Football 8/30/2026 4:15:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football to Host Northwood In Season Opener on Sept. 3

WSU begins the Terrence Isaac era at home vs. the Timberwolves.

GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State University football squad will host Northwood University to begin the 2026 campaign this coming Thursday (Sept. 3) with kickoff slated for 6 p.m. The two squads last met on October 30, 2021, with the Warriors collecting a 56-21 triumph. WSU holds a slim 21-20 edge in the all-time vs. the Timberwolves after winning the last three match-ups.

The Warriors enter the 2026 season with a fresh look, welcoming a new head coach and several new faces to the Green and Gold.

SCOUTING NORTHWOOD
The Timberwolves enter the 2026 campaign after a 9-3 finish during 2025. Northwood went 7-2 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play, finished third in the league, and earned its first NCAA Division II playoff appearance since 2006.

At the helm for the Timberwolves is fourth-year head coach Dusty Beurer. He has helped engineer a significant turn around during his time at Northwood, guiding the program from a 6-5 record in 2024 to a 9-3 mark and NCAA playoff berth in 2025, while earning GMAC Coach of the Year recognition. Northwood was selected second in the 2026 G-MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hamby returns for Northwood after a record-setting 2025 campaign. Hamby earned Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Offensive Play of the Year honors and became the first player in Timberwolves history to receive the league's top offensive award. He completed 190-of-299 passes (63.5%) for 2,312 yards and 23 touchdowns, while throwing just one interception. Hamby set Northwood single-season records for completions, completion percentage, passing yards and touchdown passes, and did not throw an interception during the regular season. He is the top returning rusher for NU after compiling 333 yards on the ground and five touchdowns a season ago.

Brothers Case and Lake Boos are the top receiving threats for Northwood. Case had a team-high 645 receiving yards in 2025, while Lake led the squad with six touchdown receptions.

Drew Cady made 14-of-21 field goal attempts and 42 PAT attempts as a freshman in 2025. He was also the Timberwolves primary punter a season ago averaging 38.0 yards per boot. Sophomore Carter Minix averaged 26.0 yards on kickoff returns and 17.7 yards on punt returns last year with one return for a touchdown in each category.

Joe Lathers, a 2025 All-GMAC First Team linebacker, returns after totaling 75 tackles (39-36), including 10.5 for loss. Lorenzo Alfred had two interceptions a season ago.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Wayne State has a 21-20 advantage in the all-time series with Northwood after winning the last three meetings, including a 56-21 victory in the most recent match-up on Oct. 30, 2021. Northwood's last win in the series came in 2017, when the Timberwolves defeated the Warriors 20-10 in Detroit. WSU is 11-9 at home vs. NU all-time.

GLIAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Ferris State (49 points, seven first-place votes)
2. Grand Valley State (43 points, one first-place vote)
3. Michigan Tech (34 points)
4. Davenport (31 points)
5. Saginaw Valley State (28 points)
6. Northern Michigan (18 points)
7. Roosevelt (11 points)
8. Wayne State (10 points)

FRESH FACES
Of the 120 players on the roster, 54 are newcomers including 24 true freshmen and 30 transfers. There are only two holdovers from last season's coaching staff in Miguel Quintanilla and Justin Banks.

HIGHEST SCORING SEASON OPENERS
   99 points - #10-Slippery Rock 62, at Wayne State 37, Sept. 5, 2019
   93 Points - at #21-Wayne State 69, Urbana 24, Sept. 3, 2011
   84 points - at Mercyhurst 49, Wayne State 35, Sept. 4, 1999
   83 points - Indianapolis 43, at Wayne State 40, Sept. 1, 1990
   83 points - at #17-Carson Newman 55, Wayne State 28, Sept. 5, 2013

WAYNE STATE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wayne State has three three-year letterwinners on the squad in offensive linemen Will Edwards and Ethan Gates, along with running back Brayden McKenna.

The two two-year letterwinners back in the fold are defensive end Joe Clark, Jr., and linebacker CJ Gordon. WSU has 21 one-year letterwinners on the roster.

D'Vaun Bentley is the only returning rusher to gain more than 20 yards a season ago as he rushed for 190 yards and one touchdown.

Of the six quarterbacks who saw action for the Warriors in 2025, only three return but Dylan Kress will miss the 2026 campaign due to off-season surgery. Both Carson Creehan and Miekael Brooker each saw action in two games a year ago.

Drew Hickmott is the top returning receiver after catching 26 passes for 298 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns in 2025. Bentley is the only other returnee who caught at least 10 passes a season ago.

Linebacker Max Edwards is the top returning tackler after making 54 stops (24-30) last year, including 6.5 for loss with two pass break-ups and a forced fumble. The only other returnee from the top 10 in tackles is defensive tackle Justhin Austin, who made 41 stops (17-24) last year along with an interception. In the secondary, Kelly Matthews tied for the team lead last year with two interceptions, while making 32 stops (27-5).

