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The Southwest Minnesota State University football program (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) opens its 55th season on Thursday night traveling to Minot, N.D., to face Minot State University (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.
Thursday's opener marks the second season for SMSU head coach Scott Underwood, who led SMSU to a 4-7 mark in 2022, recording the most victories for the program since the 2018 season. Underwood, the 11th head coach in program history, was named to the position on Jan. 7, 2022.
The Mustangs have 42 returning letter winners, including seven starters on offense, eight starters on defense and its punter/kicker from the 2022 team. The 2022 roster features eight seniors, 19 juniors, 28 sophomores, 11 redshirt freshmen and 42 freshmen.
Minot State, which finished 1-10 last season, has a new head coach with Ian Shields taking over in January. Most recently an assistant coach at UNLV for the last three seasons, Shields spent four years as the head coach at Division I FCS program Jacksonville University (Fla.), two years as the head coach at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), and two seasons as head coach at NAIA Eastern Oregon University.
For openers
SMSU is 22-31 all-time in season openers after losing at Minnesota Duluth in 2022. SMSU has lost its last five season lid-lifters.
SMSU's last season-opening victory came on Sept. 1, 2016, versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.
The last time SMSU opened a season with a road victory came at Minot State on Sept. 3, 2015.
SMSU has lost its last four home openers with the last victory coming on Sept. 1, 2016, versus Minnesota Duluth. SMSU opens the 2023 home season on Sept. 9, versus nationally-ranked Bemidji State.
Mustang history
The 2023 season is the 55th year of college football at SMSU (including the 2020 season that was canceled) dating to 1968.
SMSU owns an all-time record of 207-349-5, including 145-255-5 in conference play.
SMSU has recorded 10 winning seasons, two NAIA playoff appearances (1987 and 1991) and one Mineral Water Bowl appearance (2013).
The program earned its lone conference championship in 1990.
SMSU head coach Scott Underwood
Scott Underwood is in his second season as SMSU head coach with a record of 4-7. He was named the program's 11th head coach on Jan. 7, 2022.
Underwood was the first SMSU head coach in team history (11 head coaches) to begin his SMSU coaching career with a 4-1 record.
Underwood compiled an overall record of 86-61 in 12 seasons as head coach at St. Cloud State (2008-19).
SCSU recorded 10 winning seasons with three NCAA playoff appearances during his tenure. SCSU won seven or more games seven times, including a school record 12 victories in 2013.
SCSU made NCAA playoff appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and won a share of both the NSIC North Division and NSIC overall championship in 2011.
He was also an assistant coach at SCSU (2001-07), North Dakota (1997-2000), Sioux Falls (1993-96) and Augustana (1988-92).
Broadcast info
Thursday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 11th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.
Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.