LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Minnesota State Moorhead senior quarterback Jack Strand has been named one of eight finalists for the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy. The annual award honors the best college football player in NCAA Division II. 
 
Strand becomes the first player in MSUM history to be named a finalist for the top honor in NCAA Division II football. The Bloomer, Wis., native was a nominee for the Harlon Hill Trophy each of the last three seasons. Strand is the first Hill Trophy finalist from the NSIC since Bemidji State quarterback Brandon Alt in 2022. 
 
The senior quarterback is fresh off another accolade-filled season, winning NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Strand was also named to the All-NSIC First Team for the third time in his career. The Dragon signal-caller was nothing short of magical in his senior season. Strand led the NSIC in passing (3,546) and total (3,834) yardage throughout the season, accounting for 47 total touchdowns. 
 
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 was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week three times and bolstered seven games with 300 or more pass yards. He would tie the NSIC single-game record for passing touchdowns on November 1 against Bemidji State, slinging seven scores. Strand ranks 10^th all-time in NCAA Division II history in passing yardage, throwing for 13,161 yards in 42 career games. 
 
At the conclusion of the regular season, Strand led NCAA Division II in passing touchdowns, pass completions, pass completions per game, points responsible for and points responsible for per game. The senior was second in the nation in overall passing yards, passing yards per game and total offense. Strand completed 63 percent of his passes during the 2025 season (483 total attempts). 
 
The sports information directors at the 159 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions nominate and vote on the award. The 36 initial candidates were placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions advanced to the national ballot when regional voting concluded on Monday, December 1.

The sports information directors at their respective schools initially nominate candidates. The SIDs in those Super Regions vote for their top five candidates. The winner is then determined in a nationwide vote of the Division II sports information directors.
 
The Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill - the former University of North Alabama standout - who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to fame in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears.