Opening the 2025 season with an exhibition game in Montreal, the University of Torono Varsity Blues football team fell 37-10 versus the home team McGill Redbirds on Friday (Aug. 15) night in Percival Molson Stadium.

Following the opening kick-off, it took just four passes from fourth-year quarterback Scott Barnett for the Blues to find the end zone. After a short first completion it was a 44-yard pass to third-year H-back Thomas Roberts and 29-yard reception from fifth-year receiver Jake Oseen that placed Toronto on the McGill 5-yard line. From there a perfectly placed five-yard out pass to Roberts secured the opening score of the game. Barnett would play just one more series finishing the exhibition going 5-for-7 with 91 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

Shifting to the defence, U of T brought plenty of pressure securing four sacks and one interception.Third-year defensive back Brayden Parker led all Blues with four total tackles. Up front, third-year linebacker Elia Lini and fourth-year defensive lineman Parker Williams each registered two sacks. Second-year linebacker Nolan Ricardo grabbed the lone interception for Toronto, while also adding 1.5 total tackles including a tackle for loss.

Additional standout performances in the Toronto rushing attack included second-year fullback Michael Garcia who turned three carries into 20 yards, and second-year quarterback Kaleb O'Donoghue who led all Blues with 63 rushing yards on two carries. Meanwhile, first-year H-back Jack Donohue made his presence felt all over the field, securing one catch for 17 yards on offence and recording one assisted tackle on special teams. First-year kicker Filippo Marcello rounded out the scoring for Toronto with a 22-yard field goal in the second half.

The Varsity Blues kick-off the regular season next Saturday, Aug. 23 traveling to Ottawa to challenge the Carleton Ravens. The action is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. All OUA football games are available to watch via livestream on OUA.tv. U of T will then host the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday, Aug. 30 for the Blues home opener. Tickets for all Blues home games are available at varsityblues.ca/tickets.