NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, EASTERN WASHINGTON SCHEDULE FOOTBALL GAME AT U.S. BANK STADIUM FOR SEPTEMBER 2023

Fargo, N.D.  – A matchup between two perennial powers in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on the opening weekend of the 2023 college football season.

North Dakota State and Eastern Washington have signed a one-game contract to play Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings and site of Super Bowl LII (2018) and the 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four.

“We are excited to bring Bison football back to the Twin Cities in 2023,” said NDSU director of athletics Matt Larsen. “The opportunity to showcase our program at U.S. Bank Stadium and once again engage with alumni and fans in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is very important to our student-athletes, athletic department and university.”

NDSU has nearly 15,000 alumni in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and 26,000 across the state of Minnesota. The Bison drew 34,544 fans to the 2019 season opener against Butler at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins.

“I look forward to our fans once again taking over downtown Minneapolis and U.S. Bank Stadium in a sea of green and yellow,” said NDSU head football coach Matt Entz. “This is an exciting opportunity for our players and fans, and for our program to host an event in an NFL stadium.”

North Dakota State, winner of eight NCAA national championships over the past 10 seasons, has a 4-1 record against Eastern Washington including a 42-20 victory in the first round of the 2020-21 FCS playoffs. The teams have met three times in the postseason with NDSU winning the 2018 national championship 38-24 and EWU winning a 38-31 overtime thriller in the 2010 NCAA quarterfinals en route to a national title.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the student-athletes to play in a unique setting,” said John Drum, General Manager for ASM Global at U.S. Bank Stadium. “On behalf of ASM Global, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, and all stadium partners, we are excited to host both teams in this highly anticipated non-conference match-up. We look forward to showcasing collegiate football and providing a world-class experience to the athletes, coaches, staff, and fans.”

Ticket information for the 2023 game at U.S. Bank Stadium is not yet available. The Eastern Washington game will be in addition to NDSU’s six home games scheduled at the Fargodome against Maine, Central Arkansas, Western Illinois, South Dakota, Indiana State and Southern Illinois.