The No. 24 (D2Football.com) ranked University of Minnesota Duluth football team are playing their home opener against the No. 13 (D2Football.com) ranked Augustana Vikings in Week 1 of the 2026 Season. The game will be at James S. Malosky Stadium on Thursday with kick off set for 6:00 p.m.

Augustana: UMD takes on Augustana for the 16th matchup in program history between the two sides. In their last contest, Augustana broke the Bulldogs 11-game win streak against them in a 28-24 win in Sioux Falls. This game will be the first NSIC matchup for both teams this season.

In Augustana's Week 0 Game, the Vikings edged out the Missouri Western Griffons in an absolute offensive battle where 121 points were scored and 1,368 yards of total offense were produced, 63-58. Augustana's quarterback Gunnar Hensley threw for 449 years and three touchdowns, while only throwing one interception. Three Vikings had 100-yard games, Breylon Blount (RB), Klayton Sattler (WR), and DJ Page (WR). Additionally, Neal May earned NSIC and National Special Teams Player of the Week honors as he picked up 185-yards combined on kicking and punt returns, including an 84-yard return.

Augustana are looking for their fourth NSIC title in six years, as the Vikings previously won in 2021, 2023, and 2024. They were picked third overall in the NSIC Preseason poll.

The Vikings have been very successful during Head Coach Jerry Olszewski's tenure. Augustana has reached the NCAA Tournament five times since his takeover in 2013, and have won three NSIC Titles, including two outright. The Vikings will be looking for their first win in Duluth since the 2006 season.

Bulldogs Opening Streak Snapped: No. 12 University of Minnesota Duluth football team suffered a heartbreaking loss Thursday night on the road against RV Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pa. The Bulldogs battled hard on the ground inside Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, gaining over 370 yards rushing for their highest in-game total since 2023, but it wasn't enough to take out the scrappy Rock.

The Bulldogs would see themselves with a 10-7 lead after the first quarter, sparked by a massive Derrick Johnson 79-yard touchdown run. After giving up a one-play touchdown on The Rock's opening drive, UMD's defense would hold steady, shutting Slippery Rock out for the rest of the half. The Bulldogs would increase their lead at the end of the first half, with a Jacob Eggert to Ben Fritsch touchdown pass giving UMD a 10-point edge at half, 17-7.

The Bulldogs entered the second half blazing, a quick stop on defense set up Derrick Johnson for another massive run, this time a 58-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 24-7. Slippery Rock wouldn't quit, as in the middle of the quarter The Rock would find JayJay Jordan for a touchdown pass, cutting the lead back down to ten.

The Bulldogs built a 30-14 lead early in the fourth quarter off of an Alex Riley touchdown run, boosting their lead back to 16. However, Slippery Rock battled their way back into the game, tying UMD at 30-30 and forcing the Bulldogs into overtime for the first time since the 2018 season. Both teams would score two touchdowns in overtime, but a failed mandatory 2-point conversion ended up being the difference in the game, as UMD lost 43-45 in double overtime, marking their first opening loss since the 2017 season.

NOTES FROM WEEK 0 VS. SLIPPERY ROCK: UMD now stands at 66-23-4 all-time in season openers. The loss breaks the Bulldogs seven-game opening win streak, and is just the fourth opening loss under Wiese's tenure.

- The Bulldogs were very successful with the ground game, gaining 370 yards rushing, the most in a game since UMD played Northern Michigan in 2023. The Bulldogs averaged 5.87 yards per attempt.

- UMD as a whole out gained Slippery Rock 518-391 on the gridiron. However, penalties proved costly for the Bulldogs, as they received seven more than Slippery Rock, including being penalized for 64 more yards.

- The Bulldogs defense forced a three-and-out on four separate occasions during the game.

- UMD got scoring help from a variety of players, with four different Bulldogs reaching the endzone for a total of six touchdowns.

DERRICK JOHNSON SHINES WITH 209-YARD GAME IN WEEK 0: Running Back Derrick Johnson had a standout performance Thursday night for UMD. The Fifth Year out of Austin, Texas had 209-yards rushing on only 16 attempts, averaging 13.1 yards per carry. Johnson reached the endzone three times for the Bulldogs against the Rock, with 79-yard and 58-yard touchdown runs highlighting the night for him. Derrick Johnson now stands at 14th in UMD All-Time Single Game Rushing Yards.

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES FROM WEEK 0: Ean Ackley had strong night on the defensive side of the ball, completing 10 tackles and getting a sack. Jacob Eggert had 142 yards passing and 46 on the ground, and had a touchdown. Peyton Menzel led the way in the air with 72 receiving yards on four receptions. Ben Fritsch and Alex Riley also got touchdowns for UMD.

LAST TIME VS. AUGUSTANA: The Bulldogs suffered a late loss to the Vikings of Augustana, 28-24. The game would be tight throughout the contest, but a late pass to Jack Fisher from Gunnar Hensley would prove insurmountable for the Bulldogs.

The game was back-and-forth. UMD opened up the scoring off of a 46-yard run from Ryder Patterson, but Augustana would match the Bulldogs and leave the first quarter tied at seven. The Vikings would get a second touchdown in the second quarter, but a late field goal from UMD cut the lead down to four. 

Kyle Walljasper would give the Bulldogs the lead in the third quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run, but a Isaiah Huber touchdown reception retook the lead for Augustana. UMD would find a respond right away, as DaShaun Ames would get a 53-yard touchdown pass to immediately restore the Bulldogs advantage. Augustana would get the last laugh, as Jack Fisher's touchdown late would give the Vikings the lead for good, despite the Bulldogs best efforts to comeback, falling nine yards short of the endzone.

IN THE RANKINGS: The Bulldogs were recognized as the No. 24 team in D2Football.com's Week 0 poll. The Bulldogs were 12th in the AFCA Preseason Rankings and 20th in the D2Football.com preseason poll.

BULLDOG CAPTAINS: UMD has six captains this season, Carter Geerts, Preston McQueen, Nick Ojile, Ryder Patterson, Ross Rivord, and Jonathan Shrum.