THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-9, 0-9 NSIC, 0-5 NSIC South) concludes the season this Saturday hosting Winona State University (4-6, 4-5 NSIC, 2-3 NSIC South) at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center in Marshall. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. 
•SMSU is looking to break a nine-game losing skid since opening the season with a non-conference home victory over Valley City State (N.D.) on Aug. 27.
•Saturday's match-up is a 'trophy game' as SMSU and WSU meet for the 10th 'Battle for the Sledge' game presented by Game One and Adidas.
•Saturday's game will be the seventh for SMSU interim head coach, Levi Bullerman, who was named to the position on Sept. 20 following the retirement of head coach, Scott Underwood.   
•A preview of WSU is located on page 4. 

BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 14th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik. 
•Live stats, radio broadcast (free) and video ($) can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

SMSU vs. WSU Series Notes
(All-time results listed on page 18)
SMSU and Winona State meet for the 55th time on Saturday with WSU leading 34-20 ... the teams first met on Oct. 10, 1970 ... WSU holds an 8-1 advantage since the 'Battle for the Sledge' trophy was started in 2015 ... WSU has won the last eight games after SMSU won three straight from 2013-15 ... WSU leads 14-12 in games played in Marshall with WSU winning the last four ... SMSU's last win in the series came on Nov. 14, 2015 ... WSU won last season in Winona, 30-6 ... WSU has won 25 of the last 30 since 1994 ... WSU has scored 30 or more points in 20 of the last 23 games ... SMSU won seven straight in the series from 1987-93 ... WSU won 13 of 14 games from 1994 to 2007.      
  
The Last Time - SMSU vs. WSU
SMSU scored the game's first touchdown, but Winona State answered with 30 straight points to earn a 30-6 victory in Winona on Nov. 15, 2025. SMSU senior linebacker Josiah Hedensten earned team MVP honors racking up a career-high 20 tackles with one pass break-up. WSU's Jahmani Muhammad was named the Warriors' MVP, rushing for a game-high 142 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. WSU ended the game with 402 yards of offense and 18 first downs, while SMSU recorded 246 yards and 18 first downs. WSU rushed for 196 yards, while limiting SMSU to 22 yards on the ground. WSU's Jackson Flottmeyer completed 16 of 23 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Joe Sikma caught four passes for a game-high 118 yards and one touchdown. SMSU's Drew Kluender, starting his second career game at quarterback and first of the season, completed 20 of 49 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown, while being sacked four times. Tryg Auten was his top target with six receptions for 88 yards. Jacob Honstetter lead SMSU's rushing attack with 53 yards on 14 carries.

SMSU vs. WSU Series Information
Overall:    WSU leads 34-20
In Marshall:    WSU leads 14-12
In Winona:    WSU leads 20-8
Last SMSU win:    Nov. 14, 2015 (33-28)
Last WSU win:    Nov. 15, 2025 (30-6)
Largest win for SMSU:    33 (47-14, 1991)
Largest win for WSU:    56 (56-0, 1975)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    7 (1987-93)
Longest win streak for WSU:    7 (2001-07, 2016-24)
Current win streak:    WSU, 8
Bullerman vs. WSU:    0-0
Curtin vs. SMSU:    1-0

SMSU INTERIM HEAD COACH LEVI BULLERMAN
•Levi Bullerman was named interim head coach on Sept. 20 and is 0-6 during his tenure. Bullerman is in his ninth season on the SMSU coaching staff and fifth as defensive coordinator. He also coaches the team's linebackers.
•He played linebacker at SMSU from 2005-09, where he was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter, playing in 44 games with 154 tackles and three interceptions. He served as team captain in 2009.
•Bullerman took over for Scott Underwood, who retired as head coach on Sept. 20. Underwood was in his fifth season as head coach with a record of 8-40. He was named the program's 11th head coach on Jan. 7, 2022. 

