2026 UND Football Season Thread

[Dustin]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/5-observations-of-und-football-fall-camp-day-8

3. Kicking adventures

UND's field-goal kicking during the live setting wasn't pretty.

Kenten Laughman, Sawyer Riffle and Easton Choate combined to start the day 0-for-5, which included Riffle having a long attempt blocked at the line of scrimmage by edge Braden Mohr.

Laughman and Riffle each connected on short attempts later in practice.

The small sample size was still a discouraging sequence for a team in search of consistency in the kick game.

Laughman and Riffle are battling for starting roles, although it's possible the two split duties.

[UND-FB-FAN]

20 minutes ago, Undertherock said:

I'm curious where these dollars you speak of will come from?  Not ticket sales.  See NDSU.  Also see your small stadium with limited expansion potential. 

While there might be a few bucks from media rights, those dollars will disappear fast when the FB budget will need to double, or in the case of UND, maybe triple to get to a MWC or equivalent median.  

Not from the CFP.  You won't sniff it.  

NDSU has to double their FB budget.  They might have the scyophants, for now, to do it.  But they are in full bake sale mode to get there.  They were duped into propping up the failing MWC in the hopes that "if you play UTEP, they will come." They ain't coming.  NDSU ain't going to CFP, and even the $2m in media rights won't be there when NDSU becomes eligible.  When UNLV and AF bolt for the PAC and AAC respectively after 2032, MWC will my vying with MAC and CUSA for worst media deal.  The math ain't mathing.  

Pessimism from a South Dakota farm school guy is not surprising. 

There are numerous (and I mean numerous) opportunities for UND and UND football to expand their revenue. It’s just being tapped into. Good luck 

[Dustin]

I have mixed feelings going into football season.  I have no doubt UND will have a good season and is poised to make its first true deep run into the FCS playoffs, which is great.  But without having the chance to beat NDSU on the way makes anything we do less meaningful to me.  Even if we do win it all, which, again, would be great, there will be a little asterisk in my mind that we could only do it once NDSU voluntarily chose not to compete for it.

Is this the wrong outlook?

[AJS]

@Undertherock good post, I don't disagree with any of it.

FBS is just part of the equation for schools like NDSU, SDSU, UND, USD. The Summit League and its instability might be the bigger part. These two things could (likely?) to happen in the next few years. St. Thomas leaves for the Valley, NDSU takes all-sports to the MWC. When discussing $ and NDSU, we have to realize they don't operate like any other school in the country. For example, you'd think having decreased enrollment would put a strain on their budget. Think again. For this discussion, NDSU will never have to worry about $. With those two moves, the Summit is officially a bust. The teams that they are looking to backfill will bring zero value to any of the remaining Dakota schools (ex: Lindenwood). Adding flights to all sports with no appeal at all. Dakota schools are all officially in scramble mode. Which I think will look a bit like, write a $20 million dollar check (SDSU) and you're in the MWC. Where your school is in ok shape is, you'll have that option. If you can't, maybe UND will get a chance. 

The problem is sooner than later; it's either figure it out and spend (move up) or stay in the status quo which will be the FCS looking more and more like D2. 

What we've seen over the past 5 years and realignment, logic doesn't have a place in it. Either look to improve your situation or you'll look around in a few years and be in a much, much worse situation.

[AJS]

19 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Pessimism from a South Dakota farm school guy is not surprising. 

There are numerous (and I mean numerous) opportunities for UND and UND football to expand their revenue. It’s just being tapped into. Good luck 

I don't think he was saying there's no way to increase revenue, but instead where is $25 million annually going to come from? Which seems like a fair question, but on the flip side, there's no doubt they'll figure it out (much like most others are able to do). 

[Kab]

Ndsu will be asking for the state to kick in money for football because they think it’s so valuable to north dakota

that better not happen 

[AJS]

@The Sicatoka should we move this topic to the Conference Realignment thread?

[UND-FB-FAN]

9 minutes ago, AJS said:

@The Sicatoka should we move this topic to the Conference Realignment thread?

I vote yes 

[UND-FB-FAN]

9 minutes ago, Kab said:

Ndsu will be asking for the state to kick in money for football because they think it’s so valuable to north dakota

that better not happen 

Of course, that is the primary issue all along with them moving up, to alter public perception and (try) run away from UND’s shadow. 

[gfhockey]

53 minutes ago, Dustin said:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/5-observations-of-und-football-fall-camp-day-8

3. Kicking adventures

UND's field-goal kicking during the live setting wasn't pretty.

Kenten Laughman, Sawyer Riffle and Easton Choate combined to start the day 0-for-5, which included Riffle having a long attempt blocked at the line of scrimmage by edge Braden Mohr.

Laughman and Riffle each connected on short attempts later in practice.

The small sample size was still a discouraging sequence for a team in search of consistency in the kick game.

Laughman and Riffle are battling for starting roles, although it's possible the two split duties.

Who is the st coach this year

[The Sicatoka]

39 minutes ago, AJS said:

@The Sicatoka should we move this topic to the Conference Realignment thread?

 

29 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

I vote yes 

All, 

Please do. Thanks.

