SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The two-time reigning NSIC Champion and No. 23-ranked Augustana football team begins its title defense on Saturday afternoon hosting Missouri Western for non-conference action. Kickoff from Kirkeby-Over Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.
 
Complete action can be followed on GoAugie.com/Live and the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. The app can be downloaded in the app store or Google Play.

Staff Updates
The Vikings will add three new staff members in 2025, including a familiar face. Andrew Loudenback will serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after a season at San Diego (FCS). Justin Joyce is the new wide receivers coach after being an offensive analyst at Mercer (FCS). Former Viking DT Myles Taylor also joins the staff as a running backs coach. 

Scouting the Enemy
The Griffons enter the season following a 4-7 season in the second year under Tyler Fenwick. Although it was the fewest number of wins since 2017, the Griffons competed hard with all seven of their losses coming by an average margin of 7.1 points. Four of the losses were to nationally ranked opponents, and two of those were in overtime. Picked to finish seventh in the MIAA Coaches Poll and eighth in the MIAA Media Poll. Missouri Western welcomes back a plethora of talent in 2025 with 21 total starters back, including 11 players on the offensive side who started four games or more in 2024.   The Griffons also made some key additions in the offseason, signing 30 freshmen and 10 transfers. The position of choice in this class was defensive backs with 14 DBs joining the team. Missouri Western also signed seven new receivers, as each of the top four pass catchers from 2024 have since graduated.

August Football
Augustana will open its schedule in August for the first time since the 2009 season. The Vikings played one August game each year from 2004-2009, going 4-2 in those games. They have won four August games in a row, with their last August loss coming in 2005 at Concordia St. Paul. This will also be the first August game in the history of Kirkeby-Over Stadium. It will be just the eighth game in program history in August and fourth (3-1 record) in Sioux Falls.

This (Game)Day in History
Augustana has played on Aug. 30 just once in program history, knocking off Northern State 57-7 in 2001 at Howard Wood Field. Ryan Nodland caught seven passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns and totaled 235 all-purpose yards while Ben Nauman had three solo tackles and an interception to help lead the Vikings to victory.