MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University head football coach Scott Underwood announced today the program's 11-game schedule for the upcoming 2023 season.
 
With the departure of Upper Iowa University from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference this summer, the NSIC is moving to a 10-game, non-division league schedule. Each of the 13 football-playing schools will play five home and five away league games and also have one open date in 2023. SMSU's game times will be announced later this spring.
 
SMSU's open date was set for Sept. 30, but the program was able to secure NCAA FCS member, Valparaiso University, for a non-conference game in Valparaiso, Ind. It will be SMSU's first game versus an FCS opponent since 1999 and the fifth in program history.
 
Underwood, beginning his second season as head coach in 2023, led SMSU to a 4-7 record this past fall, which was the most wins for the program since 2018.
 
"With Upper Iowa leaving the conference it was very important for us to find an 11^th game this upcoming season," Underwood said. "We are excited to able to secure a strong opponent from the FCS level and to completely fill our schedule. Our student-athletes put an incredible amount of time and commitment into our program and deserve a chance to compete in all 11 weeks."
 
SMSU will open the season on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Minot State. SMSU, which defeated MSU in overtime last season in Marshall, will be opening the season versus MSU for the fourth time in program history.
 
SMSU will have its first home game of the campaign on Sept. 9 taking on Bemidji State for the annual Ag Bowl, presented by Ralco. BSU, won the NSIC North Division and a share of the NSIC overall championship last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs. The Mustangs are 6-9 all-time in Ag Bowl games after defeating Concordia-St. Paul last season.
 
On Sept. 16, plays at Wayne State, which captured a share of the NSIC overall title last season, before returning home to face Minnesota Duluth on Sept. 23.
 
SMSU will then step-out of NSIC play on Sept. 30 to face Valparaiso, a member of the Pioneer Football League. The Beacons finished 5-7 overall in 2022, including playing FBS foe New Mexico State in the season finale. This will be SMSU's first game versus an FCS opponent since losing at Northern Iowa in the final game of the 1999 season. SMSU also played at Illinois State in 1992 and twice at Weber State in 1983 and 1989.
 
SMSU will play on the road for a second straight week on Oct. 7 at Augustana, before hosting back-to-back games in mid-October. SMSU will face Northern State for Homecoming on Oct. 14, before taking on MSU Moorhead on Oct. 21.
 
SMSU returns to road on Oct. 28 to play Minnesota State, which won a share of the NSIC South and overall titles and advanced to the NCAA playoffs last season. The Mustangs will play their final road game of the season the next week on Nov. 4 at the University of Mary.  
 
SMSU, which is not scheduled to play either Concordia-St. Paul or Winona State, will conclude the regular season on Nov. 12 hosting the University of Sioux Falls.
 
2023 Opponent Notes:
Minot State: SMSU leads the all-time series 8-1 … SMSU has won the last six games, including last season, 27-20, in overtime in Marshall … SMSU leads 5-0 since MSU joined the NSIC in 2012 … SMSU is 4-0 all-time in games played at Minot State.
 
Bemidji State: BSU leads the all-time series 26-21-1 … BSU has won 17 of the last 18 meetings since 1998 … SMSU's lone victory in that span occurred on Sept. 12, 2015, in Marshall … BSU won last season, 34-15, in Marshall … SMSU leads 12-10 all-time at home, but is 1-3 at The Schwan Regional Event Center.
 
Wayne State: WSC leads the all-time series 25-8 … WSC has won the previous six games, which includes last season, 20-14, in Wayne … WSC leads the series 14-3 since the 2005 season with SMSU's last victory coming on Oct. 10, 2015, in Wayne, Neb. … SMSU is 4-12 all-time at WSC.
 
Minnesota Duluth: UMD leads the all-time series 28-7-1 … UMD has won 10 of the last 11 meetings with SMSU's lone victory during that span occurring on Sept. 1, 2016, in Marshall … UMD earned a 31-21 victory in the 2022 season opener in Duluth … SMSU is 5-11 all-time in games played in Marshall, including 1-2 at The Schwan Regional Event Center.
 
Augustana: AU leads the all-time series 23-3 … AU has won the last eight games, including 49-0 a season ago in Marshall … SMSU won the first two games of the series in 1990 and 1991, but has won just once (2013) in the last 24 games … SMSU is 2-11 all-time at Augustana.   
 
Northern State: NSU leads the all-time series 24-11-2 … NSU won the last meeting, 30-13, on Sept. 11, 2021, in Aberdeen, S.D. … the series is tied 8-8-1 in games played in Marshall with SMSU holding a 3-1 advantage at The Schwan Regional Event Center. SMSU won the last game played at The Schwan Regional Event Center, 35-7, on Oct. 20, 2018.
 
MSU Moorhead: MSUM leads the all-time series 29-19 … MSUM has won the last two games, including the 2021 season opener in Marshall, 33-21 … SMSU won seven straight in the series from 2008-17 … MSUM won the first 16 games in the series from 1970-85 … the series is tied 12-12 in games played in Marshall, with SMSU holding a 3-2 advantage at The Schwan Regional Event Center.
 
Minnesota State: MSU leads the all-time series 20-0 … MSU won last season, 45-24, in Mankato … MSU has scored 34 or more points in each of the 14 games played since MSU joined the NSIC in 2008 … SMSU is 0-11 all-time in Mankato.
 
UMary: UMary leads the all-time series 6-5 … SMSU won last season, 31-28, in Bismarck, N.D. … SMSU leads the series 3-2 in games played in Bismarck … SMSU has won three of the last four meetings.
 
Sioux Falls: USF leads the all-time series 11-3 … USF has won all 10 meetings since joining the NSIC in 2012 … USF won the last season (35-14) in Sioux Falls … SMSU's last win in the series was on Oct. 20, 1979, in Sioux Falls … SMSU is 2-5 all-time in games played in Marshall, including 0-5 at The Schwan Regional Event Center.