2025 North Dakota State Bison football team

The 2025 North Dakota State Bison football team will represent North Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bison will be led by second-year head coach Tim Polasek and play home games at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota.

2025 North Dakota State Bison football
Conference	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 1
FCS Coaches	No. 1
Record	0–0 (0–0 MVFC)
Head coach	Tim Polasek (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Dan Larson (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Grant Olson (2nd season)
Home stadium	Fargodome
Seasons ← 2024 2026 →

2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 6 Illinois State		0	–	0					0	–	0
Indiana State		0	–	0					0	–	0
Murray State		0	–	0					0	–	0
North Dakota		0	–	0					0	–	0
No. 1 North Dakota State		0	–	0					0	–	0
Northern Iowa		0	–	0					0	–	0
No. 4 South Dakota		0	–	0					0	–	0
No. 3 South Dakota State		0	–	0					0	–	0
No. 20 Southern Illinois		0	–	0					0	–	0
Youngstown State		0	–	0					0	–	0
As of August 26, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result
August 30	11:00 am	at The Citadel*	No. 1	Johnson Hagood Stadium Charleston, SC	ABC ND/ESPN+
September 6	1:30 pm	at Tennessee State*		Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	ESPN+
September 13	2:30 pm	Southeast Missouri State*		Fargodome Fargo, ND	ABC ND/ESPN+
September 27	1:00 pm	South Dakota		Fargodome Fargo, ND	ABC ND/Midco Sports/ESPN+
October 4	6:00 pm	at Illinois State		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+
October 11	2:30 pm	Southern Illinois		Fargodome Fargo, ND	ABC ND/ESPN+
October 18	12:00 pm	at Indiana State		Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	ABC ND/ESPN+
October 25	TBA	at South Dakota State		Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium Brookings, SD (Dakota Marker)	ESPN Network
November 1	2:30 pm	Youngstown State		Fargodome Fargo, ND	ABC ND/ESPN+
November 8	1:00 pm	at North Dakota		Alerus Center Grand Forks, ND (Nickel Trophy)	ABC ND/Midco Sports/ESPN+
November 15	2:30 pm	Northern Iowa		Fargodome Fargo, ND	ABC ND/ESPN+
November 22	2:30 pm	St. Thomas*		Fargodome Fargo, ND	ABC ND/ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[1][2][3][4]

Rankings

Further information: 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ( ) = First-place votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
STATS	1 (54)
Coaches	1 (26)

Preseason

MVFC poll

Main article: 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference season § Preseason

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Bison were predicted to finish first in the conference.^[5]

Game summaries

The Citadel

See also: 2025 The Citadel Bulldogs football team

No. 1 North Dakota State Bison (0–0) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	Total
No. 1 Bison			0
Bulldogs			0

at Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, SC

• Date: August 30, 2025
• Game time: 11:00 am
• Game weather: TBD
• TV: ESPN+

Tennessee State

See also: 2025 Tennessee State Tigers football team

North Dakota State Bison (–) vs. Tennessee State Tigers (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Bison			0
Tigers			0

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

• Date: September 6, 2025
• Game time: 1:30 pm
• Game weather: TBD
• TV: ESPN+

Southeast Missouri State

See also: 2025 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team

Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (–) vs. North Dakota State Bison (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Redhawks			0
Bison			0

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

• Date: September 13, 2025
• Game time: 2:30 pm
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

South Dakota

See also: 2025 South Dakota Coyotes football team

South Dakota Coyotes (–) vs. North Dakota State Bison (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Coyotes			0
Bison			0

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

• Date: September 27, 2025
• Game time: 1:00 pm
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Illinois State

See also: 2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team

North Dakota State Bison (–) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Bison			0
Redbirds			0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: October 4, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 pm
• Game weather: TBD
• TV: ESPN+

Southern Illinois

See also: 2025 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

Southern Illinois Salukis (–) vs. North Dakota State Bison (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Salukis			0
Bison			0

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

• Date: October 11, 2025
• Game time: 2:30 pm
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Indiana State

See also: 2025 Indiana State Sycamores football team

North Dakota State Bison (–) vs. Indiana State Sycamores (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Bison			0
Sycamores			0

at Memorial Stadium, Terre Haute, IN

• Date: October 18, 2025
• Game time: 12:00 pm
• Game weather: TBD
• TV: ESPN+

South Dakota State

See also: 2025 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team and Dakota Marker

North Dakota State Bison (–) vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Bison			0
Jackrabbits			0

at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD

• Date: October 25, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• Game weather: TBD
• TV: TBA

Youngstown State

See also: 2025 Youngstown State Penguins football team

Youngstown State Penguins (–) vs. North Dakota State Bison (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Penguins			0
Bison			0

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

• Date: November 1, 2025
• Game time: 2:30 pm
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

North Dakota

See also: 2025 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team and Nickel Trophy

North Dakota State Bison (–) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Bison			0
Fighting Hawks			0

at Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

• Date: November 8, 2025
• Game time: 1:00 pm
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Northern Iowa

See also: 2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

Northern Iowa Panthers (–) vs. North Dakota State Bison (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Bison			0
Panthers			0

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

• Date: November 15, 2025
• Game time: 2:30 pm
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

St. Thomas

See also: 2025 St. Thomas Tommies football team

St. Thomas Tommies (–) vs. North Dakota State Bison (–)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Tommies			0
Bison			0

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

• Date: November 22, 2025
• Game time: 2:30 pm
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Roster

