MSUM Dragons Football 2026 - Life After Strand

[laker]

So bit of news here and should be relevant ot Mav fans, too, apparently the final game of the season for the Dragons will be played in the Fargodome, according to the Fargo-Moorhead Forum.

Have to say, I'm not really a fan of the move. Nemzek is our house, that's where we should play. It's right on campus next to student housing, it has our colors. It has Dragon identity. It doesn't quite go well with the green and gold, or the large number of blue seats.

I get that sometimes the weather can get cold and snowy, but I appreciate that aspect of northern Midwest football. Plus, on good days, MSUM football usually attracts between 3,000 and 4,000 fans to a venue that holds roughly 5,000. The school's enrollment is around 5,000. The Fargodome is a 19,000 seat venue, so it will probably have a lot of empty seats.

I hate to be negative but I just think playing at home should mean actually playing at Nemzek.

My insurance agent, who is a big Bison fan, wrote to me this morning about this. I was shocked.

Personally, I prefer to be warm. But I agree with your reasoning. Home field IS an advantage. And even a "big" crowd will be lost in the Fargodome.

In 2019 Crookston moved their game to the Alerus in Grand Forks. Zero atmosphere. MSU had more fans than UMC at that game. It had that empty feeling.

I can see where Dragon fans would not like it. I expect a really tough game.

[SW_Mustang]

I went to a CSP game when they played at the Metrodome - 2013. It was a fun change of pace. Granted I wasn't there for the home team.

I also went to a game in a snowstorm the next year - I much preferred the indoor experience.

[IceBoxDragon]

I went to a CSP game when they played at the Metrodome - 2013. It was a fun change of pace. Granted I wasn't there for the home team.

I also went to a game in a snowstorm the next year - I much preferred the indoor experience.

I'd be more open to it if it was a pro stadium. It's a grander scale than the Fargodome. I feel it will be similar to what Laker described with the Alerus Center.

[laker]

.

[SW_Mustang]

I'd be more open to it if it was a pro stadium. It's a grander scale than the Fargodome. I feel it will be similar to what Laker described with the Alerus Center.

Crookston never had many football fans and fewer who traveled, so it might not be quite that bad - but it is a valid criticism.

I'd consider going but I've already got so much driving on the schedule. Should be a good game though.

[IceBoxDragon]

Posted this last year but figured I'd share again with the recent news. Here's how the Dragons have done in domed stadiums in the past.

• Overall Record: 13-16
• Away Game Record: 1-5
• Metrodome Classic Record: 12-11

Metrodome Classic Game Results:

• St. Cloud State, Won 22-21, Nov. 20, 1983
• Dubuque, Won 56-0, Nov. 18, 1984
• Northern State, Lost 20-10, Nov. 17, 1985
• SW Minnesota State, Lost 32-26, Nov. 15, 1986
• Minnesota Duluth, Lost 24-17, Nov. 21, 1987
• Michigan Tech, Won 42-21, Nov. 12, 1988
• St. Cloud State, Lost 42-20, Nov. 18, 1990
• Peru State, Won 42-32, Nov. 17, 1991
• Michigan Tech, Won 36-34, Nov. 14, 1992
• Winona State, Lost 23-20, Nov. 13, 1993
• Minnesota Morris, Won 60-0, Nov. 12, 1994
• Valley City State, Lost 26-16, Nov. 12, 1995
• Wisconsin River Falls, Lost 28-21, Nov. 17, 1996
• Wisconsin Stout, Won 30-21, Nov. 16, 1997
• Minnesota Duluth, Won 37-27, Nov. 14, 1998
• Wisconsin Oshkosh, Won 56-7, Nov. 14, 1999
• Wisconsin Eau Claire, Lost 39-14, Nov. 11, 2000
• Northern State, Won 24-14, Nov. 9, 2001
• Minnesota Duluth, Lost 51-20, Nov. 7, 2003
• Minnesota Crookston, Lost 47-36, Nov. 6, 2004
• Minnesota Crookston, Lost 34-14, Nov. 5, 2005
• SW Minnesota State, Won 22-20, Nov. 11, 2006
• SW Minnesota State, Won, 41-27, Nov. 10, 2007

Away Game Results:

• Northern Iowa, UNI Dome, Lost 48-0, Nov. 6, 1993
• North Dakota State, FargoDome, Lost 71-20, Sept. 11, 1999
• North Dakota State, FargoDome, Lost 80-0, Sept. 9, 2000
• South Dakota, DakotaDome, Lost 51-3, Sept. 11, 2004
• South Dakota, DakotaDome, Lost 56-10, Sept. 10, 2005
• Northern Michigan, Superior Dome, Won 44-37, Aug. 28, 2025

On another note, I'm also wondering if MidcoSports Network might step in for production. MSUM produces the game broadcasts themselves, but all of their equipment is in place on campus I think. Hopefully Midco might be able to assist.

