HOUGHTON, Mich. – The 103rd season of Michigan Tech football begins at Kearly Stadium on Thursday night, welcoming No. 16 nationally-ranked Bemidji State for week zero, slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Fans can follow the action at https://michigantechhuskies.com/live for live stats, live stream and radio play-by-play.

Watch The Huskies

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Decade of Champions Reunion

Players from four conference championship teams will make their return to Houghton to be honored at halftime of Thursday's game, with players from the 1959, 1963, 1965 and 1969  conference championship teams in attendance. 

The Series

The Huskies and Beavers met for the first time in over 30 years last season after having over 30 matchups from 1955 to 1993. The Huskies hold a record of 9-6 at Chet Anderson Stadium and own a 12-5 record in Houghton while owning the series lead at 21-11 following an overtime loss in week zero a season ago. The Black & Gold are 4-1 in the last five meetings. 

About the Beavers

Bemidji State is coming off a program-best NCAA playoff run that ended in the quarterfinal round with an overall record of 10-4 and 7-3 in the NSIC with head coach Brent Bolte returning for his ninth season at the helm of the Beavers. The success of last season has granted the Beavers national recognition, being tabbed within the top-25 of both the AFCA (No. 16) and D2Football.com (No. 19) preseason polls. 

The Beavers were tabbed to finish first in the NSIC North Division Preseason Coaches' Poll and fourth overall within the league. Junior running back Jayden Washington and senior defensive back Kamron Gothard earned the Beavers' Preseason Player to Watch nods.

Washington, an NSIC Offensive Second Team selection, commanded the run game for the Beavers a season ago with 779 net rushing yards on 163 attempts for four touchdowns. He also broke the 1,000 career rushing yards milestone in the 20-19 win over No. 10 Western Colorado in the NCAA Tournament. 

Three additional players earned All-NSIC accolades a season ago in offensive lineman Zach Ott (Second Team Offense), offensive lineman Isaac Hagstrom (Second Team Offense) and linebacker Kamron Gothard (Second Team Defense), who started all 14 games last season, recording 31 total tackles with 20 solo and 11 assisted, making two sacks for a total loss of 16 yards with seven TFLs amassing 25 yards.

About the Huskies

Michigan Tech begins the 103rd season following under head coach Dan Mettlach, entering his third season at the helm of his alma mater. A season ago, he guided the Huskies to a 7-4 record overall and a 4-3 ledger in the GLIAC for the first seven-win season since 2015, also finishing in a three-way tie for third in the conference. 

Michigan Tech was selected to finish fifth in the GLIAC Coaches' Poll.

The Huskies return six players who earned All-GLIAC accolades a season ago in wide receiver Ethan Champney (Offensive First Team), lineman Brandon DeVries (Offensive Second Team) and four All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selections: defensive back Dante Basanese, tight end Drew Collins, running back Jake Rueff and linebacker Porter Zeeman. 

Basanese led the Huskies in total tackles with 84 (50 solo, 34 assisted) and finished second in the GLIAC with total tackles (7.7) and solo tackles (4.7) a game. 

Champney returns as the top-receiver for Michigan Tech, logging 29 games and 1,799 yards in three seasons as one of the top wide receivers in the GLIAC the past two seasons. He averaged 78.9 receiving yards per game and four touchdowns in eight games in 2024. Junior running back Jake Rueff returns as the top rusher for the Huskies following the 2024 campaign, where he rushed for 571 yards on 146 attempts for three touchdowns. He also gained 126 yards receiving on 16 receptions. 

Alex Bueno has been named the Huskies' starting quarterback, who appeared in seven games for the Black and Gold in 2024, completing seven passes on 14 attempts for 135 yards and two touchdowns with a long of 71 yards. The Rochester Hills, Michigan, native also rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown in 28 attempts.

Team Captains

Head coach Dan Mettlach has named Alex Bueno, Dante Basanese, Drew Collins and Brandon DeVries as the captains for the 2025 season.

Follow The Huskies

For more information on the Michigan Tech Football program, tickets or schedules, visit Michigantechhuskies.com, follow the Huskies on X (@MTUFB) and on Instagram (@mtufball).