UNK Football 2026

[loper legionnaire]

Fall camp has begun so it's time to get another Loper thread going. I'm going to post some links to media coverage I've gathered so far at the bottom of this post. I'm also going to add some cliffsnotes and thoughts.

- Coach Held says this is the best team he's had at UNK and said this team feels different (in a good way)

- He noted the quality depth and that guys who would have started in his first year are now 2nd and 3rd stringers

- He said they have the best RB room in D2 and will frequently have 2 RBs on the field to utilize their skills and keep defenses honest.

- The RBs include (2025 stats): Isaiah Harris 5 games, 89 carries, 698 yds, 6 TDs; Quincey Ryker (Chadron St transfer) 10 games, 113 carries, 651 yds, 5 TDs; Stone Wilson 5 games, 54 carries, 234 yds, 4 TDs; Jayvin Norman (Eastern Michigan transfer)

- Harris isn't practicing in full yet. The hope is that he'll be ready for the season opener, but realistically, he'll probably be week to week to start the year. It's possible that he won't be ready until the start of MIAA play

- The starting QB is JUCO transfer Devin Tate. Abram Scholting, who either would have been QB1 or contending with Tate for the spot, broke his ankle during summer workouts and is out long term

- Besides the RBs, Held feels the team is strongest at DL, LB & OL

- There are a lot of new faces at DB and WR but Held specifically pointed out their speed as a strength

- The home/away schedule is favorable, as this is the first time under Held that UNK has opened at home and has 6 home games

From the Doug & Daddy Show: Coach Held's Weekly Segment (begins at 44:00) - https://open.spotify.com/episode/05p...bSrqFOEoDKbgZI

From NTV: Football is back: UNK holds first fall practice of 2026 season - https://nebraska.tv/sports/college/f...of-2026-season

From NTV: UNK Football: Revamping the secondary - https://nebraska.tv/sports/college/u...-the-secondary

From KSNB: UNK Football fall camp underway, Devin Tate eyes starting quarterback position - https://www.ksnblocal4.com/video/202...back-position/

[loper legionnaire]

Here's a rundown of a bunch of local media coverage from the last week.

From KRVN:

Loper football moves into week two of camp - https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/lop...k-two-of-camp/

From NTV:

UNK Football completes first full week of fall practice - https://nebraska.tv/sports/college/u...-fall-practice

UNK Football: Getting ready for the season opener - https://nebraska.tv/sports/college/u...-season-opener

AOTW: Wise to stay home - https://nebraska.tv/sports/athlete-o...e-to-stay-home

From KSNB:

Veteran linebackers anchor UNK defense - https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2026/08/1...r-unk-defense/

From Central Nebraska Today:

Lopers Training Camp One Week In - https://www.centralnebraskatoday.com/2026/08/06/420117/

Lopers continue to gain progress following first scrimmage - https://www.centralnebraskatoday.com...rst-scrimmage/

[loper legionnaire]

UNK held a scrimmage last night to finish up fall camp.

From KRVN: Loper football continues to work through fall camp - https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/lop...-of-fall-camp/

From KSNB: UNK Lopers wrap fall camp with intrasquad scrimmage - https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2026/08/2...uad-scrimmage/

From Central Nebraska Today: UNK Football Concludes 2026 Fall Camp - https://www.centralnebraskatoday.com...026-fall-camp/

Scrimmage discussion from the Doug and Daddy Show: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ia...T0OPyScnLVcIZL

[loper legionnaire]

The running back depth Held has raved about will be tested Thursday night, with Stone Wilson OUT and Isaiah Harris QUESTIONABLE to DOUBTFUL. Chadron State transfer Quincey Ryker is set to start, with Eastern Michigan transfer Jayvin Norman and freshman Calin Arndt backing him up.

Media roundup

From KRVN: UNK Football Announces 2026 Captains - https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/unk...2026-captains/

From KSNB: UNK prepares for Thursday night season opener against Wayne State - https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2026/08/2...t-wayne-state/

Held interview on the Doug & Daddy Show: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vL...=uvnGd4bRQr-0J

Jon Dykstra interview on the Doug & Daddy Show: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vL...=i2JnWwsUSHmwT

[loper legionnaire]

From Lopers.com: Game 1 Preview: Wildcats First Visit to Foster Field in 15 Years; First Home Opener in 5 Years - https://lopers.com/news/2026/8/26/fo...n-5-years.aspx

From KRVN: UNK Ready For 2026 Season | Loper Football Show - https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/unk...football-show/

From KRVN: The Loper Lead Up | Parker Wise - https://post.futurimedia.com/krvnam/...ten-35460.html

[loper legionnaire]

Wayne State 21, UNK 20

What a wild, weird game. But in the end, it turned out to be the tight thriller most people expected. So many momentum shifts, and I have a lot of thoughts.

WSC dominated early
UNK got a massive pick-6 to turn the momentum
UNK settled in in the second half and took the lead but was unable to cash in on opportunities to extend the lead to 8+
WSC regained the lead
UNK hit a long field goal to take the lead back with just over a minute left
WSC responded to hit the winning field goal as time expired

All three UNK units had peaks and valleys.

