THE GAME AT A GLANCE

Saturday, September 12 (5 pm) vs. Southwest Minnesota State
SMSU Head Coach: Scott Underwood
All-Time Record: 27-10-1
Last Meeting: NSU 55 – SMSU 22 [2025]
 

FAN INFORMATION & GAME COVERAGE

Live Stats: smsumustangs.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Live Video: midcosportsplus.com/?school=northern-state-university
Radio Broadcast: Fox Sports Aberdeen [98.5 FM · 1420 AM] radio.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KGIMAM
Fan Details:

• The Wolves Pregame Show with David Tukesbrey will air at 5 p.m. on Fox Sports Aberdeen [98.5 FM · 1420 AM] or at the link above

(RV) NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• The Wolves head to their first road game of the 2026 season with a 2-0 record overall and 1-0 mark in the NSIC
• The offense is averaging 36.5 points, 275.5 yards rushing, 175.0 yards passing, and 450.5 yards of total offense this season with ten touchdowns scored
• They are converting at rates of 41.4% on third down and 75.0% on fourth down
• The defense is holding their opponents to conversion rates of 32.3% on third down and 66.7% on fourth down, recording five sacks and one interception in the opening weeks
• Ty Englehart and Joey Dube-Garrett are splitting time under center with Englehart notching a team best 235 yards passing, three touchdowns, and 64.0% completion rate
• Hank Kraft is the back-to-back NSIC Offensive Player of the Week, averaging 241.0 yards rushing per game with 482 total yards adn six rushing touchdowns this season; he also earned D2Football.com National Player of the Week accolades versus Winona State
• Cooper Eisenbeisz leads the receiving core with 107 total yards and one touchdown, followed by Kraft with 79 yards and a touchdown
• Jake Adams leads the defense and tallied his first NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season against WSU; the linebacker has 25 tackles on the year with 15 solo stops
• Gabe Gutierrez and Ayden Barnby lead the team up front with 3.5 and 3.0 tackles for a loss respectively, with Gutierrez notching a two best 2.0 sacks
• Northern is sitting tied for second in red-zone offense and 15th in rushing offense in the NCAA Division II rankings
• NSU opened the week receiving votes in the AFCA Top-25 Coaches Poll

 

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE STORYLINES

• The Mustangs enter the week with a 1-1 record overall and 0-1 mark in the NSIC
• SMSU is averaging 5.0 points, 58.0 yards rushing, 152.0 yards passing, and 210.0 yards of total offense per game with one touchdown
• They are converting at rates of 10.3% on third down and 40.0% on fourth down
• The defense is holding their opponents to conversion rates of 30.0% on third down and 40.0% on fourth down, however are giving up 370.5 yards of total offense per game with six touchdowns
• Macloud Crowton has 267 yards passing this season with two interceptions; his leading receiver being Tryg Auten with 98 yards on the year
• Josh Lancifort leads the rushing attack with 67 total yards, while Shaun Walrath has scored the team's lone touchdown
• Hunter Hanegraaf leads the defense with 15 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for a loss, followed by Malachi Kohls with 13 tackles
• The Mustangs are led by head coach Scott Underwood in his fifth season at the helm

 

THE WOLVES AND MUSTANGS HISTORY

• The Wolves defeated the Mustangs, 55-23, in non-conference action last season from Dacotah Bank Stadium
• Northern is 27-10-1 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State