Rochester, MN- 

Football teams across the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) are wrapping up their training camps and getting prepared for competition as the NJCAA football season begins on Thursday. The seven MCAC programs are looking for early-season success in their non-conference games to prove the strength of the conference. With only the top two nationally ranked teams invited to compete for the NJCAA DIII Football National Championship trophy, wins against NJCAA powerhouses could propel a few MCAC teams into the top spots in the weekly rankings. The MCAC was left out of the national title game last year, but had teams representing the conference compete for the title in 2022 and 2023. 

The head coaches of each program took time to cast their preseason poll ballots and share their thoughts about the upcoming season.

North Dakota State College of Science was selected as the team expected to win the MCAC regular season title this year. After finishing the 2024 season ranked third in the national polls with a 9-2 overall record and an undefeated 6-0 conference record, and playing in the Game One Bowl, the Wildcats will look to return to the MCAC Championship and NJCAA National Championship games. As the NJCAA preseason #3-ranked team, the Wildcats are poised to make a deep title run. 

Rochester Community and Technical College was selected second in the preseason coaches poll and should be a strong contender to make the MCAC Championship game. After going 5-5 during the 2024 season and 5-3 in conference play, the preseason #5-ranked team in the nation aims to improve on its 2024 record and win the MCAC Championship title like it did in 2023. Getting a win in a non-conference, early-season matchup with #1 College of DuPage could eventually propel the Yellowjackets into national title contention.

Minnesota West Community and Technical College was selected to finish 3rd in the preseason coaches' poll. After putting together a stellar 2024 season, only to have it shattered with the forfeiture of multiple games due to eligibility issues, the Blue Jays look to build on the success they experienced early in 2024. With a talented returning class including Marlo Fluker, a 1st team NJCAA All-American wide receiver, Brice Nutall and Justin Spears, both All-MCAC Team members, and standout cornerback, Dooley Williams, the Blue Jays, who received votes in the NJCAA preseason poll, should be an incredible redemption story.  

Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range was voted as the 4th team in the preseason coaches' poll. Going 4-4 during the season in 2024, with a 4-3 conference record, the Norse are geared up to make another run at the MCAC Championship. In 2024, they advanced to the title game and put up a fight for the ages, only to suffer a one-point loss when the clock expired. With the return of several All-MCAC team members, the Norse may have been picked a little low for the success they should have this season. 

Central Lakes College was picked 5th in the preseason coaches poll.  After a 6th-place conference finish in 2024 and a 2-4 overall record, the Raiders are looking to improve their 1-4 conference record from a year ago. With the return of Colin Schack, Elijah Wood, and Antonio Davis, and having several talented new players joining the program, Coach Thurman should have his team playing hard throughout every contest. The Raiders are a team that shouldn't be overlooked in 2025.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College was voted as the #6 team in this season's coaches' poll. The Spartans finished the 2024 campaign with a 4-5 record, going 3-3 in the MCAC, and finishing in 4th place. With head coach Bernard Holsey building a strong culture of hard work and mental toughness, and having a full year to recruit and build his program, the Spartans should be more disciplined this season and will give teams trouble. Only three years removed from being the top DIII football program in the nation, the Spartans promise to be a scary opponent for any team that doesn't take them seriously.

Minnesota North - Vermilion has been picked to finish the season in the 7th spot. Going 3-4 during the 2024 season and 3-3 in conference action, the Ironhawks made strides throughout the season and finished the regular season on a two-game winning streak. For the third straight season, a new head coach will begin the season on the sideline. Zuriel Cook takes over the leadership role after serving on the Ironhawks staff last year, and he should have his team competing hard and building on the improvements seen through last season.  

MCAC Football competes at the NJCAA DIII (non-scholarship) level. 

Read on for the season preview as the MCAC football coaches share their thoughts on the 2025 season. Be sure to follow @MCACSports and @NJCAAFootball on Twitter for the latest in MCAC and NJCAA two-year college football news, rankings, and season information. 

For the MCAC Sports home page, click here or go to https://www.mcacsports.org/sports/fball/index for the MCAC Football home page.

