The Lindenwood football team (0-0, 0-0 OVC-Big South) is set to open the 2025 season on Thursday in a road matchup against the University of St. Thomas (0-0, 0-0 Pioneer). Kickoff from St. Paul, Minn. is set for 6:00 p.m.
 
The Lions are the only team in the Association to return their starting quarterback from last season, as Nate Glantz begins his second season under center. In 2024, the Elkhorn, Neb. native threw for 2,333 yards and 17 touchdowns, while rushing for six more on the ground. The redshirt senior signal caller had four games last season in which he had a touchdown pass and a rushing score, one of them coming against St. Thomas last season.
 
The 64-0 win over St. Thomas by the Black and Gold last season was the largest shutout victory in program history and the most point in a game since 2023. Lindenwood finished the day with 541 yards of total offense, including 277 on the ground, its second-highest total of the 2024 campaign. In the game, Lindenwood had a 150 yard passer, rusher, and receiver for the first time since November 10, 2012 against Truman State.
 
Lindenwood led the OVC-Big South Association in rushing a year ago, averaging 173.7 yards per game. Redshirt sophomore running back Stave Hall played a big part in that, being named the 2024 Association Offensive Freshman of the Year. The St. Louis, Mo. native earned high praise this offseason as well, being tabbed the preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Hall finished last season with 808 yards and five scores on the ground.
 
Defensively, Jacob Waller is set to lead a linebacker core after finishing second on the team in tackles with 63, including 44 solo stops last season. Jayden Patrick is coming off a banner year leading the team with 12 pass break ups and three interceptions. Those three picks tied for third-most in the Association.
 
Lindenwood continues to earn the respect of its conference foes after being picked fourth in the preseason poll, its highest mark in the Division I era. The lack and Gold also received votes for the first time since the 2022 season, picking up four votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Poll.

NUMBERS TO KNOW:
2025: 2025 marks the first year the Lindenwood is eligible for the postseason after completing the reclassification process one season early as set by the NCAA. The Lions became a full Division I institution in August. 

1990: This is the first time since the program began in 1990 that the Lions have opened a season with three consecutive road games. 2023 was the last year in which Lindenwood had three-straight road games in a season and the Black and Gold went 1-2 in that span. Last season, Lindenwood went 1-5 on the road.

7.3: Steve Hall averaged 7.3 yards per carry last season, ranking third nationally while also leading the OVC-Big South. The redshirt sophomore running back has received high praise during the preseason, being named the Association's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and a player to watch.

5: Lindenwood has gone 5-5 in its last 10 season openers. The Lions will open up on the road for the second-consecutive season after beginning last year against Kansas at Children's Mercy Park, which marked the Black and Gold's first game against an FBS opponent since reclassifying to Division I.