[Stanger86]

Yeah it won't be Crookston in Alerus bad. That attendance was 556 in a 12,283 capacity (4.5%). To outdraw that percentage, they only need 847 people to show up. I bet they don't open the end zone seats. The other bonus factor is that the game is obviously right across the river. The biggest obstacle might be the fact the Cobbers are at home at the same time. That's always going to affect Dragon attendance I fear.

[IceBoxDragon]

Yesterday was a bitter pill to swallow. If there's a win, there's a good chance the Dragons have a chance to win the North Division and keep the playoff hunt alive. Now both of those goals have likely been dashed, barring some major chaos in the final weeks.

The game was frustrating to watch. Not to discount what the Wolves did but there were plenty of times the offense just looked less sharp than it did in the past and made mistakes. That's on top of leaving points off the board during two drives that would have changed the outcome.

In the final drive, on third down, it was likely a mistake to have Drew Huebner take a direct snap when everyone knew he would be getting the ball. I would have loved to see a screen or hand off to a running back there. Regardless, the snap went bad on the field goal try. It happens, but it's such a frustrating way to lose a game.

Regardless, the goal now is to win out and then let the chips fall where they may. The Axe is on the line next week so it's a great opportunity to bounce back and take home our most prized trophy againt the chief rival.

The Dragons leads the all time series against the Beavers 48-40-3, and for Axe games 39-34-3. Looking back to when the series started, here are some major games throughout the series history.

1929, Dragons won 6-0
In the first game played between the two programs, Minnesota State Moorhead won in a shutout. It was one of several victories in a 5-2 season for the Dragons, while Bemidji State went 2-5.

1932, Dragons won 9-0
In another shutout victory, MSUM took down BSU again. It was one of two critical victories on the season in the conference to win the NIC title. Overall, with the non-conference included, the Dragons went 2-5, while the Beavers went 2-4-1.

1933, Beavers won 2-0
BSU earned their first win in the series in 1933, winning a narrow victory over the Dragons by two points, shutting out MSUM in the process. The Dragons would finish the season 2-4-2 while the Beavers went 3-3-1.

1935, Dragons won 44-12
In another NIC championship season, MSUM routed BSU 44-12 en route to a 6-2 record. The Beavers, meanwhile, finished 1-6-1.

1947, Dragons won 20-7
BSU won their first conference championship in 1947, and ended the year with a 4-3 record. One of their losses on the year was to MSUM, which went 6-2 on the season but had key conference defeats.

1948, Dragons won 13-6
In the first ever Battle for the Axe, the Dragons defeated the Beavers in what looked like a strong season. However, the victory, along with wins over Winona State and St. Cloud State, were forfeited because of an ineligible player. MSUM's official record is 2-7, while Bemijdi State went 3-5 on the year

1950, Beavers won 20-0
To begin the 1950s, BSU dominated MSUM in a shutout win, taking the Axe along with the NIC title at 5-1-1. The Dragons had a rough go of it, meanwhile, finishing 0-8.

1952, Dragons won 19-6
MSUM struck back a couple years later, defeating BSU on the way to another NIC title, finishing 5-2, while the Beavers went 2-4.

1957, Beavers won 27-14
While BSU went 4-4 on the year, their conference record helped them earn the NIC title. Along the way they took down MSUM, which had a 3-4 season.

1959, Beavers won 34-6
The Beavers earned another NIC title to close the decade, racing past the Dragons along the way. BSU closed the year 6-1-1 while MSUM went winless again, 0-9.

1966, Dragons won 13-0
In a season that went 6-3, MSUM found success in the conference, earning an NIC title, taking down BSU along the way. The Beavers went 3-5 on the year.

