UMD Football Draws Ashland in First-Round of NCAA Playoffs

The Bulldogs last appeared in the NCAA playoffs back in 2021 season.

DULUTH, Minn.- The UMD football team heard their name called for the NCAA tournament on Sunday night.

The Bulldogs will hit the road and face Ashland University in the first round of the tournament.

The Bulldogs last appeared in the NCAA playoffs back in the 2021 season.

On Saturday, UMD claimed its first unshared NSIC Championship Title since the 2012 season, after defeating Minot State 33-7.

Now that it’s win or go home, Head coach Curt Wiese and the Bulldogs will lean on their one play mindset.

Which has been the team’s focus all season long.

“We’re going to go about our daily preparation the way that we have all season and kind of take it as a one-play mentality, and our guys understand what’s at stake. When you get into the national playoffs, you’re going to face good teams every week,” said Wiese.

“It’s kind of been our focus all year. So, I think we’re just going to have to keep going forward with that and just focus on one play at a time and know that some things aren’t going to go our way, “said UMD quarterback Kyle Walljasper. “Excited for everything, all the little things in practice, whether going and doing a lift, or sitting in the locker room with the guys, practice meetings, all those little things, just happy to have one more opportunity that’s promised.”

Kickoff between UMD and Ashland is on Saturday, November 22nd, at 1 p.m.