Northern Michigan Wildcats football, 2020–present

2020–present Northern Michigan Wildcats football
ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Head coach

The Northern Michigan Wildcats football program, 2020–present represented Northern Michigan University during the 2010s in NCAA Division II college football as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team was led during the decade by two head coaches: Kyle Nystrom (2021–2022) and Shane Richardson (2023–present).

The Wildcats have not had a winning season since going 6–4 in 2009. In their first two seasons under Richardson, the Wildcats lost 22 consecutive games, compiling identical 11–0 records in 2023 and 2024 while being outscored by an average of 30.6 points per game during the two seasons.[1]

The team played its home games at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Michigan.

Decade overview

Year Head coach Overall record Conf. record Conf. rank Points scored Points allowed Delta[2]
2021 Kyle Nystrom 4–7 2–5 5 (tie) 233 288 -55
2022 Kyle Nystrom 4–7 1–5 6 245 317 -72
2023 Shane Richardson 0–11 0–6 7 144 538 -394
2024 Shane Richardson 0–11 0–7 8 172 451 -279
TOTAL 8–36 3–23 794 1,594 -800

2020

Northern Michigan and the GLIAC did not compete in football during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

2021 Northern Michigan Wildcats football
ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Record4–7 (2–5 GLIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumSuperior Dome
2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Ferris State $^   7 – 0     14 – 0  
No. 7 Grand Valley State ^   6 – 1     10 – 2  
Michigan Tech   5 – 2     6 – 4  
Saginaw Valley State   4 – 3     7 – 4  
Northern Michigan   2 – 5     4 – 7  
Davenport   2 – 5     3 – 8  
Wayne State (MI)   2 – 5     2 – 9  
Northwood   0 – 7     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

The 2021 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team represented Northern Michigan University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season. In their fourth year under head coach Kyle Nystrom, the Wildcats compiled a 4–7 record (2–5 in conference games), tied for fifth place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 288 to 233.[3][4]

Quarterback Drake Davis tallied 1,401 passing yards and 340 rushing yards. Defensive lineman John McMullen tallied 45 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.[5]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 42:00 p.m.at McKendree*
W 27–201,200
September 111:00 p.m.Wisconsin–Oshkosh*
L 10–281,956
September 181:00 p.m.Davenport*
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
W 20–141,536
September 251:00 p.m.at Northwood*
L 20–371,946
October 24:00 p.m.Wayne State (MI)
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
W 26–192,494
October 912:00 p.m.at Davenport
L 13–181,202
October 1612:00 p.m.Michigan Tech
WLUCL 14–213,597
October 231:00 p.m. No. 8 Grand Valley State
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 24–282,012
October 301:00 p.m.at No. 1 Ferris State
L 24–442,460
November 61:00 p.m.at Saginaw Valley State
L 21–332,000
November 131:00 p.m.Northwood
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
W 34–261,806
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[4]

2022

2022 Northern Michigan Wildcats football
ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record4–7 (1–5 GLIAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDylan Chmura (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorKirby Cannon (6th season)
Home stadiumSuperior Dome
2022 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 3 Grand Valley State $^   6 – 0     12 – 1  
No. 1 Ferris State ^   5 – 1     14 – 1  
No. 20 Davenport ^   4 – 2     8 – 3  
Saginaw Valley State   3 – 3     8 – 3  
Michigan Tech   2 – 4     4 – 7  
Northern Michigan   1 – 5     4 – 7  
Wayne State (MI)   0 – 6     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

