BEMIDJI, Minn. – The No. 25/20 Bemidji State University Football Team is set to open the 2024 season Thursday evening at Chet Anderson Stadium. The Beavers host the Michigan Technological University Huskies at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 29 and will meet for the first time since Sep. 25, 1993.
 
Michigan Tech currently holds the winning record in the all-time series against the Beavers at 21-10. Their series began on Nov. 4,1955 and ran until Sep. 25, 1993, only missing eight years during that time. In the last meeting, the Huskies defeated the Beavers 52-23 in Bemidji, creating a four-game winning streak for Michigan Tech. The last time Bemidji State earned a win was on their own turf on Oct. 7, 1989, when the Beavers won 26-14. 
 
The Beavers have not played a regular-season, non-conference game since shutting out then independent Minot State University, 27-0, on Aug. 25, 2011. The following season, Minot State joined the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and all regular season games since have been against fellow NSIC schools. 
 
Bemidji State Notes

• No. 25-20 Bemidji State opens its eighth full season under Head Coach Brent Bolte on Thursday.
• The Beavers ranked 25th in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Coaches' Poll and 20th on the D2Football.com poll. The Beavers are joined by fellow NSIC members Augustana, Minnesota State and Minnesota Duluth on both lists.
• The Beavers enter the first game of the season ranked fifth in the NSIC's Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Leading the Beavers this season is a captains group composed of defensive linemen Stephen Hoffman and Cade Barrett, defensive back Jamel Stone, quarterback Sam McGath, wide receiver Brice Peters and offensive lineman Jake Gannon.
• Beaver defensive lineman Marcus Hansen was named the 2024 NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after earning the 2023 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year accolades last fall. 
• Hansen led the Beaver defense in 2023 with 10 sacks, tying for 17th in NCAA Division II. He averaged .83 sacks per game and knocked offenses back a total of 66 yards. 
• The "Gang Green" defense combined for 35 sacks last season and pushed offenses back a total of 201 yards from those hits. They tied for the 19th best in NCAA DII. 
• Last season, the Beavers marked a record of 9-3, 8-2 in the NSIC, and made their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. 
• BSU returns seven All-NSIC selections to this season's roster after graduating 20 seniors following the 2023 season. 
• The Beaver offense ranked 47th in the NCAA at the end of the 2023 campaign, marking 366 points (30.5 points per game), 50 touchdowns and 35 PATs.
• BSU's offensive line proved to be a force that could go against any defense and still protect quarterbacks Brandon Alt and Sam McGath. The offensive line ranked 18th in the NCAA in tackles for loss allowed, averaging 4.5 with 171 yards. The Beavers' offensive line includes four All-NSIC members in Will LeMire, Jake Gannon, Conor Kovas and Isaac Hagstrom. Gannon, LeMire and Kovas have each earned a first and second team All-NSIC nod.
• Now playing for the Saskatchewan RoughRiders in the CFL, wide receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby led the receiving front last season, marking 11 touchdowns in 12 games and tying for 11th overall in the NCAA for receiving touchdowns. 
• BSU looks to fill the large shoes of quarterback Brandon Alt this season. With a QB room filled with experience and talent, the coaching staff is optimistic about the future of the Beaver offense. Senior Sam McGath brings three seasons and 38 games of experience with him, often backing up Alt and being used in rushing situations. 
• Next week, the Beavers travel to Mankato, Minn., to take on the Minnesota State University Mavericks at Blakeslee Stadium. 

 
Michigan Tech Notes

• The Huskies kick-off their season on Thursday by traveling to Bemidji for the first time since Sep. 25, 1993.
• Last season, the Huskies went 5-5 against opponents, ending their season with 38-21 loss to Saginaw Valley State University. 
• The team shutout Northern Michigan University (62-0) but was also shutout by No. 18 Davenport University (28-0) just two weeks prior. 
• In 2023, the Huskies averaged 27.80 points per game and allowed their opponents 24.20.
• The Huskies' offense was equally split between passing plays and rushing (297-302) and totaled 3,260 yards of total offense with 35 touchdowns.
• Returning for the Huskies this season, wide receiver Ethan Champney finished his junior campaign tied for 20th in NCAA DII for receiving touchdowns (9).
• Following this week's game, the Huskies host South Dakota School of Mines on Thursday Sep. 5.

 
For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).