THE BASICS
Drake football will again kick off the college football season in the state of Iowa with a Thursday night affair to begin its 2025 campaign. The Bulldogs are set to host Upper Iowa on Aug. 28 in Drake Stadium with kick off slated for 6:30 p.m.
 
2024 REVIEW
The Bulldogs saw their 17-game Pioneer Football League winning streak come to an end in their home finale against Morehead State, but Drake was still able to secure a league title for the second time in as many years with records of 8-3 overall and 7-1 in PFL play last season.
 
MESSED WITH TEXAS
By winning the 2024 PFL title, Drake advanced to the FCS playoffs for the seocnd consecutive season, this time earning a trip to Stephenville, Texas and a date with the Texans of Tarleton State. The Bulldogs came out hot with a 14-3 lead after the first quarter in the first-ever meeting between the two teams, but the 13th-ranked Texans had too much and ousted Drake in the first round.
 
RECEIVING VOTES
The Bulldogs received 20 votes in the final 2024 edition of the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE
Drake earned its second straight and fifth all-time outright Pioneer Football League championship. The Dogs have won eight total PFL crowns including co-championship honors and earned their second consecutive automatic berth and appearance in the FCS playoffs.
 
NEW MAN ON CAMPUS
Drake will look to continue its winning ways with one of the most productive NAIA coaches of all time making the move across town as the Dogs' newest head coach. Des Moines native and Valley High School graduate Joe Woodley was hired as Drake football's next leader after in December of 2024 after guiding the Grand View Vikings to an NAIA national title. Woodley, who is undefeated in regular season play as a collegiate head coach, also hired notable collegiate stars Kyle Kempt (Iowa State), Adam Cox (Iowa), and Joe Evans (Iowa) as assistants on his staff.
 
PRESEASON POLL
Drake was slotted second in the 2025 Pioneer Football League Preseason Poll as they enter the year with sights set on a three-peat in league play. The Bulldogs collected 78 points and three first-place votes, behind only San Diego's 94 points and five first-place nods, in the listing. Other first-place vote-getters were St. Thomas, Morehead State, and Presbyterian with one apiece.
 
RETURNING DRAKE STAT LEADERS                                                                                          
GONE PORTALING
The coaching staff will not be the only new-look piece of Drake football in 2025 as the Bulldogs dipped into the transfer portal to bolster their roster. Incoming veterans include linebacker Ronan Poynton (Illinois); tight ends Cooper Haswell (UNLV) and Chase Schutty (Northern Illinois); receivers Jackson Voth (Kansas State) and Lucci Fidone (Iowa Western); defensive backs Isaiah Bragg (Northern Illinois), Judah Mallette (Iowa), and Hayes Gibson (Tennessee Tech); running backs Dyontae Navarrete (Oregon State) and Jaden Meizinger (Keiser); defensive lineman Joseph Chavez (Nelson); offensive lineman Tequan Kemp (Greensboro); and starting quarterback Chase Spellman (Tennessee State).
 
DRAKE STADIUM CENTURY
2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of Drake Stadium. The Bulldogs' season debut versus Upper Iowa officially kicks off the stadium's centennial celebration. More information about the year-long 100-year anniversary celebration will be announced tomorrow morning.
 
HONORARY CAPTAIN
Craig Wederquist, a standout offensive tackle at Drake from 1979-82, earned Division I-AA All-American honors twice during his collegiate career. Drafted in the seventh round by the Michigan Panthers in the 1983 USFL Draft, Craig played briefly in the USFL before a 1984 injury led him to a distinguished coaching career.
 
Craig served as head football coach at Tarleton State University from 1997-99 and held roles at Graceland, Drake, Central Missouri State, Utah State, Colorado State, Iowa Wesleyan, Pacific, UNLV, Northern Iowa, and Southeast Missouri State, primarily as a defensive line coach and coordinator. He also coached at Saydel High School, where he currently serves as a Success Coordinator. Today, Craig continues to inspire as a football analyst for Drake University's radio broadcasts.
 
SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
Upper Iowa travels to Des Moines looking to make a statement in their 2025 season opener. The Peacocks are coming off an historic season in Fayette last year that included records of 7-4 overall and 6-2 in GLVC play. Their seven victories marked the most in a single season in program history.
 
UIU is beginning its third year as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference after previously participating in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Peacocks are 10-12 overall and 7-8 in conference action during their short tenure as a GLVC member.
 
This is the fourth meeting on record between Drake and Upper Iowa. The Bulldogs are 3-0 all-time when playing UIU with all three wins coming in Des Moines and the most recent matchup in 2008.
 
Jason Hoskins is in his fourth season head coaching the Peacocks. He has amassed a record of 12-32 during his time leading Upper Iowa.
 
UP NEXT
Drake will be off next Saturday for their first of two bye weeks in the month of September. Both Bulldog byes bookend a difficult back-to-back with games at No. 3 South Dakota State and No. 5 South Dakota on the docket.