The 2022 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team represented Northern Michigan University in the GLIAC during the 2022 NCAA Division II season. In their fifth and final season uner head coach Kyle Nystrom, the Wildcats compiled a 4–7 record (1–5 in conference games) and finished sixth in the GLIAC.[6][7]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 17:00 p.m.McKendree*
L 24–31 OT1,200
September 101:00 p.m.Wisconsin–Oshkosh*
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
W 13–101,200
September 1712:00 p.m.at Davenport*
L 21–311,366
September 242:00 p.m.Post*
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
W 42–141,442
October 16:00 p.m.at Wayne State
W 37–304,187
October 81:00 p.m.Davenport
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 24–27 OT1,143
October 151:00 p.m.at Michigan Tech
FloSportsL 7–211,629
October 223:00 p.m.at No. 1 Grand Valley State
FloSportsL 3–5611,812[8][9]
October 291:00 p.m. No. 7 Ferris State
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 20–561,769[10]
November 51:00 p.m.Saginaw Valley State
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 21–301,198[11]
November 1212:00 p.m.at Lake Erie*
W 33–11331
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[7]

2023

2023 Northern Michigan Wildcats football
ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Record0–11 (0–6 GLIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumSuperior Dome
2023 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 3 Grand Valley State $^   6 – 0     11 – 2  
No. 9 Ferris State ^   5 – 1     8 – 3  
Davenport   4 – 2     8 – 2  
Saginaw Valley State   3 – 3     6 – 5  
Wayne State (MI)   2 – 4     3 – 8  
Michigan Tech   1 – 5     5 – 5  
Northern Michigan   0 – 6     0 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

The 2023 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team represented Northern Michigan University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season. In their fourth year under head coach Kyle Nystrom, the Wildcats compiled a 0–11 record (0–6 in conference games), finished in last place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 538 to 144.[12][13]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 317:00 p.m.at Minnesota Duluth*
L 10–473,308
September 91:00 p.m.Lake Erie*
L 21–241,995
September 162:00 p.m.Wisconsin–La Crosse*
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 3–342,874
September 232:00 p.m.at Quincy*
L 27–45462
September 303:00 p.m.at No. 1 Ferris State
FloSportsL 3–785,642[14]
October 72:00 p.m.at No. 16 Davenport
L 12–281,666
October 147:00 p.m.Michigan Tech
FloSports/WLUCL 0–625,907
October 211:00 p.m. No. 4 Grand Valley State
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 14–733,447
October 281:00 p.m.Wayne State (MI)
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 17–412,881
November 41:00 p.m.at Saginaw Valley State
L 17–62
November 111:00 p.m.Northern State*
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 20–442,101
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[13]

2024

2024 Northern Michigan Wildcats football
ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Record0–11 (0–7 GLIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumSuperior Dome
2024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Ferris State $^   7 – 0     14 – 1  
No. 6 Grand Valley State ^   6 – 1     11 – 2  
Davenport   4 – 3     7 – 4  
Michigan Tech   4 – 3     7 – 4  
Saginaw Valley State   4 – 3     7 – 4  
Wayne State (MI)   2 – 5     2 – 9  
Roosevelt*   1 – 6     1 – 9  
Northern Michigan   0 – 7     0 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – Roosevelt ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NAIA
Rankings from AFCA poll

The 2024 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team represented Northern Michigan University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division II football season. In their second year under head coach Shane Richardson, the Wildcats compiled a 0–11 record (0–7 in conference games), finished in last place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 451 to 172.[15][16]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 296:00 p.m. No. 17 Minnesota Duluth*
L 7–352,142[17]
September 57:00 p.m.at Kentucky Wesleyan*
L 13–33
September 142:00 p.m.at No. 6 D-III Wisconsin–La Crosse*
L 21–353,110[18][19][20]
September 211:00 p.m.Alma*
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 27–443,409
October 51:00 p.m.Saginaw Valley State
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 14–632,553
October 127:00 p.m.at No. 2 Grand Valley State
L 17–497,002
October 191:00 p.m.Roosevelt
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 10–16 OT2,261
October 2612:00 p.m.at Michigan Tech
FloSports/WLUCL 9–391,984[21]
November 21:00 p.m. No. 2 Ferris State
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
L 9–551,873[22]
November 912:00 p.m.at Davenport
L 31–521,203
November 161:00 p.m.at Wayne State (MI)
L 14–301,115
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[16]

