# 2023 Butler Bulldogs football team

The 2023 Butler Bulldogs football team represented Butler University as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Mike Uremovich, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the PFL. Butler played home games at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Montana* | Washington–Grizzly StadiumMissoula, MT | ESPN+ | L 20–35 | 25,430 |
| September 9 | 1:00 p.m. | Taylor* | Bud and Jackie Sellick BowlIndianapolis, IN | FloSports | W 41–13 | 3,113 |
| September 16 | 6:00 p.m. | Wabash* | Bud and Jackie Sellick BowlIndianapolis, IN | FloSports | W 47–21 | 6,271 |
| September 23 | 12:00 p.m. | at Stetson | Spec Martin StadiumDeLand, FL | YouTube | W 28–18 | 1,128 |
| September 30 | 1:00 p.m. | Presbyterian | Bud and Jackie Sellick BowlIndianapolis, IN | FloSports | W 27–17 | 3,302 |
| October 7 | 1:00 p.m. | at St. Thomas (MN) | O'Shaughnessy StadiumSaint Paul, MN | Midco Sports Plus | L 10–17 | 4,855 |
| October 14 | 1:00 p.m. | Davidson | Bud and Jackie Sellick BowlIndianapolis, IN | FloSports | L 33–35 | 1,873 |
| October 21 | 1:00 p.m. | at Dayton | Welcome StadiumDayton, OH | Facebook Live | W 37–10 | 2,785 |
| October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | Valparaiso | Bud and Jackie Sellick BowlIndianapolis, IN | FloSports | W 17–7 | 4,224 |
| November 4 | 2:00 p.m. | at Morehead State | Jayne StadiumMorehead, KY | ESPN+ | W 49–7 | 8,868 |
| November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | Drake | Bud and Jackie Sellick BowlIndianapolis, IN | FloSports | L 9–13 | 2,788 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### No. 14 Montana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| No. 14 Grizzlies | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
at Washington-Grizzly Stadium • Missoula, Montana
* Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C)
* Game attendance: 25,430
* Referee: Kelly Holman
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Ron Davis (play-by-play) and Grady Bennett (analyst)
| Statistics | BUT | MONT |
| First downs | 15 | 24 |
| Total yards | 304 | 441 |
| Rushing yards | 41 | 230 |
| Passing yards | 263 | 211 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–36–1 | 17–29–2 |
| Time of possession | 28:45 | 31:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 24/35, 263 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 12 carries, 23 yards |
| Butler | Receiving | Ryan Lezon | 2 receptions, 55 yards, TD |
| Montana | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 15/25, 180 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Montana | Rushing | Eli Gillman | 19 carries, 119 yards, TD |
| Montana | Receiving | Junior Bergen | 4 receptions, 72 yards, TD |

### Taylor (NAIA)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans (NAIA) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Bulldogs | 14 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 41 |
at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana
* Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Wind: SW at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
* Game attendance: 3,113
* Referee: Michael Hoffman
* TV: FloFootball
| Statistics | TAY | BUT |
| First downs | 13 | 16 |
| Total yards | 325 | 439 |
| Rushing yards | 156 | 254 |
| Passing yards | 169 | 185 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–20–0 | 14–23–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:18 | 27:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Taylor | Passing | Damon Hockett | 10/19, 94 yards, TD |
| Taylor | Rushing | Stephen Ellis | 6 carries, 42 yards |
| Taylor | Receiving | Dakohta Sonnichsen | 1 reception, 75 yards, TD |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 13/22, 185 yards, TD |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 12 carries, 178 yards, 3 TD |
| Butler | Receiving | Ethan Loss | 4 receptions, 79 yards |

