North Dakota State ranks No. 1 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Bison finished 14-2 last year, winning the FCS national championship by defeating Montana State 35-32 in Frisco, Texas.
Here’s a look at the 2025 NDSU football squad.
Returning 2024 All-Conference Players (5)
1st Team
WR Bryce Lance
LB Logan Kopp
2nd Team
RS Jackson Williams
Honorable Mention
LS Caleb Bowers
FB Truman Werremeyer
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (1)
Jack Iuliano (DE), UAlbany
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (7)
Jaylen Archibald (DB), Air Force
DJ Scott (RB), Kennesaw State
Chance Symons (DE), Arizona State
Alex Elliott (LB), Minnesota
Cortez LeGrant (RB), Minnesota
Obald Niyonkuru (DT), Iowa State
Antoine Booth II (CB), JMU
Transfers Lost To The FCS (1)
Termaine Turner (DB) to Samford
Transfers Lost To The FBS (4)
Cole Wisniewski (DB) to Texas Tech
Kody Huisman (DT) to Virginia Tech
CharMar Brown (RB) to Miami
Enock Sibomana (LB) to Wyoming
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Offensive Outlook
NDSU will have a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2021. The Bison also lost their top running back, top tight end, and three starting offensive linemen from last year. But they return their top two wide receivers, led by an All-American, and No. 2 running back, who was a 700-yard rusher.
Cam Miller became NDSU QB No. 4 to be selected in the NFL Draft. He had an elite senior season and was the definition of a difference-maker in NDSU’s climb back onto the FCS mountaintop. The Bison have two worthy quarterbacks ready to take the reins.
Cole Payton, a fifth-year senior, is the favorite to win the starting job. Payton, one of the most hyped high school recruits NDSU has landed, has waited his turn patiently behind Miller since 2021. At 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds with breakaway speed, Payton has been used as a running QB. He totals 151 career carries for 1,141 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Bison. In 2023, he rushed 84 times for 615 yards and 13 scores. Last year, Payton was limited to eight games and 21 carries for 164 yards and a TD before an injury to his non-throwing shoulder ended his season.
Payton has attempted only 58 passes in his Bison career, completing 37 of them for 469 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions.
Nathan Hayes, a fourth-year junior, has also impressed and looks to push for playing time at QB.
The new starter will have a terrific group of wide receivers to throw to. NFL Draft prospect Bryce Lance returns after a breakout season. Lance had 75 catches for 1,071 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024, earning All-MVFC First Team honors. He’s a top returning FCS target entering this fall. NDSU’s No. 2 receiver is also back in Chris Harris, who had 29 receptions for 392 yards and two touchdowns. Playmaker RaJa Nelson is back after being limited to eight games last year. He has 90 career catches for 885 yards and six scores, including 26 catches for 256 yards and three TDs last fall. Mekhi Collins is another target after totaling 16 receptions for 303 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.
NDSU lost its leading rusher and 2024 Jerry Rice Award winner, CharMar Brown, to the transfer portal after he went over 1,100 yards. Barika Kpeenu looks to step into a larger role after a solid season, rushing 132 times for 725 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bison’s RB depth will be tested with no real proven back behind Kpeenu.
On the o-line, NDSU’s development will come into play again as the Bison have three starters to replace. Griffin Empey (6’3″ 297 lbs) returns at guard after starting 14 games last year. Trent Fraley (6’1″ 301 lbs) will man the middle again, starting all 16 games at center in 2024. Jack Liwienski (6’3″ 299 lbs) saw two starts a season ago and looks to take that experience into this fall.
Starting fullback Truman Werremeyer returns as well, playing a key part in NDSU’s rushing attack that finished No. 20 in the FCS, averaging 193.3 yards per game.
Defensive Outlook
NDSU’s defense returns just three of its Top 11 tacklers from last year, but brings back six players who started eight or more games and eight players who started at least six games. A rotational defense, the Bison return eight of their 18 players who logged at least 300 snaps in 2024.
Logan Kopp returns as one of the top linebackers in the FCS. A back-to-back All-MVFC First Team selection, he led NDSU last year with 73 tackles, including 8.5 TFLs, three sacks, three interceptions, and six pass breakups. In 2023, Kopp totaled 85 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, three QB hurries, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, and four pass breakups.
The Bison will have some inexperience at linebacker besides Kopp, losing its next five players in 2024 snaps. Austin Altepeter returns after playing 84 snaps, and Donovan Woolen looks to play a big role this year after logging 77 snaps as a true freshman.
NDSU’s secondary will have strong returning experience. The passing defense allowed 196.9 yards per game, which ranked No. 38 in the FCS, but the young group got better as the season progressed. Darius Givance started 12 games at safety and finished No. 6 on the team with 45 tackles, including two interceptions and three pass breakups. Ryan Jones saw six starts at safety, tallying 39 tackles and five pass breakups. Safety Jaylin Crumby added six starts and 29 tackles with three pass breakups.
Anthony Chideme-Alfaro and Jailen Duffie are back after both starting eight games at cornerback. Chideme-Alfaro recorded 31 tackles, two TFLs, one interception, and two pass breakups. Duffie totaled 26 tackles and three pass breakups. Jaquise Alexander added 254 snaps at cornerback, totaling 13 tackles, one interception, and three pass breakups.
Two starters return on the d-line. Jaxon Duttenhefer (6’2″ 285 lbs) helped plug the middle, tallying 14 tackles and 2.5 TFLs. Toby Anene (6’4″ 260 lbs) is NDSU’s top returning edge rusher. Last year, he recorded 29 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, six QB hurries, four pass breakups, and four forced fumbles. Keenan Wilson (6’1″ 282 lbs) is also back after being a key rotational player, totaling 260 snaps and 15 tackles with five TFLs.
NDSU added a transfer defensive end with a lot of FCS playing experience. Jack Iuliano (6’3″ 257 lbs) had 30 tackles and four TFLs last year at UAlbany. In 2023 at Penn, he tallied 40 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, four sacks, and eight QB hurries.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
NDSU Football Schedule
8/30 at The Citadel
9/6 at Tennessee State
9/13 vs SEMO
9/27 vs No. 4 South Dakota
10/4 at No. 7 Illinois State
10/11 vs No. 16 Southern Illinois
10/18 at Indiana State
10/25 at No. 3 South Dakota State
11/1 vs Youngstown State
11/8 at RV North Dakota
11/15 vs Northern Iowa
11/22 vs St. Thomas
Bold indicates MVFC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
