2025 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team

Last updated

2025 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football
ND Fighting Hawks wordmark.png
Conference Missouri Valley Football Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 20
FCS CoachesNo. 22
Record0–1 (0–0 MVFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Isaac Fruechte (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Base defense 4–2–5 [1]
Home stadium Alerus Center
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Indiana State  0 0   1 0  
No. 1 North Dakota State  0 0   1 0  
Northern Iowa  0 0   1 0  
No. 2 South Dakota State  0 0   1 0  
No. 14 Southern Illinois  0 0   1 0  
Youngstown State  0 0   1 0  
No. 7 Illinois State  0 0   0 1  
Murray State  0 0   0 1  
No. 20 North Dakota  0 0   0 1  
No. 4 South Dakota  0 0   0 1  
As of September 3, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team represents the University of North Dakota as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Fighting Hawks are led by first-year head coach Eric Schmidt. Schmidt is taking over for former coach Bubba Schweigert, who stepped down after the 2024 season. [2] They play home games at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Contents

Preseason

MVFC poll

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Fighting Hawks were predicted to finish seventh in the conference. [3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 306:00 pmat No. 17 (FBS) Kansas State * ESPN+ L 35–3851,927
September 66:00 pm Portland State *No. 20 Midco Sports/ESPN+
September 132:00 p.m.at Montana *Midco Sports/ESPN+
September 203:00 pm Valparaiso *Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Alerus Center
  • Grand Forks, ND
Midco Sports/ESPN+
October 44:00 p.m.at Northern Iowa Midco Sports/ESPN+
October 113:00 pm Youngstown State
  • Alerus Center
  • Grand Forks, ND
Midco Sports/ESPN+
October 182:00 pmat Southern Illinois ESPN+
October 253:00 pm Indiana State
  • Alerus Center
  • Grand Forks, ND
Midco Sports/ESPN+
November 11:00 pmat South Dakota Midco Sports/ESPN+
November 81:00 pm North Dakota State
Midco Sports/ESPN+
November 1511:00 amat Murray State ESPN+
November 221:00 pm South Dakota State
  • Alerus Center
  • Grand Forks, ND
Midco Sports/ESPN+
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[4] [5]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
STATS RV20
Coaches RV22

Game summaries

at No. 17 (FBS) Kansas State

North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) at No. 17 (FBS) Kansas State Wildcats (0–1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Fighting Hawks71401435
No. 17 (FBS) Wildcats10714738

at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas

  • Date: August 30, 2025
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 51,927
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Barrett Brooks (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • KSU – Luis Rodriguez 30-yard field goal, 5:26. Wildcats 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 67 yards, 6:11.
  • UND – Jerry Kaminski 1-yard run (C. J. Elrichs kick), 2:54. Fighting Hawks 7–3. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:32.
  • KSU – Jayce Brown 44-yard pass from Avery Johnson (Luis Rodriguez kick), 1:55. Wildcats 10–7. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 0:54.
Second Quarter
  • UND – Jerry Kaminski 1-yard run (C. J. Elrichs kick), 7:46. Fighting Hawks 14–10. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:50.
  • KSU – Jaron Tibbs 30-yard pass from Avery Johnson (Luis Rodriguez kick), 4:15. Wildcats 17–14. Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 3:12.
  • UND – Sawyer Seidl 16-yard run (C. J. Elrichs kick), 0:24. Fighting Hawks 21–17. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 3:51.
Third Quarter
  • KSU – DeVon Rice 9-yard run (Luis Rodriguez kick), 8:41. Wildcats 24–21. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:47.
  • KSU – DeVon Rice 13-yard run (Luis Rodriguez kick), 3:41. Wildcats 31–21. Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 3:58.
Fourth Quarter
  • UND – Korey Tai 22-yard pass from Jerry Kaminski (C. J. Elrichs kick), 10:12. Wildcats 31–28. Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards, 4:35.
  • UND – Sawyer Seidl 20-yard run (C. J. Elrichs kick), 4:19. Fighting Hawks 35–31. Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 4:41.
  • KSU – Joe Jackson 6-yard pass from Avery Johnson (Luis Rodriguez kick), 0:42. Wildcats 38–35. Drive: 10 plays, 81 yards, 1:03.
StatisticsUNDKSU
First downs2322
Total yards354461
Rushing yards102143
Passing yards252318
Passing: Comp–Att–Int24–39–028–43–0
Time of possession31:1428:46
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North DakotaPassingJerry Kaminski23/38, 231 yards, TD
RushingSawyer Seidl8 rushes, 62 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingCaden Dennis2 receptions, 41 yards
Kansas StatePassing Avery Johnson 28/43, 318 yards, 3 TD
RushingJoe Jackson11 rushes, 55 yards
Receiving Jayce Brown 12 receptions, 109 yards, TD

Portland State

Portland State Vikings (0–2) vs. No. 20 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Vikings----0
No. 20 Fighting Hawks----0

at Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

  • Date: September 6, 2025
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsPRSTUND
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Portland StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Montana

North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) vs. Montana Grizzlies (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Fighting Hawks----0
Grizzlies----0

at Washington–Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, MT

  • Date: September 13, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsUNDMONT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
MontanaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Valparaiso

Valparaiso Beacons (0–0) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Beacons----0
Fighting Hawks----0

at Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

  • Date: September 20, 2025
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsVALUND
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ValparaisoPassing
Rushing
Receiving
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Northern Iowa

North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Fighting Hawks----0
Panthers----0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

  • Date: October 4, 2025
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsUNDUNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Youngstown State

Youngstown State Penguins (0–0) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Penguins----0
Fighting Hawks----0

at Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

  • Date: October 11, 2025
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsYSUUND
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Youngstown StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Southern Illinois

North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) vs. Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Fighting Hawks----0
Salukis----0

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

  • Date: October 18, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsUNDSIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern IllinoisPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Indiana State

Indiana State Sycamores (0–0) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Sycamores----0
Fighting Hawks----0

at Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

  • Date: October 25, 2025
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsINSTUND
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Indiana StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at South Dakota (Sitting Bull Trophy)

North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) vs. South Dakota Coyotes (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Fighting Hawks----0
Coyotes----0

at DakotaDome, Vermillion, SD

  • Date: November 1, 2025
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsUNDSDAK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
South DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

North Dakota State (Nickel Trophy)

North Dakota State Bison (0–0) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bison----0
Fighting Hawks----0

at Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

  • Date: November 8, 2025
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsNDSUUND
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North Dakota StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Murray State

North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) vs. Murray State Racers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Fighting Hawks----0
Racers----0

at Roy Stewart Stadium, Murray, KY

  • Date: November 15, 2025
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsUNDMURR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Murray StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

South Dakota State

South Dakota State Jackrabbits (0–0) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Jackrabbits----0
Fighting Hawks----0

at Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

  • Date: November 22, 2025
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsSDSTUND
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South Dakota StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. "Eric Schmidt plans to implement new base defense at UND for the first time since the 1990s". Grand Forks Herald. December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  2. "Head Coach Bubba Schweigert to step down, move into senior administrative role with UND Athletics". fightinghawks.com. North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  3. "Missouri Valley Football Announces predicted order of finish". valley-football.org. Missouri Valley Football Conference. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  4. "2025 Football Schedule". fightinghawks.com. North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  5. "2025 North Dakota Football Schedule". fbschedules.com. FBSchedules. Retrieved April 10, 2025.