No. 20 Michigan Tech visits No. 24 Emporia State on Saturday, Sept. 12, in the Huskies' first top-25 road matchup of the season. It is Michigan Tech's first appearance in the AFCA Coaches' Poll since Sept. 15, 2025.

Kickoff is 2 p.m. Eastern at the newly named Blackcreek Diesel Field at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, according to Michigan Tech athletics. It will be the first collegiate game played on the renamed field.

Both teams enter at 2-0. The Huskies also sit at No. 23 in the D2Football.com poll, while Emporia State checks in at No. 22 in that ranking and No. 24 in the coaches' poll.

Senior linebacker Chase Koch, the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week, leads Michigan Tech with 21 tackles through two games. Against Midwestern State on Sept. 5, Koch posted 10 tackles, two for loss with a sack, and two interceptions.

His first pick ended the Mustangs' second drive. His second went for a 34-yard return that set up a Huskies touchdown.

Koch earned All-GLIAC First Team honors in 2025 after recording 105 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups, according to Michigan Tech athletics.

Junior kicker Avery Kucharski also earned GLIAC weekly honors after the 48-27 win over Midwestern State. He drilled a 51-yard field goal as the first-half clock expired, tying a school record, and added a 28-yarder in the third quarter. Kucharski is 3-for-4 on field goals and has scored 15 points through two games.

The Huskies forced five turnovers in the Midwestern State victory, their sixth straight home-opening win at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. They opened the season with a 31-29 road win at Bemidji State on Aug. 27.

"I loved the way our guys battled and found a way to make one more play at the end," head coach Dan Mettlach told WZMQ after the Aug. 27 win at Bemidji State. Mettlach, in his fourth season, holds a 21-13 record and was named 2025 GLIAC Coach of the Year.

The Hornets opened 2026 with road wins at Minot State (36-30) and at then-No. 10 Pittsburg State (21-10). They were picked sixth in the MIAA preseason poll after going 5-6 in 2025.

Linebacker Landon Boss, the reigning MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American, anchors the defense with 24 tackles. He ranks 13th nationally in total tackles, WIBW reported.

Quarterback Ben Harris averages 270 passing yards per game with a 64 percent completion rate. Running back Camden Crooks averages 76.5 rushing yards per game with two touchdowns.

Head coach Garin Higgins is in his 20th year leading Emporia State and is the program's all-time winningest coach.

The game will be broadcast on Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ, with Josh Ylitalo on the call, and streamed on the MIAA Network via hudlTV. Michigan Tech returns home Saturday, Sept. 19, for Homecoming against Upper Iowa before opening GLIAC play at Roosevelt on Oct. 3.