The 2026 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team represents the University of North Dakota as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Fighting Hawks are led by second-year head coach Eric Schmidt, and play home games at Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Preseason MVFC poll
The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 14, 2026, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Fighting Hawks were predicted to finish fourth in the conference.
Schedule
Game summaries
LIU
Statistics LIUUND First downs 13 25 Plays–yards 57–255 73–465 Rushes–yards 32–71 46–168 Passing yards 184 297 Passing: comp–att–int 15–25–1 20–27–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:13 31:47 Team Category Player Statistics LIU Passing Luca Stanzani 12/16, 173 yards, TD Rushing Nathan Gray 8 carries, 27 yards Receiving Boakai Veikei 1 reception, 65 yards, TD North Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 17/21, 232 yards, 3 TD Rushing Charles Langama 12 carries, 51 yards, TD Receiving Caleb Goodloe 5 receptions, 118 yards, TD
St. Thomas (MN)
Statistics STMNUND First downs 14 27 Plays–yards 60–293 73–528 Rushes–yards 27–54 43–295 Passing yards 239 233 Passing: comp–att–int 17–33–1 23–30–2 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 29:10 30:50 Team Category Player Statistics St. Thomas (MN) Passing Anthony Policare 12/24, 128 yards, INT Rushing Mordecai Ford 6 carries, 26 yards Receiving Stefano Giovannelli 3 receptions, 75 yards North Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 23/29, 233 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Charles Langama 11 carries, 120 yards, TD Receiving Deng Deng 4 receptions, 82 yards, TD
at Portland State
Statistics UNDPRST First downs 28 20 Plays–yards 68–627 68–344 Rushes–yards 39–291 29–111 Passing yards 336 233 Passing: comp–att–int 21–29–1 23–39–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 29:47 30:13 Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 21/29, 336 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Charles Langama 6 carries, 83 yards Receiving Korey Tai 4 receptions, 140 yards, TD Portland State Passing Gabe Downing 23/39, 233 yards, 3 TD Rushing Delon Thompson 14 carries, 58 yards Receiving Terence Loville 3 receptions, 71 yards
at Nebraska (FBS)
Statistics UNDNEB First downs 10 22 Plays–yards 55–205 71–493 Rushes–yards 36–99 45–277 Passing yards 106 216 Passing: comp–att–int 9–19–0 18–26–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:15 35:45 Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 9/18, 106 yards, TD Rushing Jerry Kaminski 14 carries, 48 yards Receiving Deng Deng 4 receptions, 59 yards Nebraska Passing Anthony Colandrea 15/21, 195 yards, TD Rushing Jamal Rule 15 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kwazi Gilmer 3 receptions, 42 yards
at Indiana State
Statistics UNDINST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving Indiana State Passing Rushing Receiving
Murray State
Statistics MURUND First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Murray State Passing Rushing Receiving North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving
at Northern Iowa
Statistics UNDUNI First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving
South Dakota State
Statistics SDSTUND First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics South Dakota State Passing Rushing Receiving North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving
at South Dakota (Sitting Bull Trophy)
Statistics UNDSDAK First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving South Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving
at Youngstown State
Statistics UNDYSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving Youngstown State Passing Rushing Receiving
Illinois State
Statistics ILSTUND First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois State Passing Rushing Receiving North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving
Southern Illinois
Statistics SIUUND First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving
Rankings
References