‘Every Dakota team you play is going to be ready to compete’: Nebraska coordinators, players not taking North Dakota lightly in final non-conference game

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, defensive coordinator Rob Aurich and players met with media on Tuesday at the Hawks Championship Center to recap the Huskers’ 56-7 win over Bowling Green.

They also looked ahead to Saturday’s game against North Dakota.

Nebraska (2-0) faced off with North Dakota (3-0) in 2022, where the game was tied 7-7 at halftime. Additionally, North Dakota nearly upset Kansas State in 2025, falling to the Wildcats 38-35.

Holgorsen said that a game like this sparks extra motivation for an Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team, which has players that will want to showcase on a bigger stage with potential transfer portal opportunities available.

“They have an opportunity to play at this level and they want to show that they can play at this level, and that each and every one of those kids are going to come in with that mindset and that mentality,” Holgorsen said. “You pair that with a winning program . . . then it’s a dangerous situation. And if you relax as a power four team, if you relax and you get yourself in those games that Nebraska was in in ’22 and Kansas State was in last year and you got to fight your tail off because the longer that game goes on, the more hope those guys get.”

North Dakota is led by quarterback Jerry Kaminski, who has led that offense to average 540 yards per game in its first three wins.

“If you know anything about this region of football, you know every Dakota team you play is going to be ready to compete,” Aurich said. “I think (Kaminski) does a tremendous job of giving the ball to his playmakers on the perimeter. He doesn’t hold it. Doesn’t take a lot of sacks. I think they were in the single digits last year for sacks allowed. We’re going to see a guy that has control over his offense. And our job is we have to find ways to make him uncomfortable.”

The Huskers wrap up the non-conference slate Saturday against North Dakota at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 6:15 p.m.

To watch the full press conference recap, view the video above.