Look, if you’re a North Dakota fan, you already know the Alerus Center gets loud. But looking at the actual path this team has to tread over the next two seasons? It’s basically a gauntlet designed by someone who hates rest. Honestly, the und fighting hawks football schedule for 2025 and 2026 isn't just a list of dates; it's a high-stakes stress test for a program trying to cement its spot among the FCS elite.
We aren't just talking about the local rivalries either. The non-conference scheduling is getting noticeably more aggressive.
The 2025 Gauntlet: Power Five Trips and Playoff Rematches
The 2025 season kicked off with a absolute heartbreaker. Heading down to Manhattan to face Kansas State on August 30th, the Hawks nearly pulled off the unthinkable. Losing 35-38 to a ranked FBS opponent is a "moral victory" that probably feels like garbage to the players, but it set a tone. They followed that up by absolutely crushing Portland State 50-20 in the Potato Bowl.
If you've been following the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) standings, you saw that November was a meat grinder. The Hawks had to face the "Big Three" of the Dakotas in back-to-back-to-back fashion.
- Nov 1: A tough 21-26 loss at South Dakota for the Sitting Bull Trophy.
- Nov 8: The Nickel Trophy stay-away, losing 10-15 to #1 NDSU.
- Nov 22: A 31-34 overtime thriller loss against South Dakota State.
Think about that for a second. That’s three games decided by one possession against three of the best teams in the country. It’s why the Hawks ended up with an 8-6 record after a playoff run that saw them dismantle Tennessee Tech 31-6 before falling to Tarleton State in the second round. Basically, they're right there. They just need to find a way to close those three-point gaps.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 UND Fighting Hawks Football Schedule Breakdown
If you thought 2025 was tough, 2026 is shaping up to be a logistical nightmare with some very cool silver linings. The university recently finalized the slate, and it’s heavy on travel early on.
The Non-Conference Slate
The season starts with a bit of a curveball. Instead of a Saturday kickoff, UND hosts Long Island (LIU) on Thursday, August 27, 2026. It's a smart move. Thursday night under the lights in Grand Forks always has a different energy, plus it gives the coaches a few extra days to prep for the Tommies.
- Aug 27: LIU (Home) - The first-ever meeting between these two.
- Sep 5: St. Thomas (Home) - A growing regional matchup.
- Sep 12: at Portland State - A long flight to Oregon for a return game.
- Sep 19: at Nebraska - The big payday and the biggest stage of the year.
The trip to Lincoln is the one everyone has circled. Playing at Memorial Stadium is a different beast entirely. You've got 85,000+ fans, a sea of red, and an FBS budget that makes the MVFC look like pocket change. But for UND, it’s about the exposure.
Survival in the Missouri Valley
After an "off" week on September 26th—which they are going to desperately need after Nebraska—the conference schedule begins.
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October 3 sees Northern Iowa come to the Alerus Center. This has become one of the most physical games on the calendar. Then things get weird. The Hawks go on the road for three out of four weeks. They hit Indiana State (Oct 10), host South Dakota (Oct 17), then travel to South Dakota State (Oct 24) and Southern Illinois (Oct 31).
Halloween in Carbondale? That’s a long way from Grand Forks for a Saturday afternoon game.
The Grand Finale: NDSU at Home
The schedule makers did the fans a favor in 2026. The regular season ends on November 21 with the North Dakota State Bison coming to town. Having the Nickel Trophy game as the season finale in the Alerus Center is peak FCS football.
Why the Schedule Strategy is Changing
You might wonder why UND is scheduling games like Nebraska or Kansas State. It's not just the money, though the "guarantee game" checks are massive—often exceeding $500,000 to $1 million. It's about recruiting.
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When a coach sits in a kid's living room in Minneapolis or Chicago, being able to say, "You're going to play in front of 90,000 people at Nebraska," is a huge selling point. It helps UND compete for the same athletes that usually go to the MAC or the Mountain West.
Also, the MVFC is so top-heavy right now. With NDSU and SDSU constantly vying for national titles, UND has to play a "playoff-style" game every single week. There are no "gimme" Saturdays in this conference anymore. Even Murray State and Indiana State have become disciplined enough to ruin your season if you're looking ahead to the Bison.
What Fans Need to Do Next
If you’re planning on attending games in 2026, keep these reality-checks in mind:
- Book Lincoln Early: If you're going to the Nebraska game, get your hotel in Lincoln or Omaha now. Prices triple the second the season gets closer.
- Thursday Night Opener: Don't forget that August 27th game is a Thursday. It's a "Green Out" traditionally, so find your gear early.
- The Alerus Advantage: UND’s home record is significantly better than their road record. If they want to make a deep playoff run, they have to sweep the October home stand.
The und fighting hawks football schedule isn't for the faint of heart. It involves thousands of miles of travel, FBS powerhouses, and the toughest conference in the FCS. But if they can flip those one-score losses from 2025 into wins in 2026, we aren't just talking about a winning record—we're talking about a potential seed in the bracket. Keep an eye on those kickoff times, as they usually aren't finalized by Midco and ESPN+ until a few weeks before the games.