Place-kicker Griffin Nowak is back after leading last year's squad in scoring with 26 points (14-of-14 PAT and 4-of-9 field goals).

NEW ERA, TOUGH TESTS
Last year, the Warriors played the 16th-toughest schedule in NCAA Division 2. Including post-season match-ups in 2025, WSU's opponents had a .580 winning percentage (65-47).

Wayne State enters the 2026 season with a new coaching staff and several new faces on the roster. This year, WSU's 11 opponents include three teams that advanced to the NCAA Playoffs a season ago in Northwood, Wisconsin-La Crosse (Division 3) and Ferris State.

WARRIORS BY THE NUMBERS
Of the 120 student-athletes on the 2026 WSU football roster, 78 came from high school, 13 joined the squad after playing for a junior college, 23 transferred in after playing for another four-year college, and six more came from a four-year college but did not play.

The 2026 Wayne State football roster features 120 student-athletes from 13 states and one Canadian province, with the majority of football student-athletes coming from Michigan (82). Ohio (10), Texas (9), California (5), Florida (3), Minnesota (2) and Ontario (2) all have multiple student-athletes, while Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Rhode Island and Washington each have one.

A FAMILY AFFAIR
WSU currently has a set of brothers in twins Malachi and Matthew Evans. Both are redshirt freshman wide receivers.

Other Warriors with family ties include:

Evan Bainbridge (father Matthew was an offensive tackle letterwinner in 1993-94).

Jordan Bell (father Joique was a WSU Athletics Hall of Fame running back from 2006 to 2009).

Brock Carpenter (father Tim was a four-year letterwinner for the Tartars and was Honorable Mention All-GLIAC as an offensive lineman in 1997, the same year he served as a team captain).

THE BREAKDOWN WITH BRADY BEEDON
Join head coach Terrence Issac and WSU football analyst Brady Beedon each Wednesday prior to a home football game at 5:30 p.m. at Woodbridge Pub for The Breakdown with Brady Beedon podcast.

Each week a different assistant coach will join Isaac and Beedon. In addition, a student-athlete will be interviewed.

The podcast will be added to the Wayne State athletics website every Friday morning for those unable to be at Woodbridge that week.

With the home opener taking place on Thursday, Sept. 3, the first edition of the Breakdown with Brady Beedon in 2026 will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and will be posted on the athletics website the morning of Sept. 3.

DON'T MISS ANY OF THE ACTION
The 2026 campaign marks the second season of the Warrior Sports Network (WSN), which provides internet audio coverage of Wayne State football, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball.

Veteran Detroit sports broadcaster Sean Baligian returns for his 18th season calling Warrior football. Baligian, who has been on the Detroit airwaves since 1998, and was on Fox 2 from 2002-18, will serve as the play-by-play announcer for nine games.

Former Warrior defensive end Brady Beedon will serve as the color analyst for four games. In addition, he will serve as the play-by-play announcer for Warrior football games vs. Northwood and at Quincy. Beedon will also handle the Locker Room Report and Senior Spotlight features for the WSN.

Kevin Brechmacher, who will return for his 11th season calling the WSU men's basketball games this winter, will serve as a color analyst for four games this fall. He also co-hosts the Warrior Weekly podcast with Brady Beedon that began airing in January of 2026.

WWJ Afternoon Anchor Tony Ortiz will serve as the sideline commentator during the six home broadcasts. Ortiz will also be the color analyst for road games at Quincy and Michigan Tech. Former Warrior running back and Hall of Fame inductee Josh Renel will serve as the color analyst at Hillsdale.

Every Wayne State GLIAC football game will be available on FloCollege, along with the home non-conference contests against Northwood and Wisconsin-La Crosse and the road game at Hillsdale. The FloCollege broadcasts of home games will be produced by The PreP for the fourth consecutive year.

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Players Mentioned

#98 Justhin Austin: DT; 6' 1"; Senior

#61 Evan Bainbridge: OL; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#0 Jordan Bell: WR; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#1 D'Vaun Bentley: RB; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#14 Miekael Brooker: QB; 6' 5"; Senior

#83 Brock Carpenter: TE; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

#14 Joe Clark, Jr.: DE; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#18 Carson Creehan: QB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

#4 Max Edwards: LB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#62 Will Edwards: OL; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#98 Justhin Austin
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DT

#61 Evan Bainbridge
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: OL

#0 Jordan Bell
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#1 D'Vaun Bentley
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: RB

#14 Miekael Brooker
: 6' 5"; Senior
: QB

#83 Brock Carpenter
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: TE

#14 Joe Clark, Jr.
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: DE

#18 Carson Creehan
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore
: QB

#4 Max Edwards
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: LB

#62 Will Edwards
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: OL