It’s not always easy to follow in the footsteps of someone who was successful, and there also may be learning curves when starting a new position. 

Regardless of what happened, there’s a reason Billy Taylor was selected to take over as the head coach of the Tusculum football team after the 2023, so hopefully, the team’s fans weren't too hard on him after a tough 2024 campaign.

In Taylor’s debut season, the Pioneers were 1-9 overall and 1-7 in the South Atlantic Conference, tying for last place in the SAC’s Mountain Division with Anderson, a first-year football team.  

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In his final two years before leaving for the NCAA Division I ranks, Jerry Odom led Tusculum to back-to-back winning seasons.

Now, it’s Taylor’s time to turn things back around, a challenge that will begin on the road at Bluefield State on Aug. 30. Conference play for Tusculum will start at home the following week against 2025 SAC favorite Lenoir-Rhyne. 

The Pioneers’ 10-game schedule in 2025 will include five home games and five road contests. The season-opening matchup with Bluefield State will be the only nonconference game of the year.

Tusculum Football Schedule 2025

All Times Eastern

• Aug. 30 (Sat): 7 p.m. at Bluefield St.
• Sept. 6 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
• Sept. 13 (Sat): 2 p.m. at Anderson
• Sept. 20 (Sat): 2 p.m. vs. Emory & Henry
• Sept. 27 (Sat): 2 p.m. at UVA Wise
• Oct. 11 (Sat): 2 p.m. vs. Newberry
• Oct. 25 (Sat): 6 p.m. at Catawba
• Nov. 1 (Sat): 2 p.m. vs. Mars Hill – Homecoming
• Nov. 8 (Sat): 2 p.m. vs. Wingate – Senior Day 
• Nov. 15 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Carson-Newman

What Was The Tusculum Football Record In 2024?

1-9 (1-7 SAC)

• West Alabama 45, Tusculum 9
• Newberry 50, Tusculum 20
• Lenoir-Rhyne 37, Tusculum 23
• Limestone 49, Tusculum 21
• Emory & Henry 23, Tusculum 21
• Mars Hill 30, Tusculum 3
• Tusculum 30, Anderson 28
• UVA Wise 35, Tusculum 27
• Carson-Newman 56, Tusculum 14
• Catawba 47, Tusculum 15

2025 SAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll

1. Lenoir-Rhyne
2. Wingate
3. Carson-Newman
4. Emory & Henry
5. Mars Hill
6. Catawba
7. Newberry
8. Anderson
9. UVA Wise
10. Tusculum

How To Stream Tusculum Football Games In 2025

Every SAC and home Tusculum football game will stream live on FloCollege and the FloSports app. 

Game replays, highlights and breaking news will also be available on both platforms.

When Do The 2025 NCAA Division II College Football Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be Nov. 22.

The 2025 Division II Football Championship title game will be played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas

College Football Rankings 2024 – Final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll

End Of 2024 Season

1. Ferris St. (Mich.) (27) 14-1  
2. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 13-1  
3. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 12-2  
4. Harding (Ark.) 12-2  
5. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-1  
6. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 11-2  
7. Minnesota St. 11-4  
8. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-2  
9. Central Oklahoma 11-2  
10. Western Colorado 11-2  
11. Virginia Union 10-4  
12. California (Pa.) 10-3  
13. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 10-4  
14. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-2  
15. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-1  
16. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 10-3  
17. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-3  
18. West Alabama 9-2  
19. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-2  
20. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-3  
21. Wingate (N.C.) 9-2  
22. Miles (Ala.) 10-3  
23. Ashland (Ohio) 9-4  
24. Central Washington 8-4  
25. Augustana (S.D.) 8-4  

Others Receiving Votes: Colorado School of Mines, 56; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 47; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 38; Central Missouri, 35; West Florida, 20; Southern Arkansas, 16; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 14; New Haven (Conn.), 1; Truman St. (Mo.), 1.

Five Hours Of Division II Football Highlights | 2024 College Football Touchdowns

Watch five hours of college football highlights, featuring touchdowns from Ferris State Football, GVSU Football, Central Missouri Football and more across Division II during the 2024 season.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Watch The 2025 College Football Season On FloCollege

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Don't miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games. 

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