The 2025 FCS postseason kicks off with an intriguing first-round clash between the No. 19/23 North Dakota Fighting Hawks and the No. 6/7 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. This matchup pits a battle-tested Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) squad against an undefeated Ohio Valley Conference-Big South (OVC-Big South) powerhouse looking to validate its ranking on home turf. Tennessee Tech earned the No. 7 overall seed after a dominant regular season, while North Dakota sneaked into the 24-team field as one of the final at-large bids following a heartbreaking overtime loss in Week 12. The winner advances to face No. 4 Tarleton State in the second round. Here’s a comprehensive preview of this Saturday showdown.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Tucker Stadium, Cookeville, Tennessee (capacity: 16,500; Tennessee Tech’s home field since 1927, nestled in the hills of the Cumberland Plateau).
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. CT (1:00 p.m. ET).
Broadcast: ESPN+ (with streaming available via the ESPN app; radio coverage on Tennessee Tech’s Golden Eagle Sports Network and North Dakota’s iHeartRadio affiliate).
Weather Forecast
Cookeville’s late-November weather can be crisp and unpredictable, but conditions look favorable for a clean game. Expect a high of 49°F at kickoff with cloudy skies and light winds from the WNW at 5-10 mph. There’s a 30% chance of late-afternoon sprinkles (post-2 p.m. CT), but no heavy rain or thunderstorms in the forecast. Overnight lows will dip to 25°F, but the midday slot minimizes cold-weather impacts. Teams should prepare for potential slick spots on the AstroTurf surface if precipitation arrives—North Dakota’s cold-weather experience from Grand Forks could give them a slight edge in adaptability.
Injury Report
Both teams enter with relatively clean bills of health, but North Dakota’s depth has been tested late in the season.
North Dakota Fighting Hawks:
Out for Season: QB Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson (shoulder, missed last four games); CB Antonio Bluiett (knee, ACL tear vs. Northern Iowa in October).
Questionable (50-75% chance): WR BJ Fleming (concussion protocol, left early vs. SDSU; limited practice this week).
Probable (80%+ chance): RB Gaven Ziebarth (ankle sprain, missed two games but returned to full practice Wednesday; key power back with 847 rushing yards).
Impact: The secondary takes a hit with Bluiett out, forcing true freshman Zion Lewis into a bigger role. QB Cole Langama has stabilized the offense in Tupou’ata-Johnson’s absence (1,800+ yards, 15 TDs).
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles:
No Major Injuries Reported: The roster is at full strength after a bye week. QB Kekoa Visperas (mild ankle tweak vs. Eastern Illinois) is fully cleared and a Walter Payton Award finalist.
Watch List: Backup RB Kanstin Brooks (hamstring) is day-to-day but not expected to see snaps with the starter healthy.
Impact: TTU’s depth shines here—no absences that could disrupt their high-powered offense or swarming defense.
Key Player Matchups
This game’s narrative hinges on Tennessee Tech’s explosive passing attack clashing with North Dakota’s league-leading pass rush, while UND’s ground game tests TTU’s stout front seven. Here are the top three battles to watch:
UND DE Lance Rucker/Kaden Vig vs. TTU QB Kekoa Visperas
North Dakota’s sack duo (combined 13 sacks, 17 TFLs) led the MVFC with 34 team sacks and will target Visperas, who threw for 2,486 yards and 25 TDs on a 65.6% completion rate. Rucker (6’3″, 250 lbs) excels in run support, while Vig (6’4″, 240 lbs) brings speed off the edge. If they disrupt Visperas early, UND could force turnovers (TTU has just 5 INTs all season). Visperas, a transfer from UC Davis, thrives in rhythm—expect TTU’s quick-release scheme to counter with screens to RBs.
UND RB Sawyer Seidl vs. TTU LB Gregory Turner
Seidl (847 rushing yards, 9 TDs; 5.2 YPC) is UND’s speed threat and primary ball-carrier with Ziebarth potentially limited. He’ll face Turner, a Coastal Carolina transfer with 85 tackles and 8 TFLs, anchoring TTU’s No. 12-ranked FCS run defense (112 YPG allowed). Seidl’s elusiveness could exploit gaps if UND’s O-line (led by All-MVFC RT Mark Bussan) holds up, but Turner’s sideline-to-sideline range has shut down bigger backs all year.
