WashU’s Levi Moore (6) celebrates with teammates after scoring what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in the Bears’ upset win over John Carroll on Saturday. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

NCAA Football	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
#8 John Carroll (4-1, 3-1)	7	10	0	8	25
#18 WashU (5-0, 4-0)	7	14	14	0	35

CLAYTON, MO — The Washington University football team earned perhaps its biggest win in program history on Saturday, when the No. 18-ranked Bears defeated No. 8 John Carroll, 35-25, in a North Coast Athletic Conference game at Francis Olympic Field.

It was the first time in program history that WashU’s football team won a game against a Top 10 ranked team.

The victory might just vault the Bears into the Top 10 rankings themselves when they are released on Monday.

For now, WashU is 5-0 on the season and 4-0 in the NCAC — tied with Denison for first place in the league standings.

WashU RB Brayden Lewis had 83 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown run in the Bears’ upset win over John Carroll on Saturday. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

On Saturday, senior quarterback Levi Moore completed 15-of-26 passes for 257 yards, three first-half touchdown passes, and added a touchdown catch in the third quarter which proved to be the game-winning score.

Senior receiver Makael Carter caught three passes for 135 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore running back Brayden Lewis led the Bears with 83 rushing yards.

Senior linebacker Henry Murr led the defense with 11 tackles (eight solo). Fellow senior Joy Chane had eight tackles (four solo) and an interception.

The game began as a back-and-forth affair, as both teams scored touchdowns in the first quarter. John Carroll scored on its first possession, after going 84 yards on seven plays, capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Green to receiver Nico McBride.

WashU answered late in the first, when the Bears drove 77 yards on six plays, with the final play being a one-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Matthew Kinoshita.

WashU stars Brayden Lewis (4) and Makael Carter (2) celebrate scoring a touchdown in the Bears’ upset win over John Carroll on Saturday. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

WashU took the lead for good when it scored a touchdown on the second play of the second quarter. The Bears took possession of the ball at the John Carroll 46-yard line, following a short punt, which was fair caught by Carter.

Four plays later, Moore found tight end Luke Stephens for a 12-yard touchdown that put the home team up 14-7.

The first real swing in the game came on John Carroll’s next possession, when safety Trey Knox intercepted a Green pass in the end zone on a play that turned a Blue Streak scoring chance into WashU possession at their own 20.

Three plays later, on third down, Moore found Carter open deep across the middle and hit him near midfield. Carter made the catch, broke free from a defender, then outran everyone else to the end zone for a 76 yard touchdown that put the Bears up two scores.

John Carroll scored a touchdown and kicked a field on the final play of the half to make the score 21-17 heading into halftime.

The Bears took firm control of the game in the third quarter. Moore caught a touchdown pass from Colin Donahue midway through. Then, Lewis broke free for a 64 yard burst that put WashU up 35-17 with two seconds left in the third.

From that point on, John Carroll was in rally mode and the Blue Streaks did get four possessions in the fourth quarter. But only one produced points, so WashU was able to run out the clock and claim its humungous win.

WashU QB Levi Moore threw three touchdown passes and made a touchdown catch in the Bears’ upset win over John Carroll on Saturday. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

After a well-deserved bye week next week, WashU will be on the road for its next game, which will come on October 17, against Kenyon College. Kickoff that day will be at noon and the game will be streamed live on the North Coast Network.

SCORING SUMMARY

Qtr	Time	Scoring Play	JCU	WASHU
1st	08:27	JCU – TOUCHDOWN – Nico McBride 22 yd pass from Tyler Green (PAT good)	7	0
1st	02:59	WASHU- TOUCHDOWN – Matthew Kinoshita 1 yd pass from Levi Moore (PAT good)	7	7
2nd	14:47	WASHU – Luke Stephens 12 yd pass from Levi Moore (PAT good)	7	14
2nd	10:25	WASHU – TOUCHDOWN – Makael Carter 76 yd pass from Levi Moore (PAT good)	7	21
2nd	07:01	JCU – TOUCHDOWN – Shane Lindstrom 6 yd pass from Tyler Green (PAT good)	14	21
2nd	00:00	JCU – FIELD GOAL – Colin Schuler 30 yd field goal	17	21
3rd	06:49	WASHU – TOUCHDOWN – Levi Moore 6 yd pass from Colin Donahue (PAT good)	17	28
3rd	00:02	WASHU – TOUCHDOWN – Brayden Lewis 64 yd run (PAT good)	17	35
4th	08:12	JCU – TOUCHDOWN – Dorian Facen Jr., 6 yd run (2 pt conversion good)	25	35

2026 WASHU BEARS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date	Time	At	Opponent	Location	Results
September 5, 2026 (Saturday)	7 p.m.	Away	Rhodes College	Memphis, Tenn. / Crain Field	W, 73-0 (1-0)
September 12, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Home	#15 DePauw University*	Francis Olympic Field	W, 37-27 (2-0)
September 19, 2026 (Saturday)	12 p.m.	Away	Wittenberg University*	Springfield, Ohio / Edwards-Maurer Field	W, 31-24 (3-0)
September 26, 2026 (Saturday)	12 p.m.	Away	Oberlin College*	Oberlin, Ohio / Dick Bailey Field	W, 79-0 (4-0)
October 3, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Home	#8 John Carroll University*	Francis Olympic Field	W, 35-25, (5-0)
October 17, 2026 (Saturday)	12 p.m.	Away	Kenyon College*	Gambier, Ohio / McBride Field
October 24, 2026 (Saturday)	12 p.m.	Away	Wabash College*	Crawfordsville, Ind. / Little Giant Stadium
October 31, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Home	Denison University*	Francis Olympic Field
November 7, 2026 (Saturday)	12 p.m.	Away	Ohio Wesleyan University*	Delaware, Ohio / Selby Stadium
November 14, 2026 (Saturday)	1 p.m.	Home	The College of Wooster*	Francis Olympic Field