After a rough start to the season, the No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats return return home with hopes to right the ship against North Dakota in front of a friendly crowd at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday.
Eric Schmidt is in his first season as the head coach at North Dakota after spending the 2024 season as the defensive coordinator for San Diego State. This is his first time serving as a head coach, and he has previous stints at North Dakota, including as linebackers coach in 2006 and defensive coordinator from 2014 to 2019. He replaces Bubba Schweigert, who had been the coach at North Dakota for 10 years.
North Dakota finished last season 5-7 and missed the FCS playoffs. Before last season, they had made the FCS playoffs in four of the last five seasons. In the 2025 FCS Coaches Poll, North Dakota was unofficially ranked No. 34, receiving 19 votes. North Dakota was picked seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll.
For the rest of the story and more K-State coverage, subscribe to The Manhattan Mercury!
