BURNSVILLE, Minn.– The University of Jamestown football team was projected for a seventh-place finish in the North Division and a 14th-place overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason coaches’ poll released on Tuesday.

The Jimmies report for fall camp on August 12, with practice beginning on August 13 under head coach Brian Mistro, who enters his seventh year at the helm.

Minnesota State University, Mankato was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for 2025. The Mavericks received 11 first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) and amassed 167 points, 14 points ahead of the defending NSIC Champions, Augustana,  which was second with 153 points and the other three first place votes. Minnesota Duluth was third with 139 points while Bemidji State was fourth with 130 points.  UMD and BSU also tied for the top spot in the North Division while MSU was top of the South Division poll. 

In 2025, the NSIC returns to 14 teams with the addition of the University of Jamestown.  The schedule will be broken into two divisions (north/south). Each team will play 10 conference games that will count towards the NSIC Overall Championship, of which six divisional games will count towards the NSIC North/South Division Championships. In all, three league champions will be awarded (Overall Champion, North Division Champion, South Division Champion). Ties will not be broken for overall or division champions. 

UJ wide receiver Erastus Antsino was tabbed as the Jimmies’ offensive player to watch in 2025.

“Erastus is a playmaker,” said Mistro. “We expect him to have a breakout year, matching his contributions to us off the field as a leader and person. Erastus is a contagious positive energy on and off the field for the Jimmies.”

Jimmie defensive back Hershell Jefferson was tabbed as UJ’s defensive player to watch in 2025.

“Hershell is a leader on our defense and always finds himself around the football,” Mistro said. “He is a guy that we trust to make big plays at crucial times. Hershell is a remarkable young man who has truly made the most of his college experience here at UJ.” 

UJ begins its first season in the NSIC on Saturday, September 6 at Augustana, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.