### Wabash (DIII)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Little Giants (DIII) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 47 |
at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana
* Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Wind: NW at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
* Game attendance: 6,271
* Referee: Gregory Gompf
* TV announcers (FloFootball): Greg Rakestraw (play-by-play)
| Statistics | WAB | BUT |
| First downs | 21 | 26 |
| Total yards | 338 | 442 |
| Rushing yards | 62 | 244 |
| Passing yards | 276 | 198 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–34–1 | 13–18–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:16 | 27:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wabash | Passing | Liam Thompson | 22/32, 256 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Wabash | Rushing | Cade Campbell | 6 carries, 36 yards |
| Wabash | Receiving | Derek Allen Jr. | 10 receptions, 99 yards, TD |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 13/18, 198 yards, 2 TD |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 13 carries, 82 yards, TD |
| Butler | Receiving | Ethan Loss | 4 receptions, 73 yards, TD |

### at Stetson

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Hatters | 0 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 18 |
at Spec Martin Stadium • DeLand, Florida
* Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 1,128
* Referee: Drew Myers
* TV: YouTube
| Statistics | BUT | STET |
| First downs | 15 | 15 |
| Total yards | 376 | 258 |
| Rushing yards | 322 | 91 |
| Passing yards | 54 | 167 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–19–1 | 18–32–3 |
| Time of possession | 33:25 | 26:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 9/19, 54 yards, INT |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 26 carries, 209 yards, 2 TD |
| Butler | Receiving | Ethan Loss | 3 receptions, 15 yards |
| Stetson | Passing | Matt O'Connor | 10/16, 106 yards |
| Stetson | Rushing | Kadarris Roberts | 16 carries, 62 yards |
| Stetson | Receiving | Gabe Atkin | 8 receptions, 83 yards, TD |

### Presbyterian

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Hose | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana
* Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: E at 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
* Game attendance: 3,302
* Referee: Rich Fisher
* TV: FloFootball
| Statistics | PRES | BUT |
| First downs | 13 | 30 |
| Total yards | 356 | 464 |
| Rushing yards | 33 | 299 |
| Passing yards | 323 | 165 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–28–0 | 18–27–1 |
| Time of possession | 18:41 | 41:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Presbyterian | Passing | Tyler Wesley | 17/28, 323 yards, 2 TD |
| Presbyterian | Rushing | Zach Switzer | 6 carries, 21 yards |
| Presbyterian | Receiving | Dominic Kibby | 5 receptions, 199 yards, 2 TD |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 17/26, 148 yards, TD, INT |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 31 carries, 149 yards, TD |
| Butler | Receiving | Ethan Loss | 4 receptions, 36 yards |

### at St. Thomas (MN)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Tommies | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at O'Shaughnessy Stadium • Saint Paul, Minnesota
* Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Couldy • Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: SE at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
* Game attendance: 4,855
* Referee: Tim Duffy
* TV: Midco Sports Plus
| Statistics | BUT | STMN |
| First downs | 18 | 12 |
| Total yards | 262 | 300 |
| Rushing yards | 151 | 229 |
| Passing yards | 111 | 71 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–31–0 | 5–8–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:56 | 31:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 16/31, 111 yards |
| Butler | Rushing | Bret Bushka | 16 carries, 63 yards |
| Butler | Receiving | Ryan Lezon | 4 receptions, 35 yards |
| St. Thomas (MN) | Passing | Tak Tateoka | 5/8, 71 yards |
| St. Thomas (MN) | Rushing | Shawn Shipman | 22 carries, 103 yards |
| St. Thomas (MN) | Receiving | Andrew McElroy | 2 receptions, 32 yards |

### Davidson

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 7 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 33 |
at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana
* Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind: W at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 1,873
* Referee: Rodney Smith
* TV: FloFootball
| Statistics | DAV | BUT |
| First downs | 23 | 14 |
| Total yards | 506 | 345 |
| Rushing yards | 282 | 215 |
| Passing yards | 224 | 130 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–20–1 | 14–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 37:20 | 22:40 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Davidson | Passing | Coulter Cleland | 19/20, 224 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Davidson | Rushing | Mari Adams | 30 carries, 171 yards, 3 TD |
| Davidson | Receiving | Mark McCurdy | 6 receptions, 81 yards |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 13/29, 129 yards, TD, INT |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 16 carries, 123 yards, TD |
| Butler | Receiving | Ethan Loss | 3 receptions, 43 yards |

