STORM LAKE, Iowa (Sept. 3, 2025) - It has been a steady rebuild under third-year head coach Austin Dickinson, and with a veteran group of 15 expected starters back this season, and a roster that has grown to over 90 players, the Buena Vista University football team is aiming to make even bigger strides in 2025.

Seven returning starters are expected to line-up on offense for a team that is looking to be more efficient in moving the ball downfield. Last season, the Beavers averaged just over 17.0ppg for the year and 258.4ypg of total offense. It will have to replace all-conference running back Eman Alaniz who rushed for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career as well as two-year starting quarterback Zach Herrera who tossed for nearly 4,000 career passing yards. Dickinson has added a pair of junior transfers who look to help fill those two voids.

A strong point for the team entering the year is likely to be up front with its offensive line. All five starters return and is led by fifth-year senior James Facio and senior Julian Betancourt. The unit will look to improve on its 4.3 yards per play in 2024.

On the other side of the ball, BVU has eight starters back defensively to lead the way. The team's strong point a year ago was defending the pass as it ranked third overall in the American Rivers Conference by allowing only 210.0 yards per game through the air. The group is committed to beinging stronger against the run this season where it allowed a league-worst 223.4ypg on the ground.

Senior defensive back Michael Beisswenger, an all-conference performer last season, is among the leaders of the secondary, along with fellow senior defensive back Alex Abens. Beisswenger ranked ninth on the team with 33 total stops to go along with a pair of interceptions while Abens was fifth in tackles (43.0) and also picked-off one pass. BVU intercepted nine total passes in 2024 which ranked fifth in the A-R-C. Overall, there will be six players returning who had at least 20 tackles.

Field position is always a huge part of the game at any level. This season, the Beavers will have a couple new faces leading its kicking game and is focused on pinning the opponents deep into its own territory as often as possible. Freshman place-kicker Michael Bae is expected to handle the kicking duties with senior Tyler Pennington expected to serve as the team's punter. Pennington has spent his first three seasons on campus as a goalkeeper on the men's soccer team. Beiswenger handled all kicking duties on his own last season, averaging over 33.0 yards per punt attempt and nearly 53.0 yards per kickoff. He had five punts of over 50 yards and landed 10 inside of the 20-yard line.

The Beavers will need to fill the void of its top two kick and punt returners from a year ago. Senior Dolan Pospichal is the top kick returner with seven attempts last season for an 18-yard average. The team only returned three punts and will have new bodies to take over that role this fall.

After nearly a month of preseason camp, the team will get to finally kick-off its campaign at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Benedictine University (Ill.). The teams are playing each other to open the season for the second straight season after the Eagles handed BVU a 34-7 setback in Storm Lake a year ago.

The home opener follows a week later against Wisconsin Lutheran before the team enters its bye week on Sept. 20. BVU and WLC also played in 2024 with the Beavers suffering a 44-13 setback.

The American Rivers Conference schedule gets underway on Saturday, Sept. 27, when the Beavers host Simpson College for Homecoming/Hall of Fame Day at 1 p.m. Additional home games this season include Luther College (Oct. 11), Loras College (Oct. 25) and Nebraska Wesleyan (Nov. 8).

2025 BVU Football Schedule

2025 BVU Football Roster

2024 BVU Football Final Statistics