1971, Dragons won 28-8
The 70s started out well for MSUM, as they went 7-1-1 in 1971, taking the Axe and winning the NIC. BSU, meanwhile, went 3-5-1.

1973, Dragons won 17-7
The Dragons once again took down the Beavers en route to a 7-3 record and an NIC title. For the Beavers, it was a winning season, too, at 5-4.

1976, Beavers won 24-22
Later in the decade, in the second to last game of the season, the Beavers edged the Dragons by two points at Nemzek Stadium, helping them get a winning record at 6-4. MSUM, meanwhile, would bounce back the next week against Minnesota Duluth, finishing 5-5.

1979, Dragons won 35-2
To close the decade, MSUM routed BSU on the way to an 8-3 record and an NIC championship. BSU on the other hand went 1-8-1.

1981, Dragons won 35-7
In a banner year for the program, the Dragons went 10-1-1 on the season, taking down BSU on the way and winning the NIC before falling to Pittsburg State (KS) in the NAIA Playoffs. It was a rough season for the Beavers, though, going 0-10.

1982, Dragons won 38-23
MSUM again took the Axe and won another NIC title at 7-2-1 before falling to Colorado Mesa in the NAIA Playoffs. BSU had a 2-8 record on the year.

1984, Dragons won 35-28
In a close game, MSUM took the Axe on another NIC championship season with an 8-3 record. The Dragons would go on to lose to Central Arkansas in the NAIA playoffs. BSU would have a strong season of their own, bouncing back from the early season loss to the Dragons by beating Winona State, Minnesota, Morris, Northern State and Loras College, helping them to an 8-3 record.

1986, Beavers won 27-26
In a narrow victory, BSU edged MSUM in early November en route to a 6-4-1. For the Dragons, it was part of a rough four game skid, with the team finishing 6-5.

1988, Dragons won 47-14
MSUM routed BSU to win the Axe and went on to earn the NIC title at 9-3. In the NAIA Playoffs, the Dragons defeated Colorado Mesa before falling to Carson Newman (TN). It was one of several losses in a 1-9 campaign for the Beavers.

1989, Dragons won 46-12
The Dragons once again put up more than 40 on the Beavers, helping them win the NIC title again and finishing with a 6-4 record. MSUM would fall in the NAIA Playoffs to Central State (OH), while BSU went 4-5.

1991, Dragons won 42-7
In the last 10-win season for MSUM, the Dragons ran past the Beavers and won the NIC at 10-2. In the NAIA Playoffs, MSUM beat Iowa Wesleyan before falling to Central Arkansas. BSU, meanwhile, went 2-7

1992, Beavers won 28-27
BSU got revenge on MSUM the next year at home, winning by a single point in mid-October. It was a 4-5 season for the Dragons while the Beavers went 2-8.

1995, Dragons won 32-20
In their last conference championship season, the Dragons took down the Beavers and finished the year 6-3-1. BSU closed the year 3-7.

2002, Beavers won 35-28, OT
In an overtime matchup, the Dragons fell to the Beavers on their home turf. MSUM would bounce back the next week, though, against Minnesota Morris and managed to go 5-5 on the year. It was the last time they'd win at least 5 games until 2006. BSU, meanwhile, went 6-5.

2006, Beavers won 21-9
BSU convincingly defeated MSUM en route to a 9-3 record, ending with a 35-27 loss to Pittsburg State (KS) in the Mineral Water Bowl. Despite the loss, the Dragons would go 6-5, getting a winning record, their last until 2015.

2012, Beavers won 35-25
BSU took down MSUM in early November at home as part of a solid 7-4 season, clinching a share of the NSIC North title. The Dragons, meanwhile, were in year two of Steve Laqua's rebuilding project, and struggled with a 1-10 record.

2013, Dragons won 35-17
MSUM would get revenge at home the next season at Nemzek. After trailing 17-7, the Dragons would outscore the Beavers 28-0 to take back the Axe. QB Jake Hodge went off for 286 passing yard, 2 TDs, and another 163 yards on the ground with 2 more TDs. MSUM would end the year 4-7, their most wins since 2006, while the Beavers went 3-8.

2014, Dragons won 27-21
In a snowy game in Bemidji, the Dragons made it two in a row, with RB Zayne Medhaug leading the charge on the ground: 195 rushing yards and 3 TDs. MSUM again went 4-7 on the year while BSU also repeated 3-8. It was the first in a series of road wins for the next several years.