TTU WR Theron Gaines vs. UND CB Zion Lewis
Gaines (68 catches, 912 yards, 10 TDs) is Visperas’ top target and a deep threat who stretches defenses. Lewis, a freshman stepping up for the injured Bluiett, has 3 INTs but struggles in coverage against slot receivers (allowed 7.2 YPC). This mismatch could open the field for TTU’s balanced attack (225 pass YPG, 201 rush YPG), but Lewis’ ball skills might force a jump-ball turnover.
Recent Team Forms
North Dakota Fighting Hawks:
The Hawks started hot (5-1 through October) with wins over Missouri State and South Dakota, showcasing a gritty defense (top-20 FCS in points allowed at 22.1 PPG). However, a late-season skid included losses to UNI (24-17) and a heartbreaker at No. 1 SDSU (34-31 OT), where they rallied from 21 down but fell short on a failed 2-point try. Offensively, they’ve leaned on the run (180 YPG) amid QB injuries, but the pass rush remains elite. Playoff berth feels like a redemption arc after missing last year—expect a hungry, physical effort.
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles:
TTU was lights-out, cruising through conference play with blowouts over Eastern Kentucky (42-13) and UT Martin (35-10). Their lone loss came early (20-17 at Kentucky in Week 12, a valiant upset bid). The offense ranks top-10 nationally (42.6 PPG), powered by Visperas’ arm and a committee rush (5.9 YPC). Defensively, they’re opportunistic (18 INTs, 28 sacks). Fresh off a bye, they’re rested and motivated after feeling “snubbed” at a higher seed—home dominance (7-0, +28.4 margin) sets the tone.
Series History
This marks the first-ever meeting between the programs—no prior football history. North Dakota’s playoff pedigree (3-4 all-time, last appearance 2023) meets TTU’s novice status (first home playoff game since 2011; 1-3 overall in postseason).
Betting Trends
Tennessee Tech: 8-4 ATS overall (67%); 5-0 SU in last 5 but 3-2 ATS. Perfect 4-0 ATS as home favorites; 7-3 O/U last 10 (high-scoring offense drives overs). In playoffs, 1-0 ATS but small sample.
North Dakota: 6-5-1 ATS overall (55%); 3-2 ATS in last 5 as underdogs. 4-1 ATS on the road; 5-4 O/U last 9 (defensive games trend under). Playoff ATS: 2-3 lifetime, covering as road dogs.
Head-to-Head/Neutral Trends: N/A (first meeting). Combined, both teams hit 70% of overs in November (avg. 58 total points). Weather could push under if sprinkles hit.
Historical Betting Results (Team Playoff/Recent ATS Context)
Tennessee Tech in Playoffs: Limited data—covered in their 2011 win (38-24 vs. Eastern Kentucky, -3.5) but failed to cover in losses. Season ATS: Hit in 8 of 11 wins, including all home games.
North Dakota in Playoffs: 2-4 SU but 3-3 ATS; covered road games vs. NDSU (2018) and Montana (2021) as +7 dogs. Recent ATS vs. Top-10: 1-2, failing to cover at SDSU (-10) last week.
League ATS Snapshot: MVFC teams 6-4 ATS in 2025 playoffs; OVC-Big South 4-2. Underdogs like UND are 5-3 ATS in first-round history.
Game Prediction
Tennessee Tech’s offensive firepower and home-field rest give them the edge in a tight, playoff-style slugfest, but North Dakota’s pass rush could keep it closer than the records suggest. Visperas carves up the secondary for 250+ yards, but UND’s ground attack grinds out 150 rush yards to control the clock. Look for a late TTU field goal to seal it after Ziebarth’s possible return sparks a UND rally.
Final Score Prediction: Tennessee Tech 28, North Dakota 24.
Game Odds
North Dakota Fighting Hawks 48.5
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles PK
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, November 28, 2025
