UP Gazette

Northern Michigan University’s football team will begin its 2025 season with a home game against Minnesota State Moorhead on August 28 at the Superior Dome in Marquette. The Wildcats, led by head coach Shane Richardson, are aiming for a strong start to the season.

"When you go into game one with nine months without playing an opponent, you have to do a goob job at keeping the message and focus. You have to keep young guys in the moment and focused on the simple things and the guys have done a good job at that this camp and they're ready to play," Richardson said.

Unlike last year when NMU played its first three games in three different states, this season they will remain in Michigan for all but one of their eleven games. Their only out-of-state trip is scheduled for a midseason game in Chicago against Roosevelt.

The Wildcats return three players who earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors last year: running back Jahi Wood, offensive lineman Daniel Babcock, and linebacker Jax Hertel. In total, 30 lettermen are returning, with more than half having started games last season. The running back group was responsible for over 70 percent of NMU’s offense last year and ranked third in the GLIAC by averaging nearly 178 rushing yards per game.

On defense, Hertel finished among the top ten in solo tackles within the conference during 2024. He will be joined by senior Mitch Larkin, who led the GLIAC with 118 total tackles in 2023.

This year also marks the fiftieth anniversary of Northern Michigan’s national championship win in 1975 under quarterback Steve Mariucci. A celebration weekend is planned from October 9-11.

Among other key players for NMU are sophomore defensive back Xavier Martinez—who led the team with five pass breakups as a freshman—transfer linebacker Jaylen Houston from Eastern Kentucky, sophomore wide receiver Isaac Olson, and senior kicker/punter Michael Karlen.

Minnesota State Moorhead comes into the matchup after finishing last season with a 6-5 record. The Dragons rely heavily on their passing game; quarterback Jack Strand threw for more than 3,400 yards and was named NSIC North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year as well as being included on national watch lists. His main target is Brady Perryman, who recorded fourteen touchdowns last year. Defensively, senior linebacker Tate Gustafson has been recognized as a player to watch following his performance last season.

This meeting marks the first time NMU and MSUM have faced each other on the football field.