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Tigers Seek Redemption in Home Opener
5 Sep
Summary
- Dakota Wesleyan faces Doane University in their home opener.
- Doane received a forfeit win, but this game is their season debut.
- Saturday's game moved up due to expected heat conditions.
Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) football will commence their home schedule and Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) play on Saturday, September 5, 2026, against Doane University. The Tigers are striving for a strong performance following a narrow defeat in their season opener against Dakota State on August 29, 2026.
Doane University's season began with a forfeit victory over Texas College due to health concerns, marking their first official game this Saturday. This matchup against DWU, originally scheduled for a later start, has been rescheduled to 11 a.m. at Joe Quintal Field due to concerns about extreme heat.
Historically, DWU has shown dominance in recent series encounters, winning the last three meetings and five of the past six against Doane. However, Doane's last victory in Mitchell, South Dakota, occurred on October 5, 2019. DWU's performance at home in season openers and conference openers since joining the GPAC in 2000 shows a 15-11 and 11-15 record, respectively.
DWU's offensive efforts against Dakota State included 147 rushing yards, with Landon Iverson leading the team. Defensively, the Tigers recorded four sacks, their highest total since 2022, with Reed Rus contributing three sacks in his debut. Doane, predicted to finish tenth in the GPAC preseason poll, has seen significant roster changes from the previous season.
