents ... Duquesne is a combined 88-46-1 all-time against their 2025 opponents with four first-time opponents (Lincoln, Lehigh, Akron, and New Haven).
151 - Number of All-NEC selections the Dukes have garnered as conference members, including 72 first teamers (27 over the last five seasons), five player of the years and four rookie of the years.
UP NEXT
Duquesne hosts Lincoln (Pa.) in its home opener next Saturday, Sept. 6, at noon on Rooney Field. Senior Day festivities will take place prior to kickoff.
Purchase tickets here.
MORE ON THE DUKES
View full game notes, interviews, local features and more from the entire season in the
Media Center.
THIS WEEK ON THE JERRY SCHMITT COACH'S SHOW
The latest episode of the
Jerry Schmitt Coach's Show premiers on SportsNet Pittsburgh on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ... Graduate student defensive back and team captain
Antonio Epps is the player guest ... Visit
sportsnetpittsburgh.com for viewing information.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne football online all season at
GoDuquesne.com, as well as on
X (Twitter),
Instagram, and
Facebook (@DuqFB).
