Kearney, Neb. – For the first time in five years the Nebraska Kearney football team begins its season at home as rival Wayne State comes to town Thursday night.

The 86th all-time meeting between the Lopers and Wildcats kicks off at 6 p.m. Fans can listen to The River 93.1/106. FM, watch via the MIAA Network and News Channel Nebraska (check local listings) or follow along via live stats.

Last year at Wayne, the Lopers scored with 1:03 left and picked off a pass deep in its own territory to secure a 28-21 win. UNK didn't trail all night, but the game was tied three different times. It marked the Blue & Gold's second straight win in the series after the 'Cats came out on top between 2008-10. Finally, UNK leads by a 60-19-6 margin. 

The Lopers went on to go 6-5 with Wayne coming in at 7-4. The Blue & Gold was picked seventh in the MIAA preseason polls with the 'Cats tabbed for fifth in the NSIC.

The game features three of D2football.com's "Elite 100" players in Loper back Isaiah Harris (Millard South), WSC back Dawson Forgy and 'Cat tight end Dane Petersen. He led the WSC comeback last year, finishing with 94 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.

Both teams had players "portal" up to the likes of Central Florida, Sacramento State and South Dakota State but both have returning all-league players outside of the above three. For UNK, that's center Carter Klein (Pleasanton), punter Marty Mormino (Omaha Westside) and linebacker Parker Wise (Kearney); those three are co-captains this year along with quarterback Devin Tate (Oxnard, Calif.) and linebacker Dylan Jordan (Pittsburg, Kan.).

WSC has two returning second-team All-NSIC picks in corner Brayden Chaney and linebacker Clyde Hinton. The 2025 defense had 17 INT's and allowed just 18 points per game. UNK's defense was among the MIAA's best in 2025, racking up 28 sacks, 14 INT's and recovering 11 fumbles. Wise and Jordan are joined by fellow "veterans" Wayne Tei-Kirby (Pocatello, Idaho), Jude Joseph (Lafayatte, La.) and Koren Conrad (Kearney Catholic).

Tate was one of many transfers to join the program after last season and that group includes backs Jayvin Norman (Eastern Michigan) and Quincey Ryker (Chadron State) and receivers Austin Ayobamidele (UT-Permian Basin) and Eddie Schultz (SDSU). UNK tallied 59 points over its final two games in 2025 and was a strong fourth quarter squad (113 points) all year.

UNK heads to Chadron State next Thurs. (Sept.) with WSC at Minot State (N.D.) that same night.