No. 16/15 North Dakota vs. Western Illinois
Grand Forks, N.D. (Alerus Center)
UND holds a 3-0 series lead
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (CT)
TV: Midco Sports/ESPN+
Radio: Home of Economy Radio Network (Pregame Show @ Noon)

Grand Forks, N.D. - North Dakota will host Western Illinois on Saturday. Kickoff between the Fighting Hawks and Fighting Leathernecks is slated for 1 p.m. inside the Alerus Center. The game will be televised on Midco Sports. It will also be carried on the Home of Economy Radio Network with a pregame show starting at Noon.

The Fighting Hawks enter the contest with a 2-2 record and 0-1 standing in the MVFC after getting upended, 42-21, at top-ranked South Dakota State last weekend. In the game, UND was limited to 234 yards of total offense and 166 yards through the air. Tommy Schuster nearly had another 20-completion game, going 19-for-24 for 118 yards and a touchdown. 

The Fighting Leathernecks come into the game with an overall record of 0-4 and 0-1 mark in MVFC play after a falling 37-17 at Southern Utah two weeks ago. WIU trailed 17-3 in the second quarter, but the defense stood tall, and the offense picked up the pace to even the game at 17-17 by intermission. The Thunderbirds pulled away in the second half, scoring 20 unanswered points.

This will be only the fourth meeting all-time between North Dakota and Western Illinois. NoDak holds a perfect 3-0 lead in the series between the two squads and is 1-0 in games played at the Alerus Center. The two teams last met on Oct. 23, 2021, when North Dakota defeated Western Illinois, 34-10, at the Alerus Center. That game was also a Homecoming matchup and UND is 67-32-4 in Homecoming contests.

FULL GAME NOTES ARE HERE.