### at Dayton

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 13 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 37 |
| Flyers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at Welcome Stadium • Dayton, Ohio
* Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: SW at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
* Game attendance: 2,785
* Referee: Jason Perkins
* TV: Facebook Live
| Statistics | BUT | DAY |
| First downs | 16 | 17 |
| Total yards | 342 | 288 |
| Rushing yards | 151 | 105 |
| Passing yards | 191 | 183 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–23–1 | 30–49–0 |
| Time of possession | 27:57 | 32:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 18/23, 191 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 16 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD |
| Butler | Receiving | Ethan Loss | 6 receptions, 86 yards |
| Dayton | Passing | Drew VanVleet | 30/48, 183 yards |
| Dayton | Rushing | Luke Hansen | 9 carries, 54 yards, TD |
| Dayton | Receiving | Jake Coleman | 7 receptions, 52 yards |

### Valparaiso (Hoosier Helmet Trophy)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Beacons | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 17 |
at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana
* Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: NE at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 4,224
* Referee: CJ Jackson
* TV: FloFootball
| Statistics | VAL | BUT |
| First downs | 12 | 20 |
| Total yards | 289 | 331 |
| Rushing yards | 117 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 89 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–21–1 | 13–21–0 |
| Time of possession | 21:01 | 38:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Valparaiso | Passing | Rowan Keefe | 11/19, 172 yards, INT |
| Valparaiso | Rushing | Solomon Davis | 1 carry, 70 yards, TD |
| Valparaiso | Receiving | Solomon Davis | 2 receptions, 68 yards |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 13/21, 89 yards |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 26 carries, 159 yards, TD |
| Butler | Receiving | Ethan Loss | 4 receptions, 58 yards |

### at Morehead State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 21 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
| Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Jayne Stadium • Morehead, Kentucky
* Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Mostly Sunny • Temperature: 62 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 8,868
* Referee: J. Bradford
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Jared Stacy and Hunter Hurst
| Statistics | BUT | MORE |
| First downs | 27 | 9 |
| Total yards | 482 | 247 |
| Rushing yards | 179 | 111 |
| Passing yards | 303 | 136 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–25–2 | 13–23–1 |
| Time of possession | 37:45 | 22:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 16/17, 281 yards, 5 TD, INT |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 22 carries, 125 yards |
| Butler | Receiving | Luke Wooten | 5 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD |
| Morehead St | Passing | Carter Cravens | 11/20, 126 yards, TD |
| Morehead St | Rushing | Jackson Lanier | 12 carries, 78 yards |
| Morehead St | Receiving | Kyle Daly | 5 receptions, 104 yards, TD |

### Drake

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Drake | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Butler | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana
* Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 48 °F (9 °C) • Wind: N at 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h)
* Game attendance: 2,788
* Referee: Robert Guyton Jr.
* TV: FloFootball
| Statistics | DRKE | BUT |
| First downs | 15 | 19 |
| Total yards | 176 | 265 |
| Rushing yards | 56 | 125 |
| Passing yards | 120 | 140 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–28–0 | 21–34–0 |
| Time of possession | 22:43 | 37:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Drake | Passing | Luke Bailey | 16/28, 120 yards, TD |
| Drake | Rushing | Dorian Boyland | 8 carries, 31 yards, TD |
| Drake | Receiving | Trey Radocha | 3 receptions, 29 yards |
| Butler | Passing | Bret Bushka | 21/34, 140 yards |
| Butler | Rushing | Jyran Mitchell | 12 carries, 55 yards |
| Butler | Receiving | Luke Wooten | 6 receptions, 65 yards |