Aberdeen, S.D. – The 2023 season officially kicks off for the Northern State University football team at 6 p.m. tomorrow against No. 11 Bemidji State from Chet Anderson Stadium.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live stat, video, and audio links are above or on the schedule at nsuwolves.com
• Chet Anderson Stadium is a cashless facility in 2023 with fans encouraged to purchase tickets prior at the link above or on the schedule page

 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• The Wolves are coming off a 6-5 record in 2022, where they tallied seven single game, season, and career school records
• Northern was picked seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 75 total points
• Ian Marshall and Dewaylon Ingram were tabbed as the team's players to watch in 2023; both of which are returning All-Americans and found their names on the D2Football.com Elite 100 watch list
• Marshall earned NSIC Preseason Player of the Year accolades after a decorated 2022 with the Wolves as an AFCA, D2CCA, and Don Hansen All-American, as well as the NSIC Defensive Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year
• In addition, Marshall was a finalist for the 2022 Cliff Harris Award
• Ingram and Dakota Larson return to the Wolves wide receiver core after being sidelined in 2022; the pair led the team in 2021 with a combined 2,075 yards and 25 touchdowns
• Anthony Vespo earned the 2023 QB1 title after four appearances for the Wolves in 2022
• Head coach Mike Schmidt enters his fourth season, holding an 11-9 record at the helm of the Wolves program

 
#11 BEMIDJI STATE STORYLINES

• The Beavers enter the 2023 season with their highest national ranking, sitting at No. 11 in the AFCA Top-25 Poll
• Bemidji went 10-3 overall and 9-2 in the Northern Sun last season with a 5-1 record from Chet Anderson Stadium
• BSU were picked first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll earning 131 points and four first place votes
• Bemidji State won back-to-back NSIC Championships in 2021 and 2022, advancing to the NCAA Tournament
• Brandon Alt returns to the BSU sidelines as their offensive catalyst, picked as the league's preseason offensive player of the year; he is the BSU career leader with 8,649 passing yards and 94 touchdowns
• Alt along with Max Buduris were picked as the players to watch for the Beavers in 2023
• Alt and Ty Cobb found themselves on the D2Football.com Elite 100 watch list released a few weeks ago
• BSU concluded the 2022 season ranked in the top-10 nationally in passing offense, sacks allowed, passing efficiency, team sacks, and total offense
• The Beavers are led by head coach Brent Bolte in his seventh season at the helm and 23rd overall with the program
• Bolte holds a career record of 52-19 at BSU

 
LAST MATCH-UP

• Northern State fell to Bemidji State 24-14 on the road a season ago
• Stanley Haskins Jr. and Ben Noland scored for the Wolves in the game, while Brennan Kutterer, Trey King, and Felipe Alvear each tallied eight tackles
• Bemidji State nearly doubled the Wolves in total offense, with Northern converting on just 3-of-11 third downs
• The Wolves are 20-25-1 against the Beavers and 0-2 in the Schmidt-era