The Basics
The Drake football team kicks off the 2022 season at defending NCAA FCS National Champion and Preseason FCS No. 1 North Dakota State inside the thunderous Fargodome on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Broadcast Information
The game will be televised throughout the state of North Dakota on ABC ND and will stream worldwide on ESPN+. Dom Izzo will handle the TV play-by-play with Kyle Emanuel providing the analysis and Logan Emanuel on the sidelines.
1350/102.1 ESPN Des Moines is back as the radio home of Drake Bulldogs football. Chuck Reed will once again be the play-by-play man.
Ryan Templeton joins Reed as the analyst for the season opener. Live audio is available on the Varsity Network App.
You're Still Here??!!
Linebacker
Ryan Kriceri is pursuing another degree and entering his sixth year on the Drake football team (redshirt & COVID year).
Season Openers
Drake is 6-12 in season openers dating back to 2004 (1-2 under head coach
Todd Stepsis). The Bulldogs trounced West Virginia Wesleyan, 45-3 at Drake Stadium in last year's opener.
2022 Coaching Staff Details
Drake football head coach
Todd Stepsis enters his fourth season at the helm and he has been on the Drake staff since 2014.
Nate Thompson joins the coaching staff as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
Adam Gajo adds the title of pass game coordinator to his wide receiver coach duties. Running backs coach
Jerome Grey will oversee player personnel. Former Bulldog
Jackson Ostroski begins his coaching staff working with the tight ends and offensive line.
The defensive staff adds
Christian Nussbaum (assistant defensive line coach) and
CJ Butt (assistant defensive backs coach).
Scouting NDSU
North Dakota State had nine players named to preseason All-America teams. Fullback Hunter Luepke, tight end Noah Gindorff, offensive lineman Cody Mauch and defensive back Michael Tutsie, offensive lineman Nash Jensen and defensive tackle Eli Mostaert were recognized by HERO Sports. Luepke, Mauch, Tutsie, defensive lineman Spencer Waege, linebacker James Kaczor and punt returner Jayden Price were on the Stats Perform preseason All-America team.
The Bison received 39 of 41 first-place vote for the top spot in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll.
Series History vs. NDSU
North Dakota State and Drake haven't met on the gridiron since Nov. 10, 1962. Drake won the only two previous meetings, 40-6 in 1962 and 28-6 on Sept. 16, 1955. Both of those games were in Des Moines.
Bison Pedigree of Success
The Bison have claimed nine FCS crowns since 2011 including in 2019 and 2021 under the leadership of current head coach Matt Entz. Craig Bohl (current Wyoming head coach) led NDSU to the top of the FCS landscape with championships from 2011-13 before Chris Klieman (current Kansas State head coach) continued the dominance by winning four titles in two back-to-back runs (2014-15 & 2017-18).
NDSU went 9-0 at home last season and last lost on its home turf back on April 17, 2021 to South Dakota State.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will play host to Missouri S&T in their home opener at Drake Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10 with a 1 p.m. kickoff.
