If you were watching the scoreboard at Stambaugh Stadium on November 29, 2025, you probably still haven't quite processed what you saw. The Youngstown State football score ended up 43-42 in favor of Yale. It was a heartbreaker. One point. That is all that stood between the Penguins and a trip to Bozeman to face Montana State.
Honestly, the way that game ended was sort of a microcosm of the entire 2025 season. High highs, confusing lows, and a lot of Beau Brungard doing things that shouldn't be physically possible.
The Penguins finished the year 8-5. On paper, it looks like a solid, above-average season. But if you actually followed the games, you know it was way more of a roller coaster than that record suggests. They were ranked as high as No. 14 in the STATS poll before that final playoff exit.
That Final 43-42 Heartbreak Against Yale
Let’s talk about that Yale game because it still stings for anyone in the 330 area code. YSU came out absolutely on fire. They forced three turnovers in the first half alone. By the time the halftime whistle blew, the Penguins were sitting on a massive 35-7 lead. You’ve probably seen the highlights of Max Tomczak catching everything thrown his way; he finished that game with three touchdowns.
Then the second half happened.
Yale’s Josh Pitsenberger basically turned into a human cheat code. He ran for 209 yards, including a 56-yard soul-crusher with under three minutes left to give Yale their first lead of the game. YSU had one last chance, but it just didn't happen. Final score: 43-42. Season over.
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It was the kind of game that reminds you why college football is both the best and worst thing in the world.
Beau Brungard and the 2025 Season Highlights
If there is one name that defined the Youngstown State football score updates all year, it was Beau Brungard. The kid is a dual-threat nightmare.
Basically, he was the offense.
- Against Robert Morris, he set a Missouri Valley Conference record for QBs with 264 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The final was 56-17, and it wasn't even that close.
- In the Illinois State upset, he accounted for five touchdowns and 528 total yards. YSU won that one 40-35.
- He finished the season with 1,468 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns. That’s from the quarterback position.
He wasn't just a runner, either. Brungard threw for over 3,200 yards. When you have a guy putting up numbers like that, you're going to be in every single game, which is exactly why YSU was so dangerous in the MVFC this year.
The 2025 Schedule and Key Results
The Penguins' journey to that 8-5 mark was anything but simple. They started the year with a gritty 24-15 win over Mercyhurst and then absolutely demolished Robert Morris. Then came the "money game" against Michigan State.
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Look, losing 41-24 to a Big Ten team isn't something to be ashamed of, especially when you consider YSU actually hung around for a bit. But the real meat of the season was the Valley play.
The win at Northern Iowa (35-32) was a massive deal. It was the first time YSU won in Cedar Falls in 26 years. Twenty-six years! Think about that. The last time the Penguins won there, "Smooth" by Santana was the number one song in the country.
Why the Scorelines Were So High
You might have noticed that the scores were kinda... inflated this year. YSU averaged 36.6 points per game. That's elite. But they also gave up 31 points per game.
Mike Yurcich came in as the offensive coordinator and implemented a pro-spread that worked wonders. It allowed Brungard to use his legs but also featured Max Tomczak and Kylon "Flash" Wilson in ways that kept defensive coordinators awake at night.
On the flip side, the defense was a bit of a bend-but-don't-break situation. Sometimes they bent too much. In the North Dakota State game, for instance, they fought like crazy but gave up a 100-yard kickoff return that swung the momentum. They lost that one 38-30. It's those little things—special teams lapses or a missed tackle in the fourth quarter—that turned a potential 10-win season into an 8-win season.
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How to Track Future Scores
If you’re trying to keep up with the Youngstown State football score next season, you’ve got a few reliable options. Honestly, the official YSU Sports website is usually the fastest with the live box scores.
- 570 WKBN: This is the home of the Penguins. If you can't be at the Ice Castle, listening to the local broadcast is the next best thing.
- ESPN+: Most MVFC games end up here. It’s basically the home for FCS football now.
- The Box Score Nuance: Don't just look at the final. Look at the "Time of Possession." YSU actually led the league in keeping the ball (averaging 31:13). It’s how they managed to stay in games even when the defense was struggling.
Next year is going to be interesting. Brungard is the real deal, and as long as he’s healthy, the Penguins are going to be a problem for the rest of the Missouri Valley. They need to find some consistency in the secondary, and they definitely need to figure out how to close out games when they have a 28-point lead in the playoffs.
But for now, the 2025 season is in the books. It was a wild ride that ended just one point short of where it should have.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the 2026 Recruitment Class: Keep an eye on local Ohio high school commits; YSU is leaning heavily into local talent to shore up the defensive line.
- Rewatch the Illinois State Game: If you want to see the pinnacle of the Yurcich/Brungard offense, that's the one to study.
- Sync Your Calendar: Download the 2026 schedule directly from the YSU Athletics site as soon as it's finalized this spring to ensure you don't miss the next home opener at Stambaugh.