Tigers (0-0) vs. Rose-Hulman (0-0)
Sept. 3
The Tigers started their season traveling south to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. In defensive coordinator Scott Srnka's first game as a DePauw coach, the defense scored the first points of the season on a 38-yard interception, returned for a touchdown by junior Robby Schuler. The Tiger defense eliminated the Rose-Hulman run game, giving up just 64 yards, but allowed 230 yards through the air. In senior quarterback Ethan Schweir's first start, he went 29-42 for 276 yards. On the ground, Schweir gained 27 yards as well.
Final score: W, 23-13
Tigers (1-0) vs. Allegheny (1-1)
Sept. 17
After the Tiger's first of two bye weeks, the team traveled to Meadville, Pa. to take on future NCAC opponent Allegheny College. After scoring 10 points in the first quarter, the DePauw offense would not score again in the game and began an almost month-long period without holding a lead. The running game sputtered, gaining just 81 total yards led by senior Jon Ellis's 39 yards. Schweir also struggled in his second-ever start, completing just 12 out of 30 passes for 188 yards and throwing three interceptions.
Final score: L, 10-17
Tigers (1-1) vs. Rhodes (0-2)
Sept. 24
Following the loss to Allegheny, the offense looked to redeem itself. Again led by Schweir, DePauw continued to struggle to move the chains and put points on the board. The Tigers didn't score until the fourth quarter. Reaching back to the previous week's game, DePauw hadn't scored for six straight quarters. The defense, establishing itself as one of the elite squads in the nation, also suffered lapses. In the second quarter, the team allowed an 80-yard touchdown pass from the Rhodes College offense to open up scoring. In the third quarter, with the Tigers down 0-10, Schweir was knocked out of the game with a torn ACL, prompting sophomore Jackson Kirtley to get the call. Utilizing his athleticism, Kirtley led the offense to two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Final score: L, 14-24
Centre (3-0) vs. Tigers (1-2)
Oct. 1
With senior quarterback Ethan Schweir out for the season with a torn ACL, sophomore Jackson Kirtley was thrust into the starter's role against Centre College for the first home game of the season at Blackstock Stadium. The young, athletic quarterback did all he could to move the offense down the field, but couldn't establish a passing game. Kirtley ran for 117 yards and threw for 141 yards. Senior Brody Schoen caught seven passes for 78 yards. DePauw once again struggled to put points on the board, scoring none in the first half until Eric Malm kicked a field goal. The three points brought the door to 17-3. The offense reached a low point when Kirtley fumbled the ball in DePauw territory and it was returned for a touchdown by Centre.
Final score: L, 24-10
Tigers (1-3) vs. Sewanee (2-4)
Oct. 15
After another bye week, DePauw was back on the road. In Sewanee, Tenn., the offense hit rock bottom, putting up zero points from the offensive end. The only DePauw points in the game came from senior Taylor Wagner's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. With Kirtley under center, he completed 11 out of 30 passes for 133 yards. On the ground, which was Kirtley's strength when plays broke down, the quarterback actually netted 18 yards on 14 scrambles.
Final score: L, 7-30
Tigers (1-4) vs. Ohio Wesleyan (1-5)
Oct. 22
After losing four games in a row, the Tigers made a quarterback switch to try and jumpstart an ailing offense. Freshman Drew Seaman made his first collegiate start and looked to provide the offense with new life. In DePauw's first two possessions, Seaman threw an interception and fumbled the ball, forcing the DePauw defense to step up. The first quarter ended with DePauw down 0-10. Seaman would recover nicely from his first quarter struggle to find tight end Bobby Coburn for two touchdowns. The defense also put points on the board with the season's first safety. In the second quarter after Seaman's second touchdown strike to Coburn, the Tigers took the lead, their first time since the third quarter of the game against Allegheny. Seaman finished the game completing 17 out of 27 passes of 166 yards and three touchdowns. Nikko Sansone led the DePauw running game with 65 yards.
Final score: W, 34-10
Tigers (2-4) vs. Austin (0-7)
Oct. 29
Seaman looked to build on his strong offensive performance in Sherman, Texas. Against a winless Austin team, the Tigers prepared for a team that is better than its record shows. The Tiger offense showed up again in the running and passing game. Sophomore Armani Cato led all rushers with 95 yards, complementing Seaman's aerial attack of 11 completions for 114 yards. The real winners were the DePauw defenders, who gave up just 34 net yards on the ground to Austin. In the fourth quarter, Seaman was hit hard and taken out of the game, prompting senior Will King to finish the game.
Final score: W, 21-14
Albion (4-4) vs. Tigers (3-4)Nov. 5
With Seaman still recovering from the concussion he suffered against Austin, Will King assumed command of the offense in his first start of the season as the fourth quarterback to start with the Tigers this season. Albion College had averaged over 20 points per game heading into its matchup with DePauw and scored only seven points as the Tigers' defense stepped up in Seaman's absence. The Albion team did not start its first string quarterback and running back, having already locked up a spot in the NCAA Div. III playoffs, a move which helped the Tigers. Albion gained more total yards on offense (380) than DePauw (126) and held the edge in first downs 20-8. But Albion could not put points on the board against the Tiger defense. Senior Ben Brandstatter and sophomore Mitch Dwenger led the defense with 13 tackles each.
Final Score: W, 7-3