Venue & Game Details
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CDT / 6:00 p.m. MDT
Venue: Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field, Kearney, Nebraska
Competition: NCAA Division II – Non-Conference Rivalry (Good Life Trophy)
Broadcast: MIAA Network (PPV), News Channel Nebraska (check local listings), The River 93.1/106 FM (UNK radio), Double Q Country 97.5/105.9 FM (CSC radio)
Weather Forecast (Kearney, NE)
Conditions: Mostly clear skies into the evening
Temperature at Kickoff: ~79°F (26°C)
Wind: 5–8 mph from the south-southeast
Impact: Ideal early-season football weather — minimal wind effect on passing or special teams.
Injury & Availability Report
Nebraska–Kearney Lopers
QB Daron Bryden — Out (injury); redshirt sophomore Abram Scholting to start
RB Isaiah Harris — healthy after career-high 165 yards and 1 TD in Week 1 win over Wayne State
WR Jaden Jude — healthy; 7 catches for 98 yards and 1 TD in Loper debut
Defense — returns multiple starters; 3 INTs in opener
Chadron State Eagles
QB DJ Ralph — healthy after 228 yards passing vs. Northern Colorado
WR Tommy Thomas — healthy; 7 catches for 100 yards in opener
RB Jake Marschall — healthy; part of a balanced backfield with Quincey Ryker
Defense — anchored by All-RMAC safety Dax Yeradi and LB Logan O’Brien; 4 All-RMAC returners
Recent Form & Trends
Nebraska–Kearney: Opened 2025 with a road win over Wayne State, holding them to just 56 rushing yards. Scholting was efficient in relief of Bryden, and the defense forced 3 interceptions, turning two into touchdowns.
Chadron State: Outgained FCS Northern Colorado 333–291 in Week 1 but failed to capitalize in the red zone. Defense was stout, limiting UNC to 103 yards over the final three quarters.
Series History
All-Time Series: Nebraska–Kearney leads 48–23–1
Last Meeting: 2024 — UNK won 18–6 in Chadron; Eagles lost Ralph and Thomas to injury early
Trophy: Good Life Trophy — introduced in 2024 to renew the rivalry after UNK’s move from the RMAC to the MIAA
Trend: UNK has won 6 of the last 7 meetings
Key Player Matchups
RB Isaiah Harris (UNK) vs. CSC Front Seven – Harris is coming off his sixth career 100-yard game; CSC must contain him to force Scholting into obvious passing downs.
QB DJ Ralph & WR Tommy Thomas (CSC) vs. UNK Secondary – Healthy again, this duo can stretch the field against a ball-hawking defense that had 17 INTs in 2024 and 3 last week.
Special Teams Impact – CSC’s Yeradi is an All-RMAC punt returner; UNK’s coverage units must limit his opportunities.
Betting Trends
UNK is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 home games.
CSC is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 road games vs. non-conference opponents.
The Under has hit in 4 of the last 5 meetings.
Game Odds
Chadron State Eagles 46.5
Nebraska–Kearney Lopers – 7.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
