MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan Football team will be on the road for the first time this season, traveling to Midland, Michigan, to match up with the Northwood Timberwolves. Opening kickoff is set for noon on Saturday, September 6.

The Wildcats fell just short in week one, dropping a 44-37 decision to Minnesota State Moorhead at home. Saturday will mark the season opener for the Timberwolves.

The game can be watched live on Flo College or listened to on 100.3 The Point, with Casey Ford on the call.


Follow The Action
Follow @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game. 

Saturday, September 6 - at Northwood at 12 p.m. ET
Live Stats  |  Watch  |  Listen


A Word from Shane Richardson
"There is great belief in being so close and jumping out to a 21-0 start. We need to learn how to handle the success of being in the game and knowing you have to continue to put the hammer down. Our guys take great responsibility with it, and they are hungry to come back and do it even better this week."



A Look Back at the Season Opener
NMU jumped out to a 21-0 lead and carried a 27-15 advantage into halftime, but Minnesota State University Moorhead rallied with a 29-10 second half to defeat the Wildcats 44-37 in the first game of the 2025 season.

The game held true to each team's strength, as Northern dominated the ground game, rushing 59 times to MSUM's 14. NMU rushed for 291 yards while totaling 384 yards of offense. Leading the option offense, QB Austin Ridl ran for a career-best 106 yards while Noah Dobert (97) and Jahi Wood (85) weren't far behind.

Ridl, Wood, and Nico Lukkarinen found the endzone for NMU on the ground, while QB Duke Shovald connected with Jake Heemstra for the lone score through the air.

In stark contrast to the Wildcats, Moorhead utilized the aerial attack, completing 35 passes to Northern's seven. The Dragons were led by standout QB Jack Strand, who tied a Moorhead program record with six touchdown passes while throwing for 336 yards. His top target was Gage Florence, who hauled in 17 catches for 147 yards and three scores.

The Wildcats threw for 92 yards while MSUM only had 18 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Mitch Larkin (12) and Jax Hertel (11) led the team in tackles, with Hertel finding the endzone with his second career pick-six.


A New Season is Here
Unlike 2024, in which the Green and Gold played its first three games in three different states, the Wildcats will stay within the Michigan boundaries for 10 of 11 games this season, only traveling out of state for a midseason trip to Roosevelt (Chicago). 

Under third-year head coach Shane Richardson, Northern returns three All-GLIAC Second Teamers in RB Jahi Wood, OL Daniel Babcock, and LB Jax Hertel. In total, the 'Cats return 30 lettermen, with more than half of those being starters a season ago. Wood will lead a running back room that accounted for more than 70% of the offense last season and was third across the GLIAC in 2024, averaging 177.9 yards/game. Wood (668 yards), Vince Martin (346), and Nico Lukkarinen (258) all finished inside the top-20 in the conference and will be accompanied by redshirt freshman Noah Dobert, who scored three TD's against Minnesota Duluth in the spring game, as well as Tucker Welch and freshman Tyler Van Sluys to make for a deep and talented backfield.

Defensively, Hertel finished inside the GLIAC's top-10 with 40 solo tackles last season. Joining Hertel is senior Mitch Larkin, who paced the conference in tackles in 2023 with 118 total tackles. The pair will bring loads of experience and athleticism to patrol the middle of the field. 

2025 marks the 50th anniversary season of NMU's historic National Championship title in 1975 led by QB Steve Mariucci. NMU will host a weekend celebration from October 9-11. 


More Wildcats to Watch 
DB Xavier Martinez - The 6'1 sophomore defensive back played in all 11 games as a freshman and led the Wildcats with five pass breakups. He finished 2024 with 21 tackles, 18 of those coming solo.

LB Jaylen Houston - An athletic LB/DB, Houston joined NMU as a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, where he played in 20 games over 3 seasons. 

WR Isaac Olson - The 6'2 sophomore wideout leads a new-look receiver room this season. As a freshman, Olson played in all 11 games, finishing second on the team with 8 receptions for 97 yards.


A Look at Northwood
Members of the G-MAC, the Timberwolves went 6-5 in 2024 and have been picked to finish fifth in the conference this season.

Last season, Northwood averaged 25.4 points/game and allowed 18.5 points/game. For a team that saw a lot of turnover, they are expected to be led by redshirt sophomore QB Ethan Hamby, who threw for 882 yards and 7 TD's in 10 games last season. On the ground, senior RB Devin Brown returns after totaling 687 yards and six TD's a season ago. Defensively, DB Cole Simpson leads the unit after 66 tackles and a pair of turnovers in 2024. 


The Series
The Wildcats are 27-14 all-time against the Timberwolves. The sides last met in 2021, with Northern securing a 34-26 victory in Marquette. Northwood has won three straight against NMU at home. The Wildcats won the first 18 meetings in the series, including a 63-0 shutout victory in the first meeting back in 1968. 


2025 GLIAC Football Preseason Poll
1. Ferris State, 47 (6)
2. Grand Valley State, 41 (1)
3. Saginaw Valley State, 38 (1)
4. Davenport, 31
5. Michigan Tech, 28
6. Wayne State, 16
7. Roosevelt, 12
8. Northern Michigan, 11