THE 10TH MEETING FOR THE 'BATTLE FOR THE SLEDGE'
•Saturday will be the 10th annual 'Battle for the Sledge' trophy game, presented by Game One and Adidas. WSU has won the previous eight games since SMSU won the first meeting after the traveling trophy was established in 2015. 
•The trophy is a seven-foot tall sledgehammer. In addition to the sledge trophy, Game One will also provide two MVP trophies to a player on each team.
•Here is the history behind the naming of the trophy game, 'Battle for the Sledge': During the 2008 season, during warm-ups of the WSU/SMSU game on Oct. 4, a WSU player brought a sledgehammer to mid-field while SMSU players looked on. SMSU went on to earn a 35-28 victory over WSU, snapping the Warriors' seven-game winning streak in the series. Following the game, SMSU players ran over to the WSU sideline and grabbed the sledgehammer, celebrating the victory at midfield. With emotions running high for both teams, a WSU player went over to the SMSU sideline to get its sledgehammer back. SMSU eventually gave the sledgehammer back and a rivalry was born.

SENIOR DAY ON SATURDAY
•Saturday will be 'Senior Day' as the SMSU program will honor nine fifth year players in a pregame ceremony. The fifth year players recognized will be: Julius Brown, Sam Campbell, Jr., Josiah Cowan-Beck, Macloud Crowton, Eniedi Isuk, Avery Johnson, Amarion Meshack, Isaiah Rheaume and Sylvester Walker, Jr. 

SMSU OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•SMSU ranks first in Division II in both fewest penalty yards per game (26.5) and fewest penalties (37). 
•SMSU rushed a season-jhigh 48 times for a season-high 245 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, in last week's game at CSP. It was the first time SMSU rushed for more than 200 yards since Sept. 7, 2024, versus Minot State. 
•SMSU finished last week's game with a season-high 541 yards of total offense. It was the first time SMSU finished with more than 500 yards since the 2018 season. 
•Sophomore linebacker Hunter Hanegraaf ranks 16th in the country in tackles for loss (1.4), 37th in solo tackles (4.6) and 59th in tackles (8.6). He also ranks fifth in the NSIC (league games only) in tackles (7.9) and tackles for loss (1.28). 
•Senior linebacker Aiden Planer ranks 10th in the NSIC in tackles for loss (0.89) and 15th in tackles (6.2). 
•Junior safety Keegan Patterson begins the final week ranked tied for third in the NSIC with three interceptions in nine conference games. He has a team-leading four interceptions overall on the season. 
•Sophomore running back Emmanuel Diers scored his first career touchdown last week with a 62-yard run. It's the longest run from scrimmage this season for the Mustangs.  
•Sophomore quarterback Tommy Hoffman made his third career start in last week's game at CSP. He passed for a career-high 248 yards while completing 12 of 19 passes. 
•Fifth year wide receiver Sam Campbell caught a career-high six passes for 62 yards at CSP.
•Junior wide receiver Ryan Kronbach scored two touchdowns last week, which included an 81-yard reception and a 1-yard run. 
•SMSU was not called for penalty two weeks ago versus Minnesota State. It was the first time since the 2009 season SMSU did not commit a penalty in a game. 
•Freshman wide receiver Cooper Murphy caught a career-high six passes for a career-best 144 yards and two touchdowns versus Wayne State on Sept. 26. Murphy is the first SMSU player to have more than 100 yards receiving in a game since Colin Maher on Oct. 25, 2025.  
•SMSU limited Valley City State to 26 yards rushing in the season opener. It was the first time SMSU held an opponent to less than 50 yards rushing since the final game of the 2009 season. 
•Fifth year Macloud Crowton started at quarterback in the season-opening victory versus VCSU. It was the first time since 2018 that SMSU had the same quarterback start the first game of the season in back-to-back seasons. Blake Gimbel was the last Mustang to start back-to-back season openers in 2017 and 2018. 

