Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Sophomore Jerry Kaminski will make his first career start Saturday against Kansas State, Fighting Hawks head coach Eric Schmidt announced Monday.
At least for now, Kaminski is the fall camp winner of a three-way quarterback battle between 2024 starter and senior Simon Romfo and San Diego State transfer Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson.
Kaminski's first career start will come at Bill Snyder Family Stadium with a capacity of 50,000.
"These are the games you dream about as a little kid," Kaminski said. "These are the ones you circle on the calendar. This is a huge game. These are the games you grow up wanting play in, and it's a dream scenario. I'm excited."
The QB2 for the Fighting Hawks is unclear. UND released its two-deep depth chart Monday for the first time since Schmidt took over this offseason. Kaminski was listed as the starter, with Tupou'ata-Johnson and Romfo both listed with an 'OR' between their names.
Kaminski, who lost out in the fall camp battle to Romfo a year ago, is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed quarterback from Sun Prairie, Wis., where his dad Brian is the head high school football coach.
"We really felt like he's earned it," Schmidt said. "He came into fall camp probably in the lead. Then getting Simon back here in fall camp, (Romfo) really started to close the gap there. It was highly competitive. The last week here I think Jerry's kind of settled in. It was very close and we talked to all of those guys that we could play multiple quarterbacks at any time. So, we're excited for all those guys to be able to help our offense."
After redshirting in 2023, Kaminski played sparingly in three blowouts in 2024. He appeared in three games and was 4-for-5 for 28 yards in games against Murray State, San Diego and Northern Iowa.
In high school, Kaminski was the Wisconsin Sports Network's Dave Krieg Award winner, given to the state's top senior quarterback. He was also the 2022 Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Year.
At Sun Prairie, Kaminski completed 62 percent of his passes as a senior for 2,785 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also ran for 296 yards and five touchdowns. He finished his prep career 30-4, setting school records in career passing yards, passing touchdowns, single-season passing yards and single-season passing touchdowns.
"He's a competitor, man," UND captain and linebacker Malachi McNeal said. "That dude goes to work every day. He makes our defense better. He's been out there leading, and the offense feeds off him. I have full fledged confidence that not only him, but all the quarterbacks that are out there, can get it done."
UND plays at Kansas State in Manhattan at 6 p.m. Saturday. The game will be streamed on ESPN-Plus.