2025

2025 Northern Michigan Wildcats football
ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record– (– GLIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumSuperior Dome
2025 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Davenport   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Ferris State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Grand Valley State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Michigan Tech   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Northern Michigan   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Roosevelt*   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Saginaw Valley State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Wayne State (MI)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – Roosevelt ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NAIA
Rankings from AFCA poll

The 2025 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team will represent Northern Michigan University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division II football season. They are expected to be led by Shane Richardson in his third year as head coach.[23][24]

In February 2025, quarterback Aidan Hoard, a 6'5" quarterback from Frankenmuth, committed to play for Northern Michigan. His father, Matt Hoard, previously played quarterback for the Huskies and was named NCAA Division II Player of the Year.[25]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 286:00 p.m.Minnesota State Moorhead*
September 612:00 p.m.at Northwood*
September 132:00 p.m.St. Thomas*
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
September 201:00 p.m.Davenport
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
October 42:00 p.m.at Saginaw Valley State
October 117:00 p.m.Grand Valley State
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
October 182:00 p.m.at Roosevelt
October 2512:00 p.m.Michigan Tech
FloSports
November 1at Ferris State
November 812:00 p.m.at Davenport
FloSports
November 151:00 p.m.Wayne State (MI)
  • Superior Dome
  • Marquette, MI
FloSports

[24]

References

  1. ^ Scott Venci (February 7, 2025). "Five area football standouts". Green Bay Press-Gazette. pp. 1B, 4B – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Delta = the difference between points scored and points allowed
  3. ^ "2021 Football Cumulative Statistics". Northern Michigan University. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "2021 Football". Northern Michigan University Wildcats. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  5. ^ Chandler Engelbrecht (July 26, 2022). "Can any team dethrone Ferris State? All you must know for 2022". Detroit Free Press. p. B7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "2022 Football Cumulative Statistics". Northern Michigan University. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "2022 Football". Northern Michigan University Wildcats. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  8. ^ "Northern Michigan University football gets up-close look at why Grand Valley State is No. 1 in nation as Lakers prevail 56-3". The Mining Journal. October 23, 2022.
  9. ^ "Grand Valley remains undefeated with win over Northern Michigan". Fox 17 West Michigan. October 22, 2022.
  10. ^ Josh VanDyke (October 31, 2022). "Ferris State uses 28-point second quarter to roll past Northern Michigan". Mlive.com.
  11. ^ "SVSU claims road win over Northern Michigan". Mlive.com. November 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "2023 Football Cumulative Statistics". Northern Michigan University. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "2023 Football". Northern Michigan University Wildcats. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  14. ^ Josh VanDyke (October 2, 2023). "Record-breaking outing helps Ferris State football roll past Northern Michigan". Mlive.com.
  15. ^ "2024 Football Cumulative Statistics". Northern Michigan University. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "2024 Football". Northern Michigan University Wildcats. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  17. ^ "Walljasper's arm powers UMD football past Northern Michigan". Duluth News Tribune. August 30, 2024. p. A6 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ James Krause (September 14, 2024). "Scouting Northern Michigan ahead of the Eagles home opener". The La Crosse Tribune. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Northern Michigan University Wildcats football team loses turnover battle at Wisconsin-La Crosse, 35-21". The Mining Journal. September 16, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Lins, Daniel (September 14, 2024). "UW-L football improves to 2-0 following win over Northern Michigan". WI Proud. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  21. ^ "Michigan Tech 39, Northern Michigan 9". Detroit Free Press. October 27, 2024. p. 10B – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Northern Michigan University Wildcats football takes it on chin again, 55-9 to national No. 2 Ferris State, in final home game of season". The Mining Journal. November 4, 2024.
  23. ^ "2025 Football Cumulative Statistics". Northern Michigan University. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  24. ^ a b "2025 Football". Northern Michigan University Wildcats. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  25. ^ Hugh Bernreuter (February 5, 2023). "Frankenmuth QB follows father's footsteps to Northern Michigan University". The Saginaw News. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
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