Photo by Samantha Davis: Southwest Minnesota State University wide receiver Tryg Auten (84) celebrates a touchdown during a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football game against Concordia-St. Paul on Sept. 21 at Mattke Field in Marshall. Southwest Minnesota State announced its 11-game football schedule for the 2025 season on Wednesday, including 10 NSIC games and one non-conference game.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University football team announced its 11-game schedule for the 2025 season on Wednesday. The schedule includes 10 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchups and one non-conference game against Northern State.

After an 0-11 campaign in 2025, the Mustangs will look to open their season with a spark at Mattke Field, hosting Minnesota State Moorhead for the Ag Bowl on Sept. 6. SMSU last defeated MSU Moorhead in 2017.

Jamestown will be the Mustangs’ first road matchup of the season on Sept. 13. Entering their first season as a member of the NSIC, Jamestown is 2-1 against the Mustangs all-time, most recently defeating SMSU in North Dakota by a score of 17-9 in 2007.

SMSU will return to Mattke Field on Sept. 20 to host UMary before going on the road for consecutive weeks against Wayne State on Sept. 7 and against Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 4. 

For homecoming, SMSU will host Sioux Falls on Oct. 11. SMSU most recently defeated the Cougars in 2023, snapping a 10-game losing streak against Sioux Falls since the Cougars joined the NSIC in 2012.

SMSU’s non-conference game against Northern State is slated for Oct. 18, after which they’ll return to Marshall to host Augustana on Oct. 25. They’ll then play Minnesota State on Nov. 1 in Mankato. Both Augustana and Minnesota State qualified for last year’s Division II College Football Playoff, with Minnesota State advancing to the national semifinal before falling 35-21 to Valdosta State (Ga.). 

SMSU will host Concordia-St. Paul for their final home game of the season on Nov. 8 and close out the year on the road against Winona State on Nov. 15 in the Battle for the Sledge.

Winona State has won the Battle for the Sledge in seven of the eight matchups since the trophy was established in 2015, the lone exception coming in its inaugural season by a score of 33-28 in Marshall.

Scott Underwood will be helming the program for his fourth season with the team. Through his first three seasons, Underwood has compiled a 6-27 record with the team. 

Kickoff times for SMSU’s 2025 schedule are yet to be announced. 

2025 schedule

Sept. 6 vs. MSU Moorhead (Ag Bowl)

Sept. 13 at Jamestown (N.D.)

Sept. 20 vs. UMary (N.D.)

Sept. 27 at Wayne State (Neb.)

Oct. 4 at Minnesota Duluth

Oct. 11 vs. Sioux Falls (S.D.) (Homecoming)

Oct. 18 at Northern State (S.D.) (Non-conference)

Oct. 25 vs. Augustana (S.D.)

Nov. 1 at Minnesota State

Nov. 8 vs. Concordia-St. Paul

Nov. 15 at Winona State (Battle for the Sledge)