SMSU SEASON NUMBERS
•Sophomore running back Emmanuel Diers leads SMSU in rushing with 333 yards on 36 carries. Sophomore running back Josh Lancifort ranks second with 256 yards on 90 carries. 
•Senior wide receiver Tryg Auten has caught a team-high 38 passes for a team-leading 365 yards.
•Freshman wide receiver Cooper Murphy ranks second with 26 receptions for 318 yards and two touchdowns.
•Senior wide receiver David Ola-Kazeem has amassed 22 catches for 290 yards and one touchdown. 
•Sophomore quarterback Tommy Hoffman has played in six games with three starts and has completed 69 of 120 passes for 946 yards with four touchdowns and nine interceptions. 
•Junior quarterback Drew Kluender has appeared in four games making two starts and has completed 38 of 73 passes for 432 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. 
•Fifth year quarterback Macloud Crowton, who has played in seven games with five starts, has completed 72 of 141 passes for 673 yards with six interceptions. 
•Junior safety Keegan Patterson leads the team with four interceptions.
•Sophomore linebacker Hunter Hanegraaf has racked up a team-high 81 tackles with 14 for loss. 
•Senior linebacker Aiden Planer ranks second on the squad with 58 tackles, including nine for loss.
•Sophomore linebacker Jack Meier is third on the team with 52 tackles and has amassed eight tackles for loss.  
•Fifth year defensive end Avery Johnson is tied for fourth on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. 

SMSU & WSU IN THE 2026 NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and WSU rank in this week's NCAA statistics.
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 16-17. 
             (159 teams ranked)     SMSU    WSU     
             Scoring Offense    157th    111th
             Rushing Offense    152nd    67th    
             Passing Offense    78th    93rd
        Red Zone Offense    159th    52nd    
             Total Offense    133rd    87th     
             Scoring Defense    136th    36th
             Rushing Defense    114th    101st 
             Pass Defense    139th    32nd 
             Pass Efficiency Defense    126th     58th
        Red Zone Defense    48th    67th
             Total Defense    139th    56th     
             Net Punting     85th    81st 
             Punt Returns     104th     113th
             Kickoff Returns     139th    135th    
             Turnover Margin     158th     90th
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     1st      13th     
             Time of Possession     132nd    98th 
             3rd Down Conversions     155th    128th
             3rd Down Conversion Defense    105th    16th

TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2026
•The SMSU football leadership council and team will select four game captains each week for the 2026 season.

THE 2026 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Nov. 10) features 110 players with nine fifth-year players, 11 seniors, 28 juniors, 29 sophomores and 33 freshmen. 

TURNOVER MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'minus-18' in turnover margin on the season ranking 158th in Division II. 
•SMSU was 'plus-1' in the win over Valley City State, but have been 'minus' or 'even' in each of the next nine games. (see chart on page 3)
•SMSU has forced a least one turnover in nine of 10 games this season.
•SMSU finished 'minus-9' in turnover margin last season.

MUSTANGS IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU has scored on 9 of 25 trips (36.0) inside the red zone this season with six touchdowns and three field goals. 
•SMSU has failed to score in 16 red zone trips with six turnover on downs, five missed field goals, three interceptions, one fumble and one end of game. 
•SMSU opponents are 33 of 44 (75.0) in the red zone with 27 touchdowns and six field goals. 
•The following is SMSU in the 'red zone' since the 2010 season.
    Year    Red-Zone    TD    FG
    2010    22 of 30 (73.3)    22    0
    2011    35 of 41 (85.4)    29    6
    2012    30 of 37 (81.1)    25    5
    2013    49 of 57 (86.0)    40    9
    2014    35 of 43 (81.4)    26    8
    2015    39 of 50 (78.0)    36    3
    2016    38 of 45 (84.4)    37    1
    2017    24 of 37 (64.9)    18    6
    2018    28 of 37 (75.7)    23    5
    2019     22 of 29 (75.9)    19    3
    2021    20 of 29 (69.0)    16    4
    2022    20 of 33 (60.6)    17    3
    2023    17 of 30 (56.6)    14    3
    2024    7 of 14 (50.0)    5    2
    2025    19 of 25 (76.0)    15    4
    2026    9 of 25 (36.0)    6    3