2025 North Dakota State Bison football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 2 Kellen Entz  Jr WR 3 RaJa Nelson  Sr RB 4 Owen Johnson  Sr WR 5 Bryce Lance (C)  Sr RB 7 DJ Scott  So RB 8 Barika Kpeenu  Sr QB 9 Cole Payton (C)  Sr QB 10 Trey Drake  So WR 11 Jacob Kilzer  Fr QB 12 Nathan Hayes  Jr QB 13 Zander Smith Fr QB 14 Preston Brown Fr WR 15 Mekhi Collins  Jr WR 16 Silas Evans  So WR 17 Isiah St. Romain  Fr WR 18 Jackson Williams So WR 19 Chris Harris (C)  Sr WR 20 Drake Schlosser  Fr WR 21 Chris Kiel Fr RB 22 Charles Ross III Fr RB 25 Myles Mitchell Fr RB 26 Brady Wavrunek  So RB 28 Cortez LeGrant  So WR 30 Kelly Watson  So RB 32 Barry Kpeenu So TE 33 Gabriel Cunningham Fr RB 34 Jonathan Harvey  Jr FB 36 McClain Miller  Fr TE 40 Kaden Zenzen  Jr TE 42 Isaac Ellison Fr TE 44 Luke Kokat  Jr FB 46 Truman Werremeyer  Sr OT 57 Gavin Wang Fr G 59 James Nellis Fr C 61 Gage Schmidt  Fr G 62 Griffin Empey  So C 63 Trent Fraley Jr G 66 Jack Liwienski  So G 67 Kaden Chadwick  Jr G 68 Coy Okeson  Fr G 69 Devin Lockerby  Jr OT 70 Beau Johnson  So OT 71 Nate Tastad  Fr G 72 Nate Schneckloth  So OT 73 Alex Warden Fr G 74 Brett Tastad Fr OT 75 Josh Magin  Jr OT 76 Ryan Babatz Fr OT 77 Austin Schultz  So OT 78 Noah Stommes  Fr WR 80 John Gores  Jr TE 81 Reis Kessel  Fr WR 82 SJ Green Fr WR 83 Cade Osterman  So WR 84 Logan Conklin  Fr TE 85 Jett Zabel  Fr WR 86 Dylan Vokal Fr TE 87 Noah Nelson Fr TE 88 Carson Williams  Sr TE 89 Finn Diggins  Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 0 Jaquise Alexander  Jr LB 1 Donovan Woolen So CB 2 Jailen Duffie  So S 6 Jaylin Crumby  So CB 10 Antoine Booth  Sr DE 11 Chance Symons Jr CB 13 Najee Nelson  So S 14 Taylen Eady  Fr CB 19 Will Rosenmeyer  Fr S 20 Will Steil  Fr LB 21 Noah Taylor  So S 22 Hudson Artz  Jr CB 23 Kegan Huber  Jr CB 24 Anthony Chideme-Alfaro Sr LB 25 Ray James  Fr S 26 Evrett Tait Fr S 27 Ryan Jones  Sr CB 28 Kendrick Carter Fr S 29 Darius Givance  Jr S 30 Jaylen Archibald Fr S 31 Mikhale Ford Fr LB 32 Austin Altepeter  Jr S 33 Walker Braaten Fr CB 34 Marion Moore Fr LB 35 Ryland Satter  Fr S 38 Ben Schepp Fr S 39 Landon Meier  Fr LB 40 Chase Brixius Fr LB 41 Peder Haugo  Fr LB 42 Alex Elliott  So LB 43 Logan Kopp (C)  Sr LB 44 Carter Appl Fr LB 45 Gavin Sell Fr LB 47 Jacob Wrbanek Fr DE 48 Blake Schiltz Fr DE 49 Matthew Stenbroten  Fr LB 50 Damian Devine Fr LB 51 Sam Anderson Fr LB 52 Nathaniel Staehling (C)  Jr DT 53 Chase Evink Fr DT 54 Alijah Wayne Fr LB 55 Oliver Lucht  So DE 56 Allante Burley Jr DT 58 Keenan Wilson  So DE 60 Thomas Roberts Fr DT 64 Jaxon Duttenhefer (C)  Sr DT 65 Brody Clubb Fr DT 66 Jack Hansen  Fr DE 69 Carter Dauner Fr DE 90 Wyatt Osterbauer  Fr DE 91 Ethan Wood Fr DE 92 Kelton McCaslin  Jr DE 93 Toby Anene  Jr DT 94 Logan Larson  Jr DE 95 Zach Vanderpool  Fr DE 96 Abraham Myers  So DE 97 Victor Isele  So DE 98 Jack Iuliano Sr DT 99 Obald Niyonkuru  So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 37 Drew Klein  Jr K 38 Eli Ozick  So P 39 Aaron Bickerton  Jr P 41 Sam Knoll Fr LS 48 Caleb Bowers  Jr	Head coach Tim Polasek (head coach) Coordinators/assistant coaches Dan Larson (offensive coordinator / tight ends / fullbacks) Grant Olson (defensive coordinator / linebackers) Joe Beschorner (quarterbacks) Dylan Chmura (offensive line) Steve Crutchley (wide receivers) Will Johnson (cornerbacks) Devin Klieman (safeties) Kody Morgan (defensive tackles) Carlton Littlejohn (defensive ends) Sam Ojuri (running backs) KeyShawn Carpenter (offensive quality control) Tony Moonen (defensive quality control) Brett Bostad (offensive analyst) David Wienke (defensive anaylst) Marcus Williams (defensive analyst) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: August 6, 2025