[powerplay]

3 hours ago, gfhockey said:

Who is the st coach this year

Brother, you're on the internet.

[Und Princess]

5 hours ago, gfhockey said:

Who is the st coach this year

Shawn Kostitch!

[SIOUXFAN97]

9 hours ago, Dustin said:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/5-observations-of-und-football-fall-camp-day-8

3. Kicking adventures

UND's field-goal kicking during the live setting wasn't pretty.

Kenten Laughman, Sawyer Riffle and Easton Choate combined to start the day 0-for-5, which included Riffle having a long attempt blocked at the line of scrimmage by edge Braden Mohr.

Laughman and Riffle each connected on short attempts later in practice.

The small sample size was still a discouraging sequence for a team in search of consistency in the kick game.

Laughman and Riffle are battling for starting roles, although it's possible the two split duties.

wonder how Illinois state's ST coach is doing this fall???????????? dawhoops

[GoodGood]

You can’t blame the special teams coach if special teams sucks again! You just can’t!!

[Long Snapper 92]

47 minutes ago, GoodGood said:

You can’t blame the special teams coach if special teams sucks again! You just can’t!!

I for one will not be putting any blame on the coach! He’s a good guy!

[The Sicatoka]

The ST coach sets alignment and formation, but he doesn’t swing the leg.

[southpaw]

36 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

The ST coach sets alignment and formation, but he doesn’t swing the leg.

But he does recruit.

[iramurphy]

34 minutes ago, southpaw said:

But he does recruit.

I don’t think many of you understand how most teams recruit. It’s a team effort. RB coaches aren’t the only ones responsible for recruiting RB’s. 
ST coaches aren’t primarily responsible for KO coverage/return, punt coverage/return, XP/FG team alignments. Very few, if any, are kicking or punting coaches. It’s too specialized. At college level and above they work with private kicking and punting specialists. 
Kostich is an excellent recruiter and is involved with recruiting the LS, K and P guys but it’s a team effort. 
I know there are some former end of the bench guys who don’t understand how respected Kostich is by the players and his colleagues. If anyone doesn’t understand the importance of what he does for this team ask Schmidt. 
One practice where kickers struggled isn’t a reason to be looking for someone to blame. It’s complicated. 

[SIOUXFAN97]

27 minutes ago, iramurphy said:

I don’t think many of you understand how most teams recruit. It’s a team effort. RB coaches aren’t the only ones responsible for recruiting RB’s. 
ST coaches aren’t primarily responsible for KO coverage/return, punt coverage/return, XP/FG team alignments. Very few, if any, are kicking or punting coaches. It’s too specialized. At college level and above they work with private kicking and punting specialists. 
Kostich is an excellent recruiter and is involved with recruiting the LS, K and P guys but it’s a team effort. 
I know there are some former end of the bench guys who don’t understand how respected Kostich is by the players and his colleagues. If anyone doesn’t understand the importance of what he does for this team ask Schmidt. 
One practice where kickers struggled isn’t a reason to be looking for someone to blame. It’s complicated. 

one practice...you kidding....it's going on over 10 years now.

and stop the ryan clarke bs...."many of you don't understand" crap"....our ST aint like the others and you don't have to be ira or ryan to know that (we do look like Illinois State's ST tho and look how that worked out for them)....

[GoodGood]

6 minutes ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

one practice...you kidding....it's going on over 10 years now.

and stop the ryan clarke bs...."many of you don't understand" crap"....our ST aint like the others and you don't have to be ira or ryan to know that (we do look like Illinois State's ST tho and look how that worked out for them)....

Hey buddy, you didn’t play at a high enough level to understand that you shouldn’t just expect to run to the bathroom during an extra point and assume it’s going to be good. It’s complicated bro 

[iramurphy]

42 minutes ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

one practice...you kidding....it's going on over 10 years now.

and stop the ryan clarke bs...."many of you don't understand" crap"....our ST aint like the others and you don't have to be ira or ryan to know that (we do look like Illinois State's ST tho and look how that worked out for them)....

You don’t seem to comprehend what I said. You have a bizarre habit of focusing on individuals and most of the time post nonsense. If you understood  recruiting, coaching, and how they work with a recruiting coordinator and evaluate players as a staff and recruit as a staff and the functions of the ST coach you wouldn’t focus on Kostich. I don’t know who Ryan Clarke is.  
I shared my opinion. It’s social media. Don’t get your panties in a bundle because another rube  disagrees with you. You might ask Schmidt how they do evaluations and recruiting. Another option would be to sit this one out. 

[Und Princess]

Good Morning North Dakota Football Football Fans! I hope you're having a wonderful Morning so far! I just dropped an article about Fan Fest coming up! Check it out in the link below and I hope you enjoy reading it! Let's this season started! I am ready to fill up every corner of the Alerus Center!

https://ftstspotlight.blogspot.com/2026/08/touchdowns-track-and-field-stars.html?m=1

Go Hawks Football!

Und Princess 

[SIOUXFAN97]

that look on your face when your double triplin' down on your ST figuring it out after last years........meltdown...debacle....bed wetting????

[UND-FB-FAN]

Everyone keep your schedule open to travel south to Nashville in January 2027