Prospect, Kentucky - The Bowling Green Men's Rugby Team (7-3 Overall, 5-1 MAC) are defeated by Louisville (6-0 MAC) in a 32-22 loss in the MAC Final. Bowling Green failed to defend their 2024 MAC title. However, BG has still qualified for a D1-AA Nationals play-in game. BG will now travel to Niagra, New York to face Liberty Rugby Conference Runners-Up Babson (5-3 Overall, 4-2 Liberty). The match will be played at 12:00 PM on Saturday, November 15th, at Niagara University.

"Looking at the MAC final, I'll congratulate Louisville for doing what they did well; they were the better team on the day. I think there are a few things as coaches that we know that we need to adjust and there were a handful of things that the players didn't execute well and when those things combine, it' s tough to win games," said Assistant Coach Austin Morris. "We know what adjustments we need to make going into this next round and we know we're going against a very hungry team."

The last time these two teams faced in the MAC Tournament was the 2024 MAC Final. It ended with a 38-37 win for Bowling Green, giving them their 43rd MAC Title. However, this time the Falcons fell short. Now the Falcons have the opportunity to keep their season alive after earning a NCR 15s D1-AA Nationals Play-In spot.

"Obviously it's a really tough pill to swallow losing to your rival in the MAC Final, but we still earned a spot in the National Championship Playoff," said Co-Captain Jacob Capel.

This weekend Bowling Green struck first. However, Louisville found themselves consistently in control. In a match against newfound rivals, Louisville, BGSU failed to make the comeback and lost in the 2025 MAC Final. Ultimately after 22 minutes, the Falcons scored first through Flanker Harvey Harris and a conversion by Fullback Joey Apel. However, Louisville responded quickly with 19 unanswered points to take a 19-12 lead over the Falcons. The Falcons punched back with a Try from Lock Zach Szepiela to make it 19-10. Next Louisville struck again to make it 26-10. Bowling Green made one final push scoring two consecutive tries from Flanker Lincoln Welch and then one from Tracey to make it 26-22. However, in the last 20 minutes of the game Louisville earned two penalties which they chose to go for points. Both attempts were converted to seal Louisville 32-22 MAC Final Victory. 

NOTABLES

• Bowling Green has been MAC Finalists 47 consecutive times.

• BG has a MAC Tournament win percentage of  42 of 52 (80.77%) since the tournament began in 1973.

• Bowling Green has qualified for the 2025 NCR National Play-ins

Bowling Green (7-3 Overall, 5-1 MAC) will extend their season after qualifying for the NCR 15s National Tournament Play-In. Finishing runners-up in the MAC gave their play-in sport against Babson (6-3 Overall, 4-2 Liberty). The game will be Saturday, November 15th at 12:00 pm on Niagara University Field 1.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

1st XV

Bowling Green 22, Louisville 32

• Kickoff

• Flanker Harvey Harris scores (5-0)

• Fullback Joey Apel converts (7-0)

• Louisville scores and converts (7-5)

• Louisville scores and converts (7-12)

• Louisville scores and converts (7-19)

• Halftime: (7-19)

• Lock Zach Szepiela scores (12-19)

• Louisville scores and converts (12-26)

• Flanker Lincoln Welch scores (17-26)

• Hooker Phil Tracey (22-26)

• Louisville converts a penalty (22-29)

• Louisville converts a penalty (22-32)

• Final Score: 22-32