The 2026 Drake Bulldogs football team represent Drake University as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs are led by first-year head coach Matt Walker, who took over for former coach Joe Woodley who left the program to become the linebaackers coach at Rutgers. Walker is assisted by first-year offensive coordinator Joe Matheson and first-year defensive coordinator Mark Sipple. The Bulldogs play their home games at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
Schedule
Game summaries
South Dakota Mines (DII)
Statistics SDM DRKE First downs 29 26 Plays–yards 79–547 73–559 Rushes–yards 48–241 17–24 Passing yards 306 535 Passing: comp–att–int 19–31–0 38–56–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 35:55 24:05 Team Category Player Statistics South Dakota Mines Passing Gage Baker 19/31, 306 yards, 3 TD Rushing Dawson Dunbar 17 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dawson Dunbar 3 receptions, 94 yards, TD Drake Passing Riley Warzynski 38/56, 535 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Cody Blicharz 5 carries, 8 yards Receiving Willis Nofsinger 10 receptions, 168 yards, TD
at No. 3 Montana
Statistics DRKEMONT First downs 24 26 Plays–yards 85–297 83–488 Rushes–yards 21–45 42–206 Passing yards 252 282 Passing: comp–att–int 31–64–0 27–41–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:00 33:00 Team Category Player Statistics Drake Passing Riley Warzynski 31/60, 252 yards, TD Rushing Chase Spellman 5 carries, 20 yards Receiving Willis Nofsinger 6 receptions, 89 yards Montana Passing Keali'i Ah Yat 27/40, 282 yards, 2 TD Rushing Eli Gillman 19 carries, 105 yards, 3 TD Receiving Landon Ransom-Goelz 5 receptions, 101 yards
at Northern Iowa (rivalry)
Statistics DRKEUNI First downs 21 25 Plays–yards 79–325 66–443 Rushes–yards 27–29 43–201 Passing yards 296 242 Passing: comp–att–int 31–52–3 16–23–0 Turnovers 5 0 Time of possession 25:24 34:36 Team Category Player Statistics Drake Passing Riley Warzynski 27/47, 241 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Braylon Wilson 6 carries, 19 yards Receiving Mitchell January 5 receptions, 75 yards, TD Northern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 16/23, 242 yards, 3 TD Rushing Caleb Kamara 4 carries, 49 yards, TD Receiving Brady McCullough 4 receptions, 69 yards, 3 TD
at Davidson
Statistics DRKEDAV First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Drake Passing Rushing Receiving Davidson Passing Rushing Receiving
Dayton
Statistics DAYDRKE First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Dayton Passing Rushing Receiving Drake Passing Rushing Receiving
at Valparaiso
Statistics DRKEVAL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Drake Passing Rushing Receiving Valparaiso Passing Rushing Receiving
Marist
Statistics MRSTDRKE First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Marist Passing Rushing Receiving Drake Passing Rushing Receiving
Butler
Statistics BUTDRKE First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Butler Passing Rushing Receiving Drake Passing Rushing Receiving
at Morehead State
Statistics DRKEMORE First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Drake Passing Rushing Receiving Morehead State Passing Rushing Receiving
San Diego
Statistics USDDRKE First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics San Diego Passing Rushing Receiving Drake Passing Rushing Receiving
at St. Thomas (MN)
Statistics DRKESTMN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Drake Passing Rushing Receiving St. Thomas (MN) Passing Rushing Receiving
Rankings