BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College football team will open its annual CBB rivalry series on Saturday afternoon when the Polar Bears travel to Lewiston to face Bates College at Garcelon Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Both teams enter the contest at 0-7, with Bowdoin looking to extend its three-game winning streak against the Bobcats in the 128th meeting between the longtime Maine rivals.
SATURDAY'S GAME
The Polar Bears begin a two-week stretch of traditional in-state rivalry games to close out the 2026 season, traveling to Bates before returning home to face Colby on November 14. Bowdoin has won three consecutive meetings against Bates, including a 17-9 victory in Brunswick last fall.
CBB UPDATE
Colby defeated Bates in Waterville last weekend, 21-19, to claim the first leg of the CBB rivalry. The Mules, who currently hold the trophy, will play at Bowdoin next Saturday. The best Bates can hope for is a three-way tie, which last occurred in 2022. Bates has not won the title since 2017. Bowdoin last won the CBB in 2023 and owns a rivalry-best 20 titles while Colby has 19 and Bates owns 14 with six three-way ties and one joint-title in 1993.
LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the
NESCAC Network, powered by NSN, with
live statistics provided by Bates Athletics. WCME Radio (99.5 FM/900 AM) will also travel to Lewiston to provide live radio coverage of the rivalry contest. Links to live coverage are available on the
Bowdoin football schedule.
LAST WEEK
Wesleyan at Bowdoin: The Polar Bears held Wesleyan to seven first-half points before the Cardinals pulled away for a 28-0 victory at Whittier Field. Bowdoin's defense recorded four sacks and an interception while limiting Wesleyan to 127 passing yards.
Angus Leary collected two sacks, while
Owen Kaseta added 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Brody Aeschliman led Bowdoin with eight tackles, while
Soren Hummel threw for 116 yards and
Conrad Babka caught five passes for 44 yards.
Bates at Colby: The Bobcats nearly erased an 18-point deficit in Waterville before falling to the Mules, 21-19. Trailing 21-3 in the second half, Bates scored 16 unanswered points behind touchdown passes from Jack Gilmore to Jeff Vidou and Bryce Carberry. The Bobcats had a chance to tie the game with 4:45 remaining, but their two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete. Bates got the ball back for one final possession but was unable to complete the comeback.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 3: Bowdoin has won three consecutive games against Bates, its longest winning streak in the series since 2006-08.
- 12: Angus Leary leads the NESCAC with 12 tackles for loss this season.
- 5.5: Leary and Bates linebacker Liam Keaney are tied for the conference lead with 5.5 sacks apiece.
- 19.9: Bowdoin ranks sixth in the NESCAC in scoring defense, allowing 19.9 points per game.
- 29.9: Bates ranks ninth in the conference in scoring defense, surrendering 29.9 points per contest.
LAST MEETING
Bowdoin earned a 17-9 victory over Bates at Whittier Field last November, using a pair of second-quarter touchdown passes from
Soren Hummel to build a lead it would not relinquish. Hummel connected with
Ty Connolly for a 48-yard touchdown and
Jude Baker for a 32-yard score to give the Polar Bears a 14-0 halftime advantage.
Caden Perry added a 30-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter before Bates scored nine late points. Bowdoin recovered a pair of onside kicks to preserve the victory.
BOWDOIN vs. BATES – ALL-TIME
Bowdoin leads the all-time series 70-50-7 entering Saturday's 128th meeting between the programs. The Polar Bears have won the last three matchups after Bates had claimed 10 of the previous 11 meetings. Bowdoin's current three-game winning streak is its longest against the Bobcats since winning five straight from 2004-08.
