American college football season
The 2018 Drake Bulldogs football team represented Drake University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Rick Fox and played their home games at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa as members of the Pioneer Football League. They finished the season 7–4, 6–2 in PFL play to finish in a tie for second place.
On December 10, head coach Rick Fox resigned.[1] He finished at Drake with a five-year record of 33–22.
Previous season[]
The Bulldogs finished the 2017 season 7–4, 6–2 in PFL play to finish in second place.
Preseason[]
Preseason All-PFL team[]
The PFL released their preseason all-PFL team on July 30, 2018, with the Bulldogs having four players selected.[2]
Offense
Steven Doran – WR
Jordan Lewinsky – OL
|
Defense
Nathan Clayberg – DL
Sean Lynch – DB
|
Preseason coaches poll[]
The PFL released their preseason coaches poll on July 31, 2018, with the Bulldogs predicted to finish in third place.[3]
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1 |
San Diego |
81 (9)
|
2 |
Dayton |
72 (1)
|
3 |
Drake |
58
|
T–4 |
Butler |
48
|
T–4 |
Valparaiso |
48
|
6 |
Jacksonville |
47
|
7 |
Marist |
44
|
8 |
Morehead State |
22
|
9 |
Stetson |
19
|
10 |
Davidson |
11
|
Schedule[]
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
May 26 | 12:00 a.m. | at China All-Stars (AFLC, CAFL, & CBL)* | | QQLive | W 77–0[a] | |
September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | William Jewell* | | BV | Cancelled[b] | |
September 8 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Montana* | | GoGriz | L 16–48 | 23,132 |
September 15 | 1:00 p.m. | Missouri S&T* | - Drake Stadium
- Des Moines, IA
| BV | W 52–12 | 1,881 |
September 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at Jacksonville | | ESPN3 | W 41–9 | 1,738 |
October 6 | 1:00 p.m. | Butler | - Drake Stadium
- Des Moines, IA
| BV | W 36–6 | 3,011 |
October 13 | 1:00 p.m. | Stetson | - Drake Stadium
- Des Moines, IA
| BV | L 21–23 | 1,439 |
October 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at Dayton | | Facebook Live | W 28–17 | 2,168 |
October 27 | 1:00 p.m. | at Valparaiso | | ESPN+ | W 42–25 | 1,945 |
November 3 | 1:00 p.m. | San Diego | - Drake Stadium
- Des Moines, IA
| BV | L 10–27 | 1,522 |
November 10 | 1:00 p.m. | Marist | - Drake Stadium
- Des Moines, IA
| BV | W 13–10 | 1,348 |
November 17 | 1:00 p.m. | at Morehead State | | ESPN+ | W 43–6 | 3,287 |
December 1[c] | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 24 (FBS) Iowa State | | Cyclones.tv | L 24–27 | 56,738 |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
|
- ^ Exhibition game
- ^ The season opening game vs. William Jewell was cancelled due to severe weather.[4]
- ^ This game was added on November 20, 2018 after their season opener was cancelled.[5]
Game summaries[]
at Montana[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs
|
0
|
3
|
7
|
6 |
16 |
No. 14 Grizzlies
|
3
|
7
|
21
|
17 |
48 |
Missouri S&T[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Miners
|
0
|
6
|
0
|
6 |
12 |
Bulldogs
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
10 |
52 |
at Jacksonville[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs
|
14
|
17
|
0
|
10 |
41 |
Dolphins
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
7 |
9 |
Butler[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
BU Bulldogs
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6 |
6 |
DU Bulldogs
|
7
|
7
|
13
|
9 |
36 |
Stetson[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Hatters
|
0
|
7
|
10
|
6 |
23 |
Bulldogs
|
3
|
0
|
11
|
7 |
21 |
at Dayton[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
7 |
28 |
Flyers
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
7 |
17 |
at Valparaiso[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs
|
7
|
14
|
0
|
21 |
42 |
Crusaders
|
3
|
0
|
7
|
15 |
25 |
San Diego[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Toreros
|
13
|
7
|
7
|
0 |
27 |
Bulldogs
|
0
|
7
|
3
|
0 |
10 |
Marist[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Red Foxes
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
7 |
10 |
Bulldogs
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
10 |
13 |
at Morehead State[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs
|
9
|
13
|
7
|
14 |
43 |
Eagles
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
6 |
at Iowa State[]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs
|
7
|
7
|
10
|
0 |
24 |
No. 24 (FBS) Cyclones
|
7
|
13
|
7
|
0 |
27 |
References[]
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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