LAKELAND, Fla. – Minnesota State Moorhead senior quarterback Jack Strand took another step towards a professional football career on Sunday. Strand accepted an invite to The American Bowl, a college football all-star game taking place on Thursday, January 22 in Lakeland, Florida. 
 
The game, which is set to be broadcast on the NFL Network, kicks off at 7 p.m. Central Time from Victory Field on the campus of Southeastern University. The head coaches for the game are Super Bowl champion Brian Billick and former AP NFL Coach of the Year Mike Smith. 
 
A full week of events is in store for Strand as part of The American Bowl's festivities. Players are set to arrive in Orlando on January 17 with full practices running on January 18, 19 and 20 at the University of Central Florida. On January 21, players will take part in the NFL Player Assessment Test (PAT) while also participating in a community day before a final walkthrough. The game on January 22 will be preceded by a media day.
 
Strand, a Bloomer, Wis., native, concluded a historic career for MSUM this past fall. The quarterback was named an All-American by three different entities (AFCA, D2CCA and Don Hansen) following a record-breaking senior season. He was also named D2CCA All-Region and D2CCA Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year. 
 
Strand led the NSIC in passing (3,546) and total (3,834) yardage throughout the season, accounting for 47 total touchdowns to earn his second NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honor. Strand set the MSUM single-season record with 42 passing touchdowns in 2025. The senior reset NSIC career records in pass completions (1,147), passing yards (12,134) and passing touchdowns (115) during the 2025 campaign.
 
Strand is set to begin professional training in early January in New Jersey at the TEST Football Academy. He ranks 10^th all-time in NCAA Division II history in passing yardage, throwing for 13,161 yards in 42 career games. 
 

 
About The American Bowl
 
The American Bowl is more than just a college football all-star game. For our Inaugural Year we've chosen to support our active military and veteran communities through the Military Thriving initiative. Our partner organizations, Zero Mils and Soldiers to Sidelines, have connected us with the mission of creating post-active-service career opportunities for veterans on the football field. For the 2026 American Bowl, 10 of our On-Field Coaches are military veteran "Soldier Coaches," and an additional 2 military veterans are serving as "Soldier Ops." It is our hope that our Soldier Coaches and Soldier Ops gain valuable experience, wisdom, and connections to grow in their post-military careers so they can lead communities on and off the football field.