Offense - The Good
- Didn't turn it over
- Cashed in with a touchdown when gifted a short field

Offense - The Bad
- Did nothing in the first half - 6 plays for -1 yard with 6:14 before halftime
- Only 236 total yards and 2 for 13 on 3rd down

Defense - The Good
- Enormous 88-yard pick-6 by Kinkaid when WSC was looking to go up 15-0 or 19-0
- Stopped the run better in the second half

Defense - The Bad
- Couldn't stop WSC in the first half before the pick-6
- Let WSC drive 69 yards in 1:06 to get the winning FG

Special Teams - The Good
- Hit a clutch 52-yard FG with 1:10 left - first FG make of 50+ yards since 2016
- Recovered a muffed kickoff return to set up the offense's only touchdown

Special Teams - The Bad
- Long snap over the punter's head for a safety
- 2 missed FGs (1 blocked)

Of note, WSC started their backup QB while UNK was down to their 3rd string running back and was breaking in a new QB to the program. The Loper offense should be better once Stone Wilson and Isaiah Harris return to the backfield. Next week's game at Chadron is now even more crucial. You don't want to lose to both in-state rivals and start 0-2 going into the gauntlet MIAA schedule.

Media Roundup

From KRVN: Wayne State Hits Walk Off Field Goal To Beat Lopers (includes full radio broadcast replay) - https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/way...o-beat-lopers/

From News Channel Nebraska: TV Broadcast Replay - https://youtu.be/6TY1er2cgp0?si=sQ9IQ0cdBi-b_on0

From Lopers.com: Lopers Fall to Wayne as Time Expires, 21-20 - https://lopers.com/news/2026/8/27/fo...res-21-20.aspx

From KSNB: Wayne State beats UNK 21-20 on last second field goal - https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2026/08/2...ay-field-goal/

From NTV: UNK Football: Opens season against Wayne State - https://nebraska.tv/sports/college/u...st-wayne-state

From Central Nebraska Today: Lopers open season in Heartbreaking Fashion - https://www.centralnebraskatoday.com...aking-fashion/

[RollChos]

Wayne State 21, UNK 20

What a wild, weird game. But in the end, it turned out to be the tight thriller most people expected. So many momentum shifts, and I have a lot of thoughts.

We’ve been there and I feel for ya. Sucky way to lose. If it was later in the season who knows how it might have went. Good luck the rest of the way.

[loper legionnaire]

We’ve been there and I feel for ya. Sucky way to lose. If it was later in the season who knows how it might have went. Good luck the rest of the way.

Thanks. Wayne's a solid team and should do well this season. We should get better once we get our RB's back and our QB gets some more experience. Looking forward to the remainder of the season!

[Predatory Primates]

Thanks. Wayne's a solid team and should do well this season. We should get better once we get our RB's back and our QB gets some more experience. Looking forward to the remainder of the season!

That kicker is a weapon.

[loper legionnaire]

That kicker is a weapon.

Yes, and much-needed. I can't remember the last time UNK had a dependable field goal kicker with a big leg. They mentioned during the broadcast that in the fall scrimmage he had a 58-yarder go off the crossbar. So hopefully that means we'll see more drives end with at least 3 points. Northwest's loss is our gain.

[loper legionnaire]

From Lopers.com: Game 2 Preview: Lopers & Eagles to Battle for the Good Life Trophy - https://lopers.com/news/2026/9/2/foo...fe-trophy.aspx

From KRVN: UNK Looks To Bounce Back With Another Rivalry Matchup | Loper Football Show - https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/unk...football-show/

From the Doug & Daddy Show (Coach Held's Weekly Segment): https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zJ...=FmDK_QTBRzORc

From Lopers.com: Different Teams, Same Family: Prichard Brothers Meet in UNK-Chadron State Rivalry - https://lopers.com/news/2026/8/31/fo...e-rivalry.aspx

[loper legionnaire]

CSC 24, UNK 21

Shades of last week with a really poor start, particularly by the offense. They finally showed some life in the second half with back to back touchdown drives to cut into the 17-point deficit, but it was too little too late.

The defense played ok but gave up a couple of explosive passing plays and committed some critical penalties down the stretch. They definitely don't seem as solid as last year.

Harris didn't play again and Wilson only got 4 carries as he wasn't 100 percent yet.

The bye week comes at a good time. There's a lot to work on and hopefully we can get our key guys healthy and ready to go. Because right now this is an average to below average team.

[AlexTheHAMMER]

My brief synopsis from tonight against Chadron:

We played decent in the back half of the third quarter!

Doesnt mean much when the first half is lackadaisical.

[RollChos]

The bye week comes at a good time. There's a lot to work on and hopefully we can get our key guys healthy and ready to go. Because right now this is an average to below average team.

The whole damn league is average to below average. The good news for your being 0-2, these non-cons really don’t mean ****. If they get it together for conference games the season is salvageable.

[loper legionnaire]

The whole damn league is average to below average. The good news for your being 0-2, these non-cons really don’t mean ****. If they get it together for conference games the season is salvageable.

You're not wrong, but unless Harris comes back and is close to what he was before he got hurt last year, I don't know how much this team will be able to salvage. Year 4 under Held and it's starting to seem like the program's identity is to have a defense that keeps us in a lot of games but an offense that's not good enough to win most of them.