2015, Beavers won 42-28
Both teams improved in 2015. BSU went 7-4 on the year, winning the Axe and a share of the NSIC North championship while MSUM closed the season 6-5. Quarterback Jordan Hein tossed 5 TDs in the victory over the Dragons in Moorhead.

2016, Dragons won 42-41
In one of the most thrilling showdowns between the two, MSUM walked away from Bemidji with the Axe after an extra point attempt bounced off the upright. QB Demetrius Carr tossed for 366 yards and 4 TDs in the game. The Beavers still finished the season strong, though, going 9-3 and winning the Mineral Water Bowl over Washburn, 36-23. The Dragons, meanwhile, went 7-4, their most wins since 1999.

2017, Beavers won 45-14
The Beavers returned the favor the next year in Moorhead, racing past the Dragons in the season finale to finish 8-3 on the year. QB Jordan Hein threw for 3 TDs in the win. MSUM, closed the season at 5-6.

2018, Dragons won 31-26
Back in Bemidji the next season, the Dragons would come away with the victory and the Axe. QB Bryce Meehl tossed for 424 yards and 2 TDs in the game. After taking down BSU, MSUM would return home and beat St. Cloud State for the first time since 1983, clinching an 8-3 record, their most wins since 1991, and earning their first postseason game since 1994. The Dragons would go on to fall in the Mineral Water Bowl to Missouri S&T, 51-16. BSU, meanwhile, closed the year 7-4. This was the last time until 2025 that the Beavers would fall to the Dragons.

2019, Beavers won 28-24
For the sixth time in a row, the road team won the Axe, as the Beavers took down the Dragons in a snowy game at Nemzek Stadium by four points. BSU would go on to finish the year 8-3, while MSUM clinched a winning record of their own, finishing 6-5 by defeating St. Cloud State on the road in the Huskies' last ever game played.

2021, Beavers won 22-19
After no football was played in 2020, the rivalry resumed in 2021 with the Beavers winning a thriller. The Dragons led 19-0 before the Beavers stormed back and earned the victory and the Axe. It was part of a 10-3 season for the Beavers, who won the NSIC North, a share of the NSIC championship and defeated Augustana in the NCAA DII Playoffs before falling to Colorado Mines. The Dragons, meanwhile, went 5-6.

2022, Beavers won 46-7
BSU rolled over MSUM at Nemzek Stadium in 2022. Jalen Frye, Jarrett Gronski and Sage Booker combined for 5 TDs on the ground while Brandon Alt tossed for a score and 311 yards. The Beavers went on to finish the year 10-3 with the NSIC North Title, a share of the NSIC championship and defeated Winona State before falling to Angelo State in the NCAA DII Playoffs. The Dragons, meanwhile, went 4-7.

2023, Beavers won 27-14
The No. 13 Beavers took down the Dragons at home. After the game was tied 14-14 in the second half, BSU pulled away late in the game with a few scores. Jack Strand threw for 310 yards and 2 TDs, but also tossed 2 INTs. MSUM would still have a strong season at 7-4, while the BSU was 9-3, defeating Texas Permian Basin before falling to Central Washington in the NCAA DII Playoffs.

2024, Beavers won 25-14
Late in the first half, the Dragons led the Beavers at Nemzek Stadium 14-0. Then, the Beavers started a comeback. After a safety, BSU had a Hail Mary play to close the lead to 14-9. It was all BSU the second half, winning 25-14. The Beavers would go on to finish 10-4, beating Angelo State and Western Colorado before falling to Minnesota State-Mankato in the NCAA DII Playoffs. Despite the loss, the Dragons still had a winning record, going 6-5 on the year with wins over ranked teams Minnesota Duluth and Augustana.

2025, Dragons won 49-21
The Dragons snapped a five-game skid to the Beavers with a much needed win after a heartbreaking loss to Northern State. Jack Strand threw for 366 yards and 7 TDs, including an initial 76 yard bomb to Brady Perryman to set the tone. It was the first of a three-game win streak for MSUM to close the season at 8-3 on the year, finishing with a victory over No. 14 Minnesota State-Mankato 31-23. BSU, meanwhile, went 4-7.