UND football expects big walk-up crowd for home opener
UND football officials expect a big walk-up crowd Thursday when the No. 10 Fighting Hawks host Long Island University at 7 p.m. at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. After all six home games topped 10,000 fans last year, officials are counting on late buyers even though season ticket sales trail 2025 by roughly 3 percent. Deputy athletic director Erik Martinson says August buyers move slowly, but walk-up sales the week of the opener should fill the gap.
Key Takeaways
- UND hosts LIU at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Alerus Center, with tailgates opening at noon and post-game fireworks planned.
- Season ticket attrition sat near 3% late last week versus 2025, though sales improved early this week.
- The Fighting Hawks are ranked No. 10 in the Stats Perform preseason FCS poll and have not lost a home opener since 1986.
- The game streams on ESPN+ and opens Week 0 college football action before most FBS teams play Saturday.
- UND is favored by 27.5 points, with analysts projecting a 31-10 Fighting Hawks win.
Why is UND football banking on walk-up ticket sales?
UND football season tickets typically land between 5,000 and 6,000 sales, with the North Dakota State rivalry often swinging totals. NDSU is off the 2026 schedule as the Bison join the Mountain West, removing that annual draw.
As of late last week, UND reported roughly 3% attrition compared with 2025, though Martinson said numbers started improving early this week. Season tickets start at $170 per seat.
"It takes people a little longer to flip the page to fall from summer," Martinson told the Grand Forks Herald. "We know there'll be a huge walk-up crowd and buying the week of (the opener)."
Last year's home opener against Portland State drew 11,469 fans as part of the Potato Bowl. For more offbeat sports buzz, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man hub.
When and where is the Fighting Hawks' home opener?
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. Tailgate lots open at noon, with a band playing in the tailgate village from 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. The lot will feature inflatables, games and food.
Yahoo Sports lists an 8 p.m. ET start for national viewers streaming on ESPN+. Thursday marks the first meeting between North Dakota and LIU and kicks off the 2026 college football season on opening night.
Who is LIU, and can the Sharks pull an upset?
Long Island University finished 6-6 last season, its best since moving to Division I, and beat Eastern Michigan 28-23 for its first FBS victory. The Sharks won five of their final six games but face a brutal stretch after Grand Forks, visiting Kansas on Sept. 4.
UND went 8-5 in Eric Schmidt's first season, earning its first FCS road playoff win before falling in the second round. BetMGM lists UND as a 27.5-point favorite, with the over-under at 45.5. College Sports Wire projects a 31-10 Fighting Hawks victory.
What injury storyline could shape the opener?
Defensive end Lance Rucker set a UND single-season record with 11.5 sacks in 2025 but suffered a foot injury in practice ahead of Thursday's game. His availability remains uncertain for a defense that helped carry the Hawks to a top-10 preseason ranking.
UND opens at home again Sept. 5 against St. Thomas in the Potato Bowl before a three-game road trip to Portland State, Nebraska and Indiana State.