Drake football coach Todd Stepsis hopes the ends of last season carries over to this fall. After starting 2022 with an 0-8 record the Bulldogs won their final three games, including a win over a Butler team that was trying to lock up a spot in the FCS playoffs.

Stepsis credits team character for rescuing the end of last season.

The Bulldogs have always played a challenging non-conference schedule and this season is no different.

From 2004 to 2019 Drake enjoyed 14 winning seasons and three Pioneer Football League titles but the program has struggled the past two seasons since the pandemic. Improvement begins with an offense that averaged less than 18 points per game a year ago.

Drake opens September second at North Dakota.