September 5th, 2026 6:00pm
Indianapolis, Ind. – The University of Findlay football team, ranked No. 15 in the country, kicked off a new era on Saturday, Sep. 5 with a statement win in a top-15 matchup. The Oilers, coming off a co-conference championship season, went on the road to battle with the No. 9 University of Indianapolis Greyhounds to open up the 2026 campaign and earned an impressive 30-10 victory.
Saturday's win marks the first under head coach Tyler Johns who took over the program in December. It also is the first win over a ranked team in a season-opener since 2002 and just the second-ever win for the Oilers in a top-25 matchup. Coach Johns is the first head coach at Findlay to win his debut since Jon Wauford won his first game at the helm in 2007.
On a day where the temperature reached more than 100 degrees on the turf, the Oilers came ready to play in the marquee Division II matchup of the week. The two teams went back and forth early, trading possessions for the first seven minutes of play.
Findlay finally broke through midway through the first period, using passing plays of 31 and 28 yards from senior Chase Harrison to senior Delon Hurt to break into Indianapolis territory. On a third and nine from the 18, Harrison found senior Denny Furlong Jr. for the first touchdown of the season.
The Greyhounds, which were an NCAA Playoff team and Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) champions a season ago, answered with a score of their own. That touchdown would be the only one of the game for the home team.
A 29-yard touchdown from sophomore Andrew Leonard to Hurt put the Oilers back in front.