Venue & Kickoff
Location: Alerus Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM PT
Broadcast: ESPN+
Capacity: 12,283 (indoor facility)
Weather Forecast (Grand Forks, ND – Outside Conditions)
Conditions: Mostly sunny, mild
Temperature: ~61°F outside at kickoff
Wind: Light NW at 3–5 mph
Impact: None — game played indoors
Injury Report
Portland State
Multiple offensive injuries; QB situation unsettled — SR CJ Jordan started at BYU (8/14, 58 yds), RS FR Tyrese Smith also played.
OL depth thin after early-season injuries.
North Dakota
No major injuries reported after Week 1 loss at Kansas State (38–35).
Team Records & Recent Form
Portland State: Opened with back-to-back blowout losses to ranked opponents — 42–0 vs. Tarleton State, 69–0 at BYU. Offense averaging 0.0 PPG in 2025; defense allowing 55.5 PPG.
North Dakota: Nearly upset FBS Kansas State in opener; QB Simon Romfo 24/28, 314 pass yds, 3 total TD; RB Isaiah Smith 147 rush yds.
Key Player Matchups
QB Rotation (PSU) vs. UND Pass Rush
PSU QBs: Combined 28/49, 210 yds, 0 TD, 3 INT through two games.
UND: 3 sacks vs. Kansas State; DE Josh Navratil is a disruptive force.
RB Jobi Malary (PSU) vs. LB Tyreese Shakir (UND)
Malary: PSU’s most consistent offensive weapon in 2024; limited touches so far.
Shakir: 10 tackles in opener.
WR Eric Denham (PSU) vs. CB Michael Montgomery (UND)
Denham: 516 rec yds in 2024; needs big plays to spark PSU offense.
Montgomery: Veteran corner with physical style.
QB Simon Romfo (UND) vs. PSU Secondary
Romfo: 2051 pass yds, 18 TD in 2024; 314 yds, 2 pass TD, 1 rush TD in 2025 opener.
PSU: Allowing 297.1 pass yds/game dating back to 2024.
RB Isaiah Smith (UND) vs. PSU Front Seven
Smith: 705 rush yds in 2024; averaged 5.3 YPC vs. K-State.
PSU: Gave up 380 rush yds to BYU.
Series History
All-Time: North Dakota leads 6–2
Last Meeting: UND 17–10 (Nov. 10, 2018, Grand Forks)
Streak: UND has won last 4 meetings
Note: Six of eight games decided by one score; all four in Grand Forks have been one-score games.
Betting Trends
Portland State: 2–3 ATS in last 5; OVER in 3 of last 5 road games; 0–4 SU vs. UND since 2014.
North Dakota: 3–2 ATS in last 5; OVER in 4 of last 5 home games; 7–1 SU in last 8 home openers.
UND has covered in 3 of last 4 wins over PSU.
Game Outlook
This is a first meeting in seven years between former Big Sky foes. North Dakota is coming off a near-upset of a Big 12 team and will look to dominate at home, while Portland State is still searching for its first points of the season. Expect UND to lean on Romfo’s efficiency and Smith’s ground game to build an early lead, with the defense forcing multiple three-and-outs against a PSU offense still in flux.
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Game Odds
Portland State Vikings 58.5
North Dakota Fighting Hawks – 36.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
