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North Dakota faces a pivotal season in 2025, balancing a talented roster with a challenging schedule and a new coaching regime determined to restore the program’s competitiveness.
Written By
Gino Leone
Contributor
Written By
Gino Leone
Contributor
North Dakota started the year off extremely well, soaring to a record of 5-2 and capturing a signature win vs Montana (9-5). Things went downhill from there, as the Fighting Hawks dropped five straight to finish 5-7, missing the FCS playoffs and losing three one-score games. UND’s offense maintained efficiency for much of the season, keeping the ball for 31 minutes and 32 seconds on average and putting up 30.83 points per contest. The issues came on the defensive side, with the Fighting Hawks ranking 92nd in the FCS in scoring defense and 102nd in rushing yards allowed.
Despite a coaching change, UND retained the majority of their team and was able to utilize the portal to increase size and athleticism. The wide receiver room added some explosiveness, bringing in BJ Fleming (Northern Arizona) and Jamal Young II (Arizona State), two players that have big-play potential. Enhancing the competition in the quarterback room, Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson transfers in from San Diego State. In 2024, he started one game and threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive front, Tyler Henry (6-3, 280) and Emmanuel Olagbaju (6-2, 301) bring with them strength and power that is needed to operate a four-man line, although the latter suffered an injury on the first day of spring ball, and Henry dealt with knee complications last fall. Both must return to full strength to fortify a D-Line that remains undersized.
Other notable portal additions include TE Hunter Kallstrom (Wyoming), DB Bennett Walker (San Diego State), and WR Kristen Hoskins (Minnesota).
New Head Coach Eric Schmidt has a ton of experience at both the FBS and FCS levels. He most recently was the defensive coordinator for San Diego State, where he coached four All-Mountain West selections. In 2022 and 2023, Schmidt served Washington as the special teams coordinator/defensive ends coach, playing a significant role in the Huskies reaching the national championship game. This will be his third stint with the Fighting Hawks – he was defensive coordinator from 2014-19 and linebackers coach in 2006-07.
North Dakota returns a total of 22 key contributors, including their entire offensive line and six core pieces in the secondary. Gaven Ziebarth and Sawyer Seidl will be a lethal duo in the backfield after they combined for 1,028 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The fight for the QB1 spot will be intriguing, especially since Simon Romfo missed the spring with a shoulder injury. Jerry Kaminski has taken advantage of extra reps and seems to be ahead of Romfo and Tupou’ata-Johnson.
Linebacker Malachi McNeal (68 tackles, 6 TFLs) anchors the middle of the defense, with Tyler Erkman (1 INT, 3 PBUs) securing the back end.
Bold indicates home game
With a schedule that is this grueling, UND might have to go 3-1 in non-conference in order to have a shot at making the playoffs. Portland State and Valparaiso offer the Fighting Hawks two wins, but a three-game stretch of Northern Iowa, Youngstown State, and Southern Illinois is the epitome of brutality. Clashes with the Panthers and the Penguins are both toss-up games, while the Salukis will have the upper hand at home. November relief comes in the form of Murray State, but where do the other wins come from? Indiana State will be no slouch, and South Dakota, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State figure to be near the top of this conference. Five or six wins would be a huge accomplishment for Eric Schmidt in year one.
I really like what UND brings back offensively, but question marks on the defensive line make me hesitant to pick this team to earn a playoff bid. Switching to a 4-2-5 philosophy is going to take time to adapt to, and the personnel just isn’t there right now. Schmidt will likely need time to install his system and establish a championship mindset in Grand Forks.
