On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Drake Bulldogs football team faced seemingly insurmountable odds in their matchup against the Eastern Washington University Eagles. Prior to kickoff, ESPN projected the Bulldogs to lose by 35 points. The reasons behind this projection are clear; statistically and historically, the Eagles are miles ahead of the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have only qualified for a Football Championship Subdivision playoff game once, ever, and they lost that one FCS playoff game 55-7 to North Dakota State (2023). In comparison, the Eagles have made the FCS playoffs 15 times, winning one FCS championship in 2010.