THE GAME AT A GLANCE

Saturday, September 19 (1 pm) vs. #4/#3 Minnesota State
MSU Head Coach: Todd Hoffner
All-Time Record: 2-11
Last Meeting: NSU 14 – MSU 24 [2024]
 

FAN INFORMATION & GAME COVERAGE

Live Stats: msumavericks.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
Tickets: msumavericktickets.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1530

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
• Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time at the link above

  

RV/#25 NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• The Wolves enter the top-25 match-up with the Mavericks holding a 3-0 record overall and 2-0 mark in the NSIC
• Northern found themselves in both national rankings this week, receiving votes with the AFCA and sitting 25th with D2Football.com
• NSU is averaging 34.3 points, 236.7 yards rushing, 222.3 yards passing, and 459.0 yards of total offense this season with 14 offensive touchdowns and completion rates of 42.5% on third down and 75.0% on fourth
• The Wolves defense is holding their opponents to 12.0 points and 319.0 yards of total offense per game with two interceptions and six sacks
• The league leaders in rushing yards, scoring, all-purpose yards and tackles sit on the Northern State roster in Hank Kraft and Jake Adams
• Kraft is averaging 196.3 yards rushing and 30.0 yards receiving per game this season with eight total touchdowns; he has led the NSIC each week in total rushing yards
• Adams has 40 tackles through three contests, averaging 13.3 tackles per game with 2.0 tackles for a loss; the linebacker has lead the league in tackles the previous two weeks
• Gabe Gutierrez leads the team up front with 2.5 sacks for a loss of 20 yards, while Kegan Mountain has five pass break-ups in two games
• Ty Englehart and Joey Dube-Garrett are sharing the duties under center, averaging 222.3 yards per game with seven touchdowns and a 60.7% completion rate

 

#4/#3 MINNESOTA STATE STORYLINES

• The Mavericks enter the week with a 3-0 record overall and 2-0 mark in the NSIC, sitting fourth in the AFCA national poll and third in the D2Football.com poll
• MSU is averaging 38.7 points, 244.0 yards rushing, 226.0 yards passing, and 470.0 yards of total offense this season with 14 touchdowns and conversion rates of 57.5% on third down and 60.0% on fourth down
• The defense is holding their opponents to a league low of 11.3 points per contest, giving up just four total touchdowns in 2026 with nine sacks
• Mitchell Thompson and Maximus Sims share the duties under center as well, combining for 678 total yards and five touchdowns with a completion rate of 58.2%
• Jackson Owens is the team's main target with 172 total yards and two touchdowns, followed by Lebarion Gilmore and El Staley with 125 and 122 yards respectively
• Sam Becker leads the team on the ground with 229 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 76.3 yards per game and 8.2 yards per carry
• Nathan Drumm and Marcellus Linton lead the defense with 15.0 tackles each for the Mavericks, while Tanner Olson has a team leading 1.5 sacks through the first three games
• Head coach Todd Hoffner is in his 15th season at the helm

 

THE WOLVES AND MAVERICKS HISTORY

• The Wolves fell to the Mavericks 24-14 at home in the fall of 2024, however tallied a 23-22 victory in the fall of 2022
• Northern is 2-11 all-time against Minnesota State