Drake football is kinda having a moment, even if the scoreboard hasn't always been kind in the national spotlight. If you’re looking for the latest drake university football score, the Bulldogs most recently fell to South Dakota with a final of 38-17 in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs on November 29, 2025.
It was a tough pill to swallow. Especially since they’d already lost to the Coyotes earlier in the year.
But honestly? Looking at just one score is a huge mistake. This team just pulled off a three-peat as Pioneer Football League (PFL) champions, which basically makes them the undisputed kings of their corner of college football. They finished the 2025 season with an 8-4 record. That might not sound like "powerhouse" numbers to an SEC fan, but in the world of non-scholarship FCS ball, it’s a massive statement.
Why the Bulldogs' Season Was a Rollercoaster
The 2025 campaign started with a bang—a 41-7 blowout against Upper Iowa. Then things got real. Fast.
The Bulldogs hit a wall in mid-September, dropping back-to-back games against heavy hitters South Dakota State and South Dakota. You’ve gotta give them credit, though; they didn’t crumble. They went on a tear in conference play.
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- Valparaiso: 41-0 (Complete dominance)
- Davidson: 45-0 (The defense was basically a brick wall)
- Butler: 24-19 (A gritty, classic PFL dogfight)
Then came the "November Pressure Cooker." That’s what league insiders call it. Drake stumbled against St. Thomas in a 20-13 heartbreaker at home, which briefly put their playoff hopes in a weird spot. But they bounced back by taking down Dayton on the road and then clinching the title against Morehead State.
The Morehead State Game: A Dynasty Defined
If you want to understand the soul of this team, look at the November 22 drake university football score of 17-10. This wasn't a pretty game. It was ugly. Grinding. At the end of the third quarter, Drake was actually losing 7-3.
Then Nick Herman happened.
Herman, the PFL Offensive Freshman of the Year, went absolutely nuclear. He finished with 253 rushing yards. One of those was a 77-yard sprint that basically deflated Morehead State's entire sideline. Logan Inagawa, the quarterback who’s been the steady hand all year, punched in an 8-yard touchdown to take the lead in the fourth. It wasn't "clean" football—they had fumbles and penalties that wiped out scores—but they won. That’s three straight PFL titles.
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The Numbers Behind the Wins
When you dig into the stats, you see why Drake is so hard to beat in league play. They aren't trying to out-air anyone. They want to run the ball down your throat and let their defense, led by PFL Defensive Player of the Year Sean Allison, clean up the mess.
Allison is a beast. 126 total tackles in a single season? That’s 10.5 per game. He’s the first Bulldog to win that award since 2021, and he’s the reason opponents only averaged about 17 points per game against them.
2025 Team Stat Breakdown:
- Rushing Offense: 197.9 yards per game (Ranked 15th in the FCS)
- Passing Offense: 165.1 yards per game (They prefer the ground game, clearly)
- Scoring Defense: Held PFL opponents to a measly 11 points per game on average.
What People Get Wrong About Drake Football
Most casual fans see a drake university football score against a big-name school like South Dakota and think the team is struggling. They don't realize the context. Drake plays in the Pioneer Football League, which is non-scholarship. When they go up against Missouri Valley teams, they are literally playing against guys on full rides while their own players are there for the love of the game (and some solid academics).
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The fact that they keep making the FCS playoffs is a testament to the culture Joe Woodley has built. Woodley took over and kept the "winning standard" alive without skipping a beat. He’s a winner—period. The guy went 72-5 in his previous head coaching stint.
Looking Ahead to 2026
With Nick Herman returning for his sophomore year, the ground game is in safe hands. Losing a veteran leader like Sean Allison on defense will hurt, but the Bulldogs have a weird knack for finding the next "guy" in the linebacker room.
If you’re tracking the drake university football score next season, watch the early out-of-conference games. That’s where the Bulldogs test their mettle. But the real meat is in October. That's when they start the hunt for a four-peat.
Actionable Steps for Bulldogs Fans
- Check the 2026 Schedule Early: Non-conference games usually drop in late spring. Watch for those SDSU or USD rematches.
- Watch the Portal: Even non-scholarship teams deal with the transfer portal now. See who Drake brings in to fill the massive gap left by Allison.
- Attend a Game at Drake Stadium: Honestly, if you haven't been to a home game in Des Moines, you're missing out. The atmosphere for the Davidson or St. Thomas games is electric.
- Follow PFL Weekly Reports: The Pioneer Football League website puts out deep-dive PDFs every Wednesday during the season. It’s the best way to see how the Bulldogs stack up against the rest of the conference before kickoff.
The 2025 season ended in the cold of Vermillion, South Dakota, but the trophy case in Des Moines just got a little more crowded. That’s the real story behind the score.