UND @ Southern Illinois 10/18/25

[UND-FB-FAN]

Another HUGE game/test for the 2025 University of North Dakota (UND) football team on Saturday, October 18, 2025!

UND (4-2) - currently ranked #9/#11 in the country -will go on the road to play #12 Southern Illinois (SIU), which is also 4-2 on the season. This top 15 matchup will kickoff at 2 pm, and will be viewable on ESPN+, or you can listen via radio on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network. 

Great time for that 5th victory of the season, 3rd conference victory, and 2nd road victory!

LETS GO HAWKS!

 

[Und Princess]

Just now, UND-FB-FAN said:

Another HUGE game/test for the 2025 University of North Dakota (UND) football team on Saturday, October 18, 2025!

UND (4-2) - currently ranked #9/#11 in the country -will go on the road to play #12 Southern Illinois (SIU), which is also 4-2 on the season. This top 15 matchup will kickoff at 2 pm, and will be viewable on ESPN+, or you can listen via radio on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network. 

Great time for that 5th victory of the season, 3rd conference victory, and 2nd road victory!

LETS GO HAWKS!

 

I was in the process of starting the thread but you beat me to it!!! Haha!!! I'm super Pumped!!! Can we win on the road again? My gameday, player feature and Prediction blog will be up Saturday!

[gfhockey]

I thought Midco was gonna do more games on the road this year? Have we had any road games done by them?

[Und Princess]

15 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

I thought Midco was gonna do more games on the road this year? Have we had any road games done by them?

According the schedule there's only two away games getting featured on Midco.  https://fightinghawks.com/sports/football/schedule/2025

 

[forksandspoons]

The game plan should be pretty simple: Run the ball and wear them down. SIU's defense has given up a lot or rushing yards, and their offense is dangerous, so UND needs to keep them off the field. 

Mix in a couple deep shots to Fleming, a couple intermediate throws to TEs, and take care of the ball. 

[Dustin]

25 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

I thought Midco was gonna do more games on the road this year? Have we had any road games done by them?

I too thought it was in the contract starting circa 2022 that Midco would broadcast away football games. Maybe that changed when they announced their layoffs??

[Big Green]

12 minutes ago, Dustin said:

I too thought it was in the contract starting circa 2022 that Midco would broadcast away football games. Maybe that changed when they announced their layoffs??

All 3 Dakota schools that Midco broadcast are on the road and looks like none of there are being aired.  Seems like a big mistake.  If Midco want to me the Regional Sports leader they should have UND and USD on in the Afternoon, one on each of there channels and SDSU on Midco 2 and UND Hockey on Midco 1.

 

[Dustin]

From August 2022:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-signs-expansive-television-rights-deal-with-midco-sports

"For the first time, it will be covering UND's Missouri Valley Football Conference road games."

"The MVFC does allow road teams to bring their broadcast partners unless it's the MVFC Game of the Week, which goes exclusively on an ESPN streaming platform. Every MVFC team is featured on the Game of the Week once per season."

"The goal is to telecast as many UND football games as possible, both home and away," the contract reads.

Was Northern Iowa game of the week?  Is Southern Illinois? 

[AJS]

Really excited for this one. Schmidt and this coaching staff have put this team in position to be in the conversation if they can get this one. Think they will. I've been really impressed with the defense; they've been so steady so far. Just solid. Offense will be just fine. HUGE game!

[gfhockey]

1 hour ago, Dustin said:

From August 2022:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-signs-expansive-television-rights-deal-with-midco-sports

"For the first time, it will be covering UND's Missouri Valley Football Conference road games."

"The MVFC does allow road teams to bring their broadcast partners unless it's the MVFC Game of the Week, which goes exclusively on an ESPN streaming platform. Every MVFC team is featured on the Game of the Week once per season."

"The goal is to telecast as many UND football games as possible, both home and away," the contract reads.

Was Northern Iowa game of the week?  Is Southern Illinois? 

I’m sure Murray st isn’t?

[Sioux94]

Definitely going to be nervous for this one but looking forward to it. Sounds like SIU was looking pretty good at NDSU until a few bad turnovers that changed the game.

Im almost feeling there might be a better chance to win at home against the SU's than it will be to win this one on the road. That said, we've proven to be able to compete on the road against good teams under Schmidt, so I know we can pull this out if we play well and play a clean game. This will be huge if we can win this one! 

[geaux_sioux]

SIU is nasty on offense. They’re scary. They shredded NDSU in the first half last week. Great test for the new defense! High tempo offense might be the key to success against their d.

[Dustin]

23 minutes ago, geaux_sioux said:

SIU is nasty on offense. They’re scary. They shredded NDSU in the first half last week. Great test for the new defense! High temped offense might be the key to success against their d.

So basically try to win a shootout?

[geaux_sioux]

2 minutes ago, Dustin said:

So basically try to win a shootout?

No, I don’t think you want a track meet, but strategically placed hurry-up spirts could be effective. Still need to control the clock and keep the ball out of their qbs hands. 

[Wilbur]

Their QB made some plays but at the same time made some big mistakes when NDSU got in his kitchen.  NDSU is currently the #2 team in the FCS in total defense, and its never easy in the Fargodome.

I'd agree with keeping the ball out of his hands with the run game and ball control, but also limiting his time and space when he is on the field.

[SlowHand]

1 hour ago, Dustin said:

So basically try to win a shootout?

Yes.  Their D is awful.  Throw a lot of deep balls.

 

[Sioux94]

1 hour ago, Wilbur said:

Their QB made some plays but at the same time made some big mistakes when NDSU got in his kitchen.  NDSU is currently the #2 team in the FCS in total defense, and its never easy in the Fargodome.

I'd agree with keeping the ball out of his hands with the run game and ball control, but also limiting his time and space when he is on the field.

I think the ball control will need to be a combination of inside and outside runs, short passes, QB roll-outs etc., which is pretty much what we've been doing this year. Seems like we cant pound the rock up the middle but by the end of the game we've got quite a few rushing yards. Jerry’s QB keepers help. 

Hoping they are working on red zone plays as we need to improve in that area.  Because we can't just pound it up the middle, have to have the right plays there to score, need TD's this week when we get there.

Fruechte has been pretty good at mixing it up there year, but struggling in red zone.