In the Frontier Conference Preseason Poll, Dakota State was selected to finish fourth in the East Division. The Frontier football league features a total of 14 teams, splitting in two divisions - East and West.
The Trojans play six division teams in the East - Dickinson State (N.D.), Mayville State (N.D.), Montana Tech, Rocky Mountain (Mont.), and Valley City State (N.D.).
The Frontier Conference will have two weeks of cross-over games (East vs. West), where the Trojans will travel to Arizona Christian on Sept. 20 and host Southern Oregon on Sept. 27 (homecoming).
The league have six teams listed in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll, with five teams inside the Top 25, including a pair of East division teams Montana Tech and Dickinson State.
ABOUT DAKOTA WESLEYAN (S.D.)
The Tigers open their NAIA football season as the same time as the Trojans. DWU, who finished with 4-7 overall record last season in Alex Kretzschmar's first season, was picked to finish ninth in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Dakota State entered the new era at the new stadium, the Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field, after playing for more than 60 years at the former Trojan Field. The Trojans rolled past DWU in both teams' last meeting.
Dakota Wesleyan is scheduled to play 11 games this season, with six games being played on their home field (Joe Quintal Field) in Mitchell, S.D.
2025 SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
Dakota State opens their 10-game schedule Saturday evening, with five games on the road and five games at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field. The Trojans play their home opener on Sept. 6 versus Nebraska Wesleyan in the 10th annual Ag Bowl contest.
The Trojans take a bye week before heading to their two-week cross-over contests with the Frontier Conference's West Division. DSU plays at Arizona Christian on Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. (CT)/7 p.m. (AZ).
DSU returns home on Sept. 27 for a homecoming contest with Southern Oregon, who is ranked No. 22 in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m.
Dakota State kicks off the Frontier Conference East Division action, opening the schedule with two road contests against the top two teams in the preseason poll. DSU visits Montana Tech on Oct. 4, followed by another contest at Dickinson State (N.D.) on Oct. 11.
DSU hosts Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 18 before playing their final road contest at Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 1. The Trojans hosts Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Nov. 8 and MSU-Northern on Nov. 15 to wrap up the regular season.
EXPANDED FRONTIER FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
The Frontier Conference has expanded to 14 football schools this season, with five new programs. Four of those programs--including Dakota State, Dickinson State, Mayville State, and Valley City State, came from the former North Star Athletic Association, which ended their era last spring. Simpson (Calif.) also had been added to the Frontier football conference as an associate member.
The Frontier Conference football is split in two divisions - East and West. The West division teams include Arizona Christian, Montana Western, Carroll (Mont.), College of Idaho, Eastern Oregon, Simpson, and Southern Oregon.
There will be two automatic bids from the Frontier Conference to compete in the NAIA Football Championships Series (FCS) playoffs. Each division winner will receive the automatic bid to the postseason.
2024 TROJAN FOOTBALL SEASON IN REVIEW
Dakota State closed the North Star Athletic Association's era with a second place finish in the standings. Despite a 4-0 start to the season, the Trojans finsihed with their third winning record season in the previous four seasons.
It was the first time since the 1992 season that the Trojans started the season with a 4-0 record. DSU defeated Dakota Wesleyan, Nebraska Wesleyan, Jamestown (N.D.), and Valley City State to kick off the season.
Dakota State finished the North Star Association with a 4-4 conference record, which was the sole possession for second place in the standings. The Trojans started the Brian Kern Family Stadium era with a 3-2 home record.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE FROM 2024
Dakota State returns All-Conference athletes from last year's squad. First Team selections included
Tyler Kjetland (offensive lineman),
Caleb Dwyer (defensive lineman),
Taron Serr (linebacker), and
Deveon Moses (defensive back).
The Second Team All-Conference athletes that are returning this year includes
Uziel Ruiz (offensive lineman),
Melek Ford (wide receiver), and
Carson Sauseda (kicker).
Brooks Jansen (defensive lineman), who was listed on the All-Conference Honorable Mention last season also returns this season.
Moses was selected to the NAIA Football All-America First Team Defensive Back for the Trojans, thanks to his seven interceptions. One of his interceptions returned for a 'Pick Six' touchdown. He led the NAIA in interceptions, and tied for second most single season interceptions with three other former players in DSU football school history.
PAULSON NOMINATED FOR ALLSTATE GOOD WORKS
Cole Paulson, a senior linebacker and team captain from Pipestone, Minn., was nominated to the 2025 AllState AFCA Good Work Teams award for Dakota State. He earned the NAIA and conference academic awards his his success in the classroom.
Paulson finished the 2024 season with 26 tackles (15 solo, 11 assists) for the Trojans. He also had five tackles-for-loss of six yards. He added two pass deflections and a fumble recovery.
Paulson had volunteered many hours off the football field for Dakota State. He was a volunteer huddle leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes South Dakota Camp in the Black Hills.
In addition, Paulson was a volunteer referee for Special Olympics basketball at Hamlin High School in Hayti, S.D. He volunteered his time in numerous DSU sports camps, high school basketball classics, rodeo event, and food drive at the Madison Downtown Armory. He bowled with the Special Olympics athletes for the Madison Area All-Stars Special Olympics event.
