The 2025 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team represented the University of North Dakota as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Fighting Hawks were led by first-year head coach Eric Schmidt. Schmidt was taking over for former coach Bubba Schweigert, who stepped down after the 2024 season. They played home games at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks drew an average home attendance of 11,603, the 19th-highest of all NCAA Division I FCS football teams.

Schedule

Rankings

Preseason MVFC poll

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Fighting Hawks were predicted to finish seventh in the conference.

Game summaries Regular season at No. 17 (FBS) Kansas State

Statistics UND KSU First downs 23 22 Total yards 354 461 Rushing yards 102 143 Passing yards 252 318 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–39–0 28–43–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 31:14 28:46 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 23/38, 231 yards, TD Rushing Sawyer Seidl 8 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD Receiving Caden Dennis 2 receptions, 41 yardsKansas State Passing Avery Johnson 28/43, 318 yards, 3 TD Rushing Joe Jackson 11 carries, 55 yards Receiving Jayce Brown 12 receptions, 109 yards, TD

Portland State

Statistics PRST UND First downs 12 27 Plays–yards 49–228 74–446 Rushes–yards 31–82 51–275 Passing yards 146 171 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–18–2 15–23–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 24:26 35:34 Team Category Player StatisticsPortland State Passing John-Keawe Sagapolutele 11/17, 146 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Terence Loville 4 carries, 30 yards Receiving Jaylen Lynch 2 receptions, 41 yards, TDNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 14/21, 164 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jerry Kaminski 8 carries, 70 yards, TD Receiving Nathan Hromadka 3 receptions, 41 yards, 2 TD

at No. 5 Montana

Statistics UND MONT First downs 19 18 Plays–yards 82–460 74–368 Rushes–yards 41–202 35–68 Passing yards 258 300 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–41–1 25–39–2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:37 29:23 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 17/40, 258 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jerry Kaminski 12 carries, 85 yards Receiving B.J. Fleming 5 receptions, 138 yards, TDMontana Passing Keali'i Ah Yat 25/39, 300 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Eli Gillman 16 carries, 82 yards Receiving Brooks Davis 5 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD

Valparaiso

Statistics VAL UND First downs 6 24 Total yards 159 448 Rushing yards 48 228 Passing yards 111 220 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–19–1 18–30–0 Time of possession 30:16 29:44 Team Category Player StatisticsValparaiso Passing Rowan Keefe 8/15, 111 yards, TD, INT Rushing Dawaiian McNeely 7 carries, 17 yards Receiving Micah Mackay 1 reception, 67 yards, TDNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 13/19, 172 yards, 2 TD Rushing Xavier Leigh 8 carries, 64 yards, TD Receiving Nate DeMontagnac 4 receptions, 50 yards

at Northern Iowa

Statistics UND UNI First downs 20 22 Total yards 422 325 Rushing yards 176 124 Passing yards 246 201 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–23–0 27–41–1 Time of possession 23:37 36:23 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 20/23, 246 yards, 4 TD Rushing Gaven Ziebarth 7 carries, 62 yards Receiving B.J. Fleming 5 receptions, 134 yards, TDNorthern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 27/40, 201 yards, TD, INT Rushing Bill Jackson 9 carries, 42 yards Receiving JC Roque Jr. 10 receptions, 73 yards

Youngstown State

Statistics YSU UND First downs 17 21 Total yards 377 374 Rushing yards 108 228 Passing yards 269 146 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–33–0 17–27–0 Time of possession 28:04 31:56 Team Category Player StatisticsYoungstown State Passing Beau Brungard 18/33, 269 yards, 2 TD Rushing Beau Brungard 19 carries, 71 yards Receiving Ky Wilson 4 receptions, 102 yards, TDNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 17/27, 146 yards, 3 TD Rushing Sawyer Seidl 20 carries, 114 yards Receiving B.J. Fleming 5 receptions, 84 yards, 2 TD

at No. 12 Southern Illinois

Statistics UND SIU First downs 22 20 Total yards 384 337 Rushing yards 311 79 Passing yards 73 258 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–15–0 29–46–1 Time of possession 32:00 28:00 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 9/15, 73 yards, TD Rushing Sawyer Seidl 14 carries, 108 yards, 3 TD Receiving Nate DeMontagnac 2 receptions, 30 yardsSouthern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 29/46, 258 yards, TD, INT Rushing Chandler Chapman 15 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Fabian McCray 6 receptions, 97 yards

