INDIANAPOLIS — The University of St. Thomas football team is flirting with its first losing season since moving up to Division I competition in 2021.

The Tommies took another step in the wrong direction with Saturday’s 36-20 loss to host Butler University, dropping St. Thomas to 5-6 overall and 4-3 in the Pioneer Football League.

The Tommies wrap up their 2024 season with a home game Saturday against PFL foe Dayton.

Butler, ranked No. 25 in the country in FCS competition, improved to 9-2 overall and 5-2 in the PFL.

Since moving up from Division III, St. Thomas has strung together season records of 7-3 in 2021, 10-1 in 2022 and 8-3 in 2023.

The Tommies matched Butler in total offense, finishing with 367 yards to the Bulldogs’ 379.  But St. Thomas came up short when it needed to push through, managing a first down on just one of 12 third-down conversions while Butler was 8 for 16 on third-down conversions. Both teams were 1 for 1 on fourth-down conversions.

The Tommies finished with 305 yards passing, getting 214 yards from Tak Tateoka and 95 from Michael Rostberg. They both threw for a touchdown.