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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Feb. 12, 2025) – Highlighted by a six-game home schedule for the first time since 2019, the Northern Arizona football program has announced the 2025 campaign.
Led by Brian Wright, who will enter his second year at the helm, the Lumberjacks will play six games at home and six games on the road. The schedule includes four FCS Playoff teams, and NAU opens the season at Arizona State who was a College Football Playoff Semifinal participant a year ago.
Northern Arizona advanced to the FCS Playoffs last season as well, a mark it hadn’t achieved since the 2017 season. The Lumberjacks finished 2024 with an 8-5 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Big Sky Conference play in Wright’s first season.
Dating back to the 2023 season, the Lumberjacks have won seven-straight games at home including a perfect 5-0 in 2024. Fans can begin helping NAU ‘Defend the Dome’ once again in 2025 as renewals for existing ticket holders is already underway. Those that renew their tickets between now and March 5, 2025, can lock in 2024 pricing.
New season tickets for the Fall of 2025 will start as low as $11 per game and new season tickets will be available in April, with single game tickets on sale this summer. There will also be new restructured seating options inside the Walkup Skydome to enhance fan experience. Contact the Lumberjack Ticket Office at 928-523-0639 or at Lu********************@*au.edu with questions or to renew.
The 2025 season officially kicks off on Aug. 30 when the Lumberjacks make the trek down to Tempe, Ariz., to face Arizona State in the first meeting since 2022. The Sun Devils finished 11-3 last season and advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinal where it fell to Texas in double overtime.
For the third-straight season, Northern Arizona and Utah Tech will clash for NAU’s home opener and Running of the Freshmen on Sept. 6 in the third game of the six-game series. All-time, NAU has a 2-1 advantage over the Trailblazers, but the teams are 1-1 since 2023 with each squad picking up a win on each other’s home turf. Utah Tech won 50-36 in 2023 before the Lumberjacks won 45-17 last season. UTU competes in the United Athletic Conference and finished 1-11 last season.
A rivalry is renewed on Sept. 13 when the Lumberjacks face their old Big Sky Conference foes, Southern Utah, for the Grand Canyon Trophy. The two squads haven’t faced off since before SUU left for the Western Athletic Conference prior to the 2022 season and before that, they had met every year since 2008. Northern Arizona leads the all-time series 16-10 and have won three-straight over the Thunderbirds and four out of the last five.
Non-conference play ends with a challenge on Sept. 20 when two FCS Playoff teams meet at Findlay Toyota Field for Family Weekend. The Lumberjacks welcome Incarnate Word for a rematch of last season’s 38-14 loss in San Antonio. The Cardinals finished the season 11-3 and advanced to the FCS Quarterfinals where they lost to South Dakota State. It will mark the second all-time meeting between the two foes.
Big Sky action begins with Portland State on Sept. 27 in Portland, Ore., for the first matchup with the Vikings since 2023. PSU has won two-straight in the series and the Lumberjacks will be looking for their first win in Portland since 2017 and the first win overall over the Vikings since 2019.
Back on the conference slate this year is Montana State and UC Davis. Both teams advanced to the FCS Playoffs last season, with MSU winning the Big Sky Conference title and finishing as national runner ups with a 15-1 record. The Lumberjacks have a slight, 27-26, all-time lead over the Bobcats but haven’t beat MSU since 2017, losing three-straight since that meeting. MSU will come to Flagstaff for the first time since 2022 on Oct. 4 for Hispanic Heritage Day.
UC Davis finished 11-3 last season and advanced to the FCS Quarterfinals and the Lumberjacks will travel to Davis, Calif., for the first time since 2022 on Oct. 11. NAU has a slight 5-4 lead in the series, and the last time the two teams met was in 2023 when the Lumberjacks defeated the then No. 25 Aggies 38-21 in Flagstaff.
Northern Arizona has its bye on Oct. 8 before heading back out onto the road to face Idaho State on Oct. 25. NAU has a commanding 37-18-1 lead overall lead in the series and have won three-straight, including a 30-26 win last year that the Lumberjacks clinched on a game-winning interception. Idaho State finished 5-7 in 2024.
Opening November, the Lumberjacks stick around Flagstaff for three-straight weeks beginning with Idaho on Nov. 1 for Native American Heritage Day. NAU has lost two-straight to the Vandals who finished 10-4 last season and made their way to the FCS Quarterfinals.
The home stand continues with Northern Colorado on Nov. 8 for Homecoming/Military Appreciation and Cal Poly on Nov. 15 for Senior Day. NAU beat both teams on the road last season and owns a two-game win streak over the Bears and have won three-straight over the Mustangs. The Lumberjacks are 14-2 all-time over Cal Poly and 17-7 over UNC.
NAU closes the 2025 regular season at Weber State for the Red Rock Rivalry trophy on Nov. 22. Northern Arizona is 2-1 over the Wildcats since the trophy was introduced, picking up two-straight victories. Last season, NAU didn’t allow a touchdown in an emphatic 27-6 victory over the Wildcats in Flagstaff.
To view the 2025 schedule, click HERE. Game times will be announced at a later date.