Indiana State

Statistics INST UND First downs 10 25 Total yards 221 564 Rushing yards 63 264 Passing yards 158 300 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–34–3 22–39–1 Time of possession 25:26 34:34 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana State Passing Brock Riddle 3/12, 88 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Plez Lawrence 5 carries, 37 yards Receiving Rashad Rochelle 4 receptions, 113 yardsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 22/34, 300 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Sawyer Seidl 14 carries, 104 yards, TD Receiving Caden Dennis 5 receptions, 97 yards, TD

at South Dakota

Statistics UND SDAK First downs 24 17 Total yards 382 270 Rushing yards 205 97 Passing yards 177 173 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–30–2 14–20–0 Time of possession 28:50 31:10 Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 16/30, 177 yards, 2 INT Rushing Sawyer Seidl 16 carries, 102 yards, 2 TD Receiving B.J. Fleming 5 receptions, 59 yards South Dakota Passing Aidan Bouman 14/20, 173 yards, TD Rushing L. J. Phillips Jr. 24 carries, 106 yards, TD Receiving Larenzo Fenner 2 receptions, 83 yards, TD

No. 1 North Dakota State

Statistics NDSU UND First downs 10 23 Total yards 268 286 Rushing yards 143 116 Passing yards 125 170 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–15–1 21–38–3 Time of possession 25:18 34:42 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota State Passing Cole Payton 8/15, 125 yards, INT Rushing Barika Kpeenu 18 carries, 73 yards Receiving Bryce Lance 3 receptions, 61 yardsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 21/38, 170 yards, 3 INT Rushing Sawyer Seidl 23 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving B.J. Fleming 6 receptions, 53 yards

at Murray State

Statistics UND MUR First downs 20 18 Total yards 344 252 Rushing yards 213 112 Passing yards 131 140 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–18–1 23–34–1 Time of possession 29:32 30:28 Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 11/18, 131 yards, TD, INT Rushing Sawyer Seidl 22 carries, 98 yards, TD Receiving B.J. Fleming 4 receptions, 61 yards, TD Murray State Passing Baxter Wright 23/34, 140 yards, INT Rushing Jawaun Northington 11 carries, 56 yards Receiving Darius Cannon 8 receptions, 49 yards

No. 22 South Dakota State

Statistics SDST UND First downs 19 18 Total yards 334 367 Rushing yards 202 75 Passing yards 132 292 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–17–2 20–33–1 Time of possession 35:57 24:03 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Dakota State Passing Jack Henry 6/17, 132 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Julius Loughridge 24 carries, 112 yards Receiving Alex Bullock 2 receptions, 58 yardsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 20/33, 292 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jerry Kaminski 14 carries, 34 yards, TD Receiving B.J. Fleming 4 receptions, 123 yards, TD

NCAA Division I playoffs at No. 6 Tennessee Tech (NCAA Division I Playoffs – First round)

Statistics UND TNTC First downs 18 18 Total yards 346 302 Rushing yards 200 24 Passing yards 146 278 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–26–1 30–51–2 Time of possession 34:56 25:04 Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 9/18, 98 yards, TD, INT Rushing Gavin Ziebarth 11 carries, 66 yards, TD Receiving Deng Deng 5 receptions, 73 yards, TD Tennessee Tech Passing Kekoa Visperas 30/51, 278 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Quintell Quinn 5 carries, 11 yards Receiving Brian Courtney 3 receptions, 61 yards, TD

at No. 5 Tarleton State (NCAA Division I Playoffs – Second round)

Statistics UND TAR First downs 13 20 Total yards 248 437 Rushing yards 136 145 Passing yards 112 292 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–28–2 15–25–1 Time of possession 22:51 37:09 Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 11/28, 112 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jerry Kaminski 11 carries, 63 yards Receiving B.J. Fleming 3 receptions, 47 yards Tarleton State Passing Victor Gabalis 15/25, 292 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Tylan Hines 28 carries, 120 yards Receiving Marquis Willis 4 receptions, 133 yards, TD

References