	Minnesota College Athletic Conference  2025 Football Preview (Listed in order of predicted finish based on coaches' poll.)
North Dakota State College of Science	Head Coach: Eric Issendorf, 8th year Overall Record: 52-12 Coaching Staff: Fernando Reese, Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach; Bill Jarvis, Defensive Line Coach; Isaiah Issendorf, Offensive Line/Tight Ends Coach; Nick Jackson, Wide Receivers Coach; Isaiah Jackson, Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach; Mark Kennedy, Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs Coach 2024 Records and Finish: 9-2 overall, 6-0 in the MCAC, 1st place finish, Region 13 Champions Top returning players:  No one mentioned. Top incoming/new players:   No one mentioned. Coach Issendorf on the 2025 Wildcats team: No comment provided.
Rochester Community & Technical College	Head Coach: Terrence Isaac, 4th year Overall Record: 19-13 Coaching Staff: Richard Embry, Defensive Coordinator, and Dustin Beard, Special Teams Coordinator 2024 Records and Finish: 5-5 overall, 4-2 in the MCAC, 2nd place finish Top returning players:  Cole Thompson, WR, Mankato, MN Top incoming/new players:  Noah Washington, Sealy, TX Coach Isaac on the 2025 Yellowjackets team: "To be the most physical team every weekend."
Minnesota West Community & Technical College	Head Coach: Jermaine Smith, 2nd year Overall Record: 0-8 Coaching Staff: Blake Tucker, Offensive Coordinator, and Christian McCora, Offensive Line Coach 2024 Records and Finish: 0-8 overall, 0-7 in the MCAC, 7th place finish Top returning players:  Dooley Williams, CB Marlo Fluker, WR Brice Nutall Justin Spears Top incoming/new players:  Armon Vinson, QB Jeremiah Robinson, DB Jaylen Neely, RB Codin Bullerman, OL Coach Smith on the 2025 Bluejays team: "We are looking forward to year two, growing in depth, playing mistake-free football, and being an overall better program on and off the field in 2025. Our goal every week is not to beat ourselves and compete at a very high level."
Minnesota North - Mesabi Range	Head Coach: Tom Inforzato, 9th year at MNC-MR, 13th overall Overall Record: 34-33 Coaching Staff: Antavius Thomas, Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator; David Wilson, Offensive Coordinator; Gary Cornell, Linebackers Coach; Quan Wilson, Defensive Line Coach; Kane Wallner, Offensive Line Coach; Mike Ritacco, Wide Receivers Coach; JR Robinson, Defensive Line Coach 2024 Records and Finish: 4-4 overall, 4-4 in the MCAC, 3rd place regular season finish, MCAC Championship Runner-Up Top returning players:   Roosevelt Hunter, WR, Burnsville, MN Trequan Hilton, RB, St. Petersburg, FL Daniel Kokoska, LB, Czech Republic Jalen Toomer, DB, Hollywood, FL Top incoming/new players:  Zeyshawn Martin, QB, Las Vegas, NV Osten Jones, RB, Chiefland, FL Nehemiah Young, DL, Fort Wayne, IN Reggie Adams III, DL, Chiefland, FL Coach Inforzato on the 2025 Norsemen team: "Looking to take one game at a  time, improving every week on all phases of the game."
Central Lakes College	Head Coach: Toby Thurman, 2nd year Overall Record: 2-6 Coaching Staff: Lonnel Harrison, Gabe Brown, Brandon Boyett, and Ben Wallace 2024 Records and Finish: 2-4 overall, 1-4 in the MCAC, 6th place finish Top returning players:  Colin Schack Elijah Ward Antonio Davis Top incoming/new players:   Scott Lewis Kaseem Wade Marquavious Thornton Paul Jackson IV Alex Morabito Coach Thurman on the 2025 Raiders team: "We are Champions by Choice, Not Chance! We will finish every game until there is no time left on the clock."
Minnesota State - Fergus Falls	Head Coach: Bernard Holsey, 2nd year Overall Record: 4-5 Coaching Staff: Simon Stewart, Jarvis Green, Ali Marsh, and Dade McKeever 2024 Records and Finish: 4-5 overall, 3-3 in the MCAC, 4th place finish Top returning players:  "All returners are key to our team." Top incoming/new players:  "All players are key to our program." Coach Holsey on the 2025 Spartans team: "No Expectations, just the New STANDARD. We will be more disciplined and mentally tougher."
Minnesota North - Vermilion	Head Coach: Zuriel Cook, 1st year Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Mister Askew 2024 Records and Finish:  3-4 overall, 3-3 in the MCAC, 5th place finish Top returning players:  Cedric Jackson, OL, Las Vegas, NV Top incoming/new players:  Johnathan Cribbs, QB, Chicago, IL Hiram Hendri Jr., DB, Hawaii Tucker McDonald, DE, Tioga, TX Coach Cook on the 2025 Ironhawks team: "We expect nothing but hard work and dedication on all sides of the ball. Just want to improve from last season."

About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system.  The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions.  The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.