The long offseason is finally over and the IUP Crimson Hawks will kick off the football season tonight at Ashland.
IUP and Ashland have played each other in the season opener the last four seasons, with IUP winning the first three and Ashland taking last year’s game, 13-9 after IUP took a 9-0 lead into halftime. IUP is 5-1 all-time against Ashland and Paul Tortorella enters his ninth season as head coach with a 4-1 record against the Eagles.
The coach says to expect another tight game tonight.
Tortorella says tonight’s outcome will depend on two things…IUP’s ability to run the ball and to stop Ashland’s ground game.
One area of uncertainty for IUP fans tonight is the quarterback question. Tortorella brought in four quarterbacks in the offseason and says he isn’t sure what he has at the position.
IUP has moved up three spots in the AFCA coaches poll, with some teams having started their season last week. The Crimson Hawks are ranked 22nd in the nation while Ashland jumped up a spot to number 12.
Coming off their double overtime win last week over Minnesota Duluth, Slippery Rock entered the Top 25 at number 18. Kutztown is the only other PSAC team in the national rankings, at number three.
It’s a busy night for PSAC football. Cal welcomes Charleston, Clarion will host West Virginia Wesleyan, Ohio Dominican is at Edinboro, Kutztown visits Assumption in Massachusetts, Millersville is at Glenville State and Bloomsburg visits Fairmont State.
The pregame for IUP/Ashland in the season opener tonight begins at 6:30 on 92.5 FM, U92.
THE MATCHUP (Courtesy IUP ATHLETICS):
https://iupathletics.com/news/2026/9/2/football-game-one-crimson-hawks-at-ashland.aspx