LONG PLAYS FOR THE MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 47 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards this season with 33 coming from the offense (six run, 27 pass).
•Tommy Hoffman's 81-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Kronbach at Concordia-St. Paul is the longest play of the season.
•Emmanuel Diers has the longest rush from scrimmage, a 62-yard touchdown run at Concordia-St. Paul. 
•The following are SMSU's 'long plays' since 2010.
'Long' plays (20 yards or more) since 2010
    Year    No.    TD    Run    Pass    KR    PR    IR    FR
    2010    61    14    10    32    18    0    0    1
    2011    60    8    13    22    23    1    1    0
    2012    66    20    18    28    19    1    0    0
    2013    125    30    28    51    41    1    2    2
    2014    71    12    15    27    21    3    5    0
    2015    78    18    13    39    18    5    3    0
    2016    93    21    15    40    33    1    3    1
    2017    68    10    12    28    25    1    1    1 
    2018    70    15    8    51    7    2    2    0
    2019    56    12    4    37    12    1    2    0
    2021    42    6    8    18    10    1    2    3
    2022    51    14    14    23    13    0    1    0
    2023    50    9    8    29    11    1    1    0
    2024    48    6    7    15    18    1    6    1
    2025    55    5    2    34    19    0    0    0
    2026    47    6    6    27    12    0    2    0

2026 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 14th overall and seventh in the NSIC South Division in the annual 14-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
•Mustang senior quarterback Macloud Crowton and senior defensive lineman Avery Johnson were tabbed a 'Player to Watch' in the NSIC.

MUSTANGS AT HOME
•The 2026 season is the 18th year that Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center has served as the home for SMSU football. 
•SMSU is 33-66 all-time at the stadium, including 1-4 this season. SMSU's season opening win over Valley City State snapped an 11-game home losing streak. 
•New turf was installed at the stadium in the summer of 2022. 
•The $16 million facility opened in the fall of 2008 with the first college football game played on Aug. 30 versus Minnesota Crookston.  

MUSTANGS ON THE ROAD
•Since the 2016 season, SMSU is 11-44 in road games, including finishing 0-5 this season.
•SMSU's last season with a winning road record occurred in 2015 (5-1). 

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-36 all-time versus Division II Top 25 teams, including 0-2 this season after losing at home to No. 19 Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 3 and No. 3/5 Minnesota State at home on Oct. 31.
•SMSU's lone victory versus a ranked team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 5-8 all-time in overtime games since the NCAA added overtime in 1998.
•SMSU's last overtime game occurred on Sept. 24, 2022, with a 27-20 home victory versus Minot State.
•SMSU is 1-3 in multi-overtime contests. 
•The program's last multi-overtime game was a 34-31 double overtime loss at Minnesota State on Oct. 13, 2012.

SEASON & HOME OPENER INFORMATION
•SMSU is 23-35 all-time in season openers after defeating Valley City State to open the 2026 campaign. 
•SMSU is 2-7 in its last nine home openers defeating VCSU this season and Concordia-St. Paul in 2022. 

MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2026 season is the 59th year of college football at SMSU and 58th season of competition (2020 was canceled) dating to 1968.
•SMSU owns an all-time record of 211-388-5, including 148-288-5 in conference play. 
•SMSU has recorded 10 winning seasons with two NAIA playoff appearances (1987 and 1991) and one Mineral Water Bowl appearance (2013). SMSU's last winning season came in 2015. 
•The program earned its lone conference championship in 1990.

SCOUTING WINONA STATE
•Brian Curtin is in his second season as head coach after serving as an assistant coach at WSU for more than 20 years. Curtin has a record of 10-11 during his tenure as head coach. He joined the WSU staff in 1997 and has served in a variety of roles, mostly as the defensive coordinator.
•WSU is coming off a dominate 55-7 home victory over UMary last Saturday. The Warriors held the Marauders to 11 first downs and 177 yards of total offense. WSU senior linebacker Blake Schraufnagel earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week accolades on Monday after recording 10 tackles, including four for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. 
•Sophomore quarterback Jacob Sampson completed 17 of 20 passes for 229 yards and five touchdowns in last week's win. For the season, Sampson has completed 133 of 207 passes for 1,393 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. 
•Sophomore running back Jahmani Muhammad has rushed for a team-high 601 yards on 113 carries with three touchdowns. 
•Sophomore wide receiver Jake Schultz has a team-high 52 receptions for 542 yards and three touchdowns.
•Sophomore wide receiver Nolan Ginskey has 36 receptions for 426 yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns. 
•Senior linebacker Ethan Doucette leads the defense with 75 tackles with nine for loss. 
•Schraufnagel has 65 tackles with 10 tackles for loss and five sacks.