For the first time since the 2021 season, the University of Minnesota Duluth football team is heading on the road to face Ashland University in the NCAA II Tournament.

The Bulldogs have earned the program's 13th appearance after completing the regular season as undisputed champions of the NSIC, winning both the conference outright and the North Division. It marked the program's 22nd overall conference title and 13th North Division title. With a near-perfect 10-1 record, the NCAA II Tournament selection committee chose to send the Bulldogs on the road to Ashland, Ohio, for the first round.

"This has been a special group for us. Our staff did a really good job pulling this team together," said head coach Curt Wiese. "We're really proud of the attitude our guys have brought since fall camp. This has been a long preparation to get to this point, and our team understands that this has been ten months of building to have this opportunity tonight to be able to hear your name called in the bracket of 32."

This will mark Wiese's Bulldogs' sixth time in the NCAA II Tournament (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, and now 2025) and 13th historic program appearance (2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, and now 2025). The last time the program was in the bracket was in the 2021 season, where they traveled to face Angelo State University.

UMD will face the Ashland University Eagles on Saturday at 1 p.m. (EST) inside Jack Miller Stadium. More details will come throughout the week.