DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake football turned a corner in 2023. After a 0-3 start, the Bulldogs ran the table in the conference play to win their first PFL Conference Title since 2012.
Momentum is strong for Des Moines' hometown team.
"10 seasons going on, season 11, and boy, this season, you know, I don't know if the expectations and the commitment has been any higher," said head coach Todd Stepsis.
Despite the high the program reached in 2023, it's a fresh start in 2024 for the PFL Defensive Player of the Year.
"Last year's done. It's over," said junior defensive end Finn Claypool. "Going back to it isn't going to help us win more games. So how can we embody the same things that got us those wins and going forward and being better going forward, because we (have) to be a better team than we were last year. It's different when you are being the underdog to now having the target on your back."
The lessons from the wins and losses have been learned.
"We've learned so much about this team from our season last year," said graduate senior defensive back Tyler Radocha. "How to finish, how to win, what it looks like just to be relentless play after play. You know, when we're down, when we're up."
Drake appeared FCS Playoffs for the first time ever. That trip ended in a 66-3 loss to North Dakota State. The thought of running it back started quickly.
"Honestly? Immediately after we lost last season NDSU. I think guys were definitely hungry," said graduate senior offensive lineman Bennet Krebs. "We hated how we felt after that game. So we not only want to run it back in the PFL. We want to kind of make a name for ourselves nationally, and really cement ourselves as a top 25 program."
The Bulldogs kick off the season at home on a Thursday night against Quincy on Aug. 29.