If you’ve spent any time in Fargo on a Saturday, you know the vibe. It’s not just about the game; it’s about that specific brand of dominance that has basically become the NDSU calling card. But looking back at the ndsu football schedule 2025, there was a certain weight to it that we haven't seen in a while.
Maybe it was the transition of the roster or just the sheer grind of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), but 2025 wasn't just another year of "business as usual." It was a season of statement wins and one very high-stakes heartbreak.
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Honestly, the schedule was a beast from the jump.
The Non-Conference Road Trip and the 12-Game Grind
NCAA rules allowed for a 12-game regular season in 2025 because of how the calendar fell, and the Bison didn't waste the opportunity to rack up some frequent flyer miles early on. They opened the season far from the Fargodome.
On August 30, the Bison traveled to Charleston to face The Citadel. It was a 38-0 shutout. A week later, they were in Nashville, absolutely dismantling Tennessee State 59-3. If you were looking for a "trap game" early on, you didn't find it there. By the time they finally came home for the Trees Bowl against Southeast Missouri State on September 13, the team looked like a well-oiled machine, winning that one 41-14.
The 2025 Regular Season Breakdown
The meat of the ndsu football schedule 2025 was, as always, the conference slate. Here is how that gauntlet actually played out:
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- Aug. 30: at The Citadel (W, 38-0)
- Sep. 6: at Tennessee State (W, 59-3)
- Sep. 13: Southeast Missouri State (W, 41-14)
- Sep. 20: Bye Week
- Sep. 27: South Dakota (W, 51-13)
- Oct. 4: at Illinois State (W, 33-16)
- Oct. 11: Southern Illinois (W, 45-17)
- Oct. 18: at Indiana State (W, 38-7)
- Oct. 25: at South Dakota State (W, 38-7)
- Nov. 1: Youngstown State (W, 38-30)
- Nov. 8: at North Dakota (W, 15-10)
- Nov. 15: Northern Iowa (W, 48-16)
- Nov. 22: St. Thomas (W, 62-7)
That Dakota Marker Game
If you talk to anyone who follows the MVFC, the date October 25 was circled in blood. The Dakota Marker game against South Dakota State is always intense, but in 2025, it was a total lopsided affair. Most experts expected a dogfight in Brookings. Instead, the Bison walked into Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium and handed the Jackrabbits a 38-7 loss.
It was a statement. It was the kind of win that made people think the Bison were invincible. They outpaced everyone. The defense was suffocating. Honestly, at that point in the season, NDSU was averaging over 40 points a game while giving up next to nothing.
The Drama at the Finish Line
The end of the regular season was a bit of a rollercoaster. After a comfortable win over Youngstown State, the Bison headed to Grand Forks for a rivalry match against UND. This was the closest game of the regular season—a 15-10 slugfest. It wasn't pretty. It was cold, it was loud, and for a minute there, it felt like the perfect season might slip.
But they survived.
They finished the regular season a perfect 12-0. They looked like the undisputed #1 team in the country heading into the FCS playoffs.
The Playoff Shock
This is where the ndsu football schedule 2025 takes a turn that still stings for the Fargo faithful. Because they were the top seed, they had the home-field advantage. On December 6, they hosted Illinois State in the second round of the playoffs.
The Bison had already beaten the Redbirds 33-16 back in October. Everyone expected a repeat. But playoff football is a different animal. In a game that came down to the wire, Illinois State pulled off the unthinkable at the Fargodome, winning 29-28.
Just like that, a 12-0 season ended at 12-1.
Key Stats from the 2025 Campaign
To understand why this team was so good (until that last game), you've gotta look at the numbers. They weren't just winning; they were dominating the box score.
The offense averaged 41.08 points per game. That’s elite. On the flip side, the defense was only giving up about 13 points per game during the regular season. They were out-rushing opponents by nearly double, averaging 212.6 yards on the ground compared to 103.4 for their opponents.
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Quarterback play was efficient, and the ground game—led by names like Barika Kpeenu and DJ Scott—was relentless. They didn't just beat teams; they wore them down until they broke.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
Looking back, the 2025 season was a reminder that in the MVFC, you can't take a single Saturday for granted. Even if you're the #1 team in the nation with a perfect record, the margin for error in December is zero.
For fans and recruits, there are a few things to keep an eye on as we move forward from the 2025 results:
- Home-Field Factor: The Fargodome is usually a fortress, but the loss to Illinois State showed that playoff pressure can pierce even the loudest stadiums.
- Rivalry Dominance: NDSU still owns the region. Sweeping USD, UND, and SDSU in the same year is a rare and incredible feat.
- Scheduling Trends: The 12-game schedule in 2025 allowed for more non-conference testing, which clearly helped the Bison peak mid-season.
If you're planning for next year, start looking at those late-October matchups. The Dakota Marker is always the hinge upon which the season swings, and after the way 2025 ended, the Bison are going to be playing with a massive chip on their shoulder.
You can bet the 2026 schedule will be met with even more intensity. If you want to keep up with the latest roster changes or spring ball updates, checking the official NDSU Athletics portal is your best bet to see how they're rebuilding after that playoff exit.