The 2023 Butler Bulldogs football team represented Butler University as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Mike Uremovich, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the PFL. Butler played home games at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis.
Schedule
Game summaries
No. 14 Montana
Statistics BUTMONT First downs 15 24 Total yards 304 441 Rushing yards 41 230 Passing yards 263 211 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–36–1 17–29–2 Time of possession 28:45 31:15 Team Category Player StatisticsButler Passing Bret Bushka 24/35, 263 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jyran Mitchell 12 carries, 23 yards Receiving Ryan Lezon 2 receptions, 55 yards, TDMontana Passing Sam Vidlak 15/25, 180 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Eli Gillman 19 carries, 119 yards, TD Receiving Junior Bergen 4 receptions, 72 yards, TD
Taylor (NAIA)
Statistics TAYBUT First downs 13 16 Total yards 325 439 Rushing yards 156 254 Passing yards 169 185 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–20–0 14–23–0 Time of possession 32:18 27:42 Team Category Player StatisticsTaylor Passing Damon Hockett 10/19, 94 yards, TD Rushing Stephen Ellis 6 carries, 42 yards Receiving Dakohta Sonnichsen 1 reception, 75 yards, TDButler Passing Bret Bushka 13/22, 185 yards, TD Rushing Jyran Mitchell 12 carries, 178 yards, 3 TD Receiving Ethan Loss 4 receptions, 79 yards
Wabash (DIII)
Statistics WABBUT First downs 21 26 Total yards 338 442 Rushing yards 62 244 Passing yards 276 198 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–34–1 13–18–0 Time of possession 32:16 27:44 Team Category Player StatisticsWabash Passing Liam Thompson 22/32, 256 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Cade Campbell 6 carries, 36 yards Receiving Derek Allen Jr. 10 receptions, 99 yards, TDButler Passing Bret Bushka 13/18, 198 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jyran Mitchell 13 carries, 82 yards, TD Receiving Ethan Loss 4 receptions, 73 yards, TD
at Stetson
Statistics BUTSTET First downs 15 15 Total yards 376 258 Rushing yards 322 91 Passing yards 54 167 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–19–1 18–32–3 Time of possession 33:25 26:35 Team Category Player StatisticsButler Passing Bret Bushka 9/19, 54 yards, INT Rushing Jyran Mitchell 26 carries, 209 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ethan Loss 3 receptions, 15 yardsStetson Passing Matt O'Connor 10/16, 106 yards Rushing Kadarris Roberts 16 carries, 62 yards Receiving Gabe Atkin 8 receptions, 83 yards, TD
Presbyterian
Statistics PRESBUT First downs 13 30 Total yards 356 464 Rushing yards 33 299 Passing yards 323 165 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–28–0 18–27–1 Time of possession 18:41 41:19 Team Category Player StatisticsPresbyterian Passing Tyler Wesley 17/28, 323 yards, 2 TD Rushing Zach Switzer 6 carries, 21 yards Receiving Dominic Kibby 5 receptions, 199 yards, 2 TDButler Passing Bret Bushka 17/26, 148 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jyran Mitchell 31 carries, 149 yards, TD Receiving Ethan Loss 4 receptions, 36 yards
at St. Thomas (MN)
Statistics BUTSTMN First downs 18 12 Total yards 262 300 Rushing yards 151 229 Passing yards 111 71 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–31–0 5–8–0 Time of possession 28:56 31:04 Team Category Player StatisticsButler Passing Bret Bushka 16/31, 111 yards Rushing Bret Bushka 16 carries, 63 yards Receiving Ryan Lezon 4 receptions, 35 yardsSt. Thomas (MN) Passing Tak Tateoka 5/8, 71 yards Rushing Shawn Shipman 22 carries, 103 yards Receiving Andrew McElroy 2 receptions, 32 yards
Davidson
Statistics DAVBUT First downs 23 14 Total yards 506 345 Rushing yards 282 215 Passing yards 224 130 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–20–1 14–31–1 Time of possession 37:20 22:40 Team Category Player StatisticsDavidson Passing Coulter Cleland 19/20, 224 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Mari Adams 30 carries, 171 yards, 3 TD Receiving Mark McCurdy 6 receptions, 81 yardsButler Passing Bret Bushka 13/29, 129 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jyran Mitchell 16 carries, 123 yards, TD Receiving Ethan Loss 3 receptions, 43 yards
at Dayton
Statistics BUTDAY First downs 16 17 Total yards 342 288 Rushing yards 151 105 Passing yards 191 183 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–23–1 30–49–0 Time of possession 27:57 32:03 Team Category Player StatisticsButler Passing Bret Bushka 18/23, 191 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jyran Mitchell 16 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ethan Loss 6 receptions, 86 yardsDayton Passing Drew VanVleet 30/48, 183 yards Rushing Luke Hansen 9 carries, 54 yards, TD Receiving Jake Coleman 7 receptions, 52 yards
Valparaiso (Hoosier Helmet Trophy)
Statistics VALBUT First downs 12 20 Total yards 289 331 Rushing yards 117 242 Passing yards 172 89 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–21–1 13–21–0 Time of possession 21:01 38:59 Team Category Player StatisticsValparaiso Passing Rowan Keefe 11/19, 172 yards, INT Rushing Solomon Davis 1 carry, 70 yards, TD Receiving Solomon Davis 2 receptions, 68 yardsButler Passing Bret Bushka 13/21, 89 yards Rushing Jyran Mitchell 26 carries, 159 yards, TD Receiving Ethan Loss 4 receptions, 58 yards
at Morehead State
Statistics BUTMORE First downs 27 9 Total yards 482 247 Rushing yards 179 111 Passing yards 303 136 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–25–2 13–23–1 Time of possession 37:45 22:15 Team Category Player StatisticsButler Passing Bret Bushka 16/17, 281 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Jyran Mitchell 22 carries, 125 yards Receiving Luke Wooten 5 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TDMorehead St Passing Carter Cravens 11/20, 126 yards, TD Rushing Jackson Lanier 12 carries, 78 yards Receiving Kyle Daly 5 receptions, 104 yards, TD
Drake
Statistics DRKEBUT First downs 15 19 Total yards 176 265 Rushing yards 56 125 Passing yards 120 140 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–28–0 21–34–0 Time of possession 22:43 37:17 Team Category Player StatisticsDrake Passing Luke Bailey 16/28, 120 yards, TD Rushing Dorian Boyland 8 carries, 31 yards, TD Receiving Trey Radocha 3 receptions, 29 yardsButler Passing Bret Bushka 21/34, 140 yards Rushing Jyran Mitchell 12 carries, 55 yards Receiving Luke Wooten 6 receptions, 65 yards
References