The 2023 Northern Colorado Bears football team represented the University of Northern Colorado as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Ed Lamb and played their home games at Nottingham Field.

Preseason

Polls On July 23, 2023, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Bears were predicted to finish tenth in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media.

Schedule

Game summaries

at Abilene Christian

vs No. 10 Incarnate Word

at No. 23 (FBS) Washington State

Statistics NCU WSU First downs 17 33 Total yards 366 718 Rushes/yards 31–158 36–229 Passing yards 208 489 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–30–0 29–38–1 Time of possession 29:11 30:49 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Colorado Passing Jacob Sirmon 16/24, 171 yards, 2 TD Rushing David Afari 17 carries, 116 yards Receiving Blake Haggerty 6 receptions, 70 yardsWashington State Passing Cam Ward 20/26, 327 yards, 4 TD Rushing Dylan Paine 7 carries, 71 yards, TD Receiving Lincoln Victor 6 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD

at Idaho State

Statistics Northern ColoradoIdaho State First downs 25 26 Plays–yards 72–365 72–429 Rushes–yards 40–242 30–103 Passing yards 123 326 Passing: comp–att–int 22–32–2 26–42–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 31:13 28:47 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Colorado Passing Jacob Sirmon 22/32, 123 yards, 2 INT Rushing Darius Stewart 14 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ty Arrington 5 receptions, 42 yards Idaho State Passing Jordan Cooke 14/23, 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Hunter Hays 13 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD Receiving Christian Fredericksen 7 receptions, 108 yards

vs No. 13 Weber State

vs No. 4 Sacramento State

Statistics SACUNC First downs 23 17 Total yards 334 332 Rushing yards 151 75 Passing yards 183 257 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–31–0 20–39–0 Time of possession 30:57 29:03 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 25/31, 183 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ezra Moleni 16 carries, 93 yards Receiving Marshel Martin 7 receptions, 52 yardsNorthern Colorado Passing Jacob Sirmon 20/39, 257 yards, TD Rushing David Afari 10 carries, 36 yards Receiving Brayden Munroe 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD

at Cal Poly

at No. 7 Montana

vs No. 3 Idaho

at Northern Arizona

vs Portland State

References