The Basics
Drake University is set to host the first college football game of 2026 in the state of Iowa when the Bulldog gridiron squad welcomes NCAA Division II opponent South Dakota Mines to Des Moines. The Bulldogs' quest for a Pioneer Football Leauge four-peat under the lights at Drake Stadium on Aug. 27.
 
Bulldog Breakdown
Drake secured its third straight outright Pioneer Football League title and posted an overall record of 8-4 and conference mark of 7-1. The Bulldogs' season ended in the first round of the FCS Playoffs with a 38-17 loss to the 11th-ranked Coyotes of South Dakota. In their last three conference championship seasons, Drake has been overwhelmingly good in Pioneer Football League play. The Bulldogs are 22-2 against conference foes during that stretch.
 
Drake football is under new leadership for the third time in as many years as Matt Walker takes the reins. Walker came to Drake after a long tenure at Wisconsin-River Falls where he lef the Falcons to a 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship. Coach Walker and Drake offensive coordinator Joe Matheson bring their prolific offensive attack coined as the "Top Gun Offense" to Des Moines. Their system shattered collegiate records a year ago, averaging around 100 snaps per game. Drake also boasts a brand-new defensive coordinator in Mark Sipple, a former Division II instructor at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. Sipple also transferred his system, the "Cobra Kai Defense" to Des Moines.
 
Drake was slotted second in the Pioneer Football League Preseason Poll for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs collected 88 points and five first-place votes, behind only San Diego's 90 points and matching five first-place nods, in the listing. Drake will be seeking its fourth consecutive league crown.
 
Drake football was not immune to transfer portal transactions in the offseason, both to and from. The Bulldogs bring in several potential contributors including current QB1 Riley Warzynski, who followed the coaching staff from UW-River Falls. Other standout incoming transfers include wide receiver Aidan Garcia (Idaho State), offensive linemen Dustin Disney (College of the Canyons) and Ray Marshall (Pasadena CC), and defensive backs Shawn Smith (MIssouri Southern) and David Akinbosoye (Valparaiso). Drake also suffered some key losses in the portal including leading passer Logan Inagawa (UMass), leading rusher Nick Herman (James Madison), and leading receiver Jackson Voth (Louisville), who all made the jump to FBS squads.
 
The Bulldogs do bring back a duo of All-Conference performers from last season as defensive standouts JR Flood and Garrison Codde, both Second Team All-PFL players in 2025, are back in the blue and white.
 
Returning Stat Leaders
Rushing
Jake Metze | 10 carries, 67 yards
Chase Spellman | 19 carries, 55 yards, 2 TD
Hank Foley | 5 carries, 28 yards, TD
Passing
Chase Spellman | 38-56, 1393 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT
Receiving
Hank Foley | 19 receptions, 332 yards, 4 TD
Chase Schutty | 15 receptions, 106 yards, TD
Walker Tart | 2 receptions, 32 yards
Tackles
JR Flood | 92 tackles, 35 solo, 6.0 TFL
Garrison Codde | 84 tackles, 54 solo, 4.0 TFL
Tommy Williams | 25 tackles, 13 solo, 2.0 TFL
Sacks
JR Flood | 3.5 sacks
Cole Sigler | 2.0 sacks
Zach Adamo | 1.5 sack

Scouting South Dakota Mines
South Dakota Mines enters the 2026 season with hopes of improving upon their last campaign. The Hardrockers went 3-8 overall a year ago with a 3-6 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. Mines was throttled by Upper Iowa, 58-14, who suffered a season-opening Thursday night loss in Drake Stadium.
 
Thursday's meeting will be the first ever between Drake and South Dakota Mines.
 
Charlie Flohr is in his sixth season as a head football coach, all of which have come at South Dakota Mines. Flohr has led the Hardrockers to 29-30 record during his tenure.
 
Returning Stat Leaders
Rushing
Dawson Dunbar | 109 carries, 525 yards, 2 TD
Ty Harris | 88 carries, 473 yards, 2 TD
Gage Baker | 94 carries, 181 yards, 2 TD
Passing
Gage Baker | 240-397, 2346 yards, 16 TD, 15 INT
Receiving
Joshua Morales | 36 receptions, 440 yards, 4 TD
Dawson Dunbar | 27 receptions, 207 yards, 3 TD
Tobin Frost | 25 receptions, 147 yards
Tackles
Charlie Johnson | 77 tackles, 37 solo, 2.0 TFL
Jarin Allen | 48 tackles, 24 solo, 1.0 TFL
Evan Hatton | 46 tackles, 21 solo, 1.5 TFL
Sacks
Aiden Werlinger | 1.5 sacks
Three Players | 1.0 sack
 
Up Next
Drake will head west for their first road game of the 2026 season with a trip to Missoula, Montana. There, the Bulldogs will battle the Grizzlies of Montana on Saturday, Sep. 5.