SLIPPERY ROCK — The numbers make the game appear to be no contest.

Slippery Rock University football coach Shawn Lutz prefers to view Saturday’s 6 p.m. season opener against Wayne State (Mich.) as “no one knows.”

The Rock is coming off a 10-3 season and fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. SRU has also won its last 13 season openers and carries a 28-game winning streak in games that start at 4 p.m. or later into Saturday’s contest.

The Warriors are coming off a 1-9 season — 0-6 in the GLIAC (their conference) — and have dropped the season opener to The Rock in each of the past three years, including a 42-10 drubbing last season.

“They know what we’re all about, what we do,” Lutz said. “They have a new head coach, an entire new staff. We have no tape on them. We don’t know what they’re gonna bring.

“It is is a new era in Wayne State football and they’ll be coming in here fired up and ready, a nothing to lose approach. We know that much.”

Former University of Michigan and NFL running back Tyrone Wheatley is Wayne State’s new head coach. He rushed for more than 4,000 yards for the Wolverines from 1991-94 and spent 10 seasons in the NFL, rushing for 4,962 yards and 30 touchdowns for the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders combined

He was head coach at Morgan State from 2019-21 and has 16 years of NFL coaching experience.

“They brought in an offensive coordinator who runs the triple option, so we’re anticipating seeing that type of attack,” Lutz said. “They have another quarterback who does pro-style type stuff.

“We're young on defense and we have to play disciplined football Saturday night.”

Josh Kulka was the Warriors’ starting quarterback last season, but threw for only three touchdowns. He is third on the depth chart entering this season, trailing graduate students Jayden Waddell and Eli McLean.

Kendall Williams returns as the team’s top back, rushing for 680 yards and six scores last season. He also caught 34 passes for 410 yards. Linebacker Matt Buschman, who forced five fumbles last year, anchors the defense.

Brayden Liong, a 6-foot-3, junior, takes over as SRU’s starting quarterback. Khalid Dorsey, a transfer from Shippensburg, will start at running back with Chris D’Or and Isaiah Edwards also seeing action.

Kyle Sheets, Cohen Russell and Jawon Hall head a talented receiving corps with Kam Kruzelyak a threat at tight end.

“Brayden’s patiently waited his turn and he’s learned along the way,” Lutz said. “He’s a great leader, one of the captains on our football team. He’s athletic, is very accurate with his passes and has a quick release.

“We have a veteran group back up front. Our offense is going to be very hard to stop.”

Butler graduate and starting right guard Nick Stazer, Sheets, Kruzelyak, transfer linebacker Kyle Kudla and defensive linemen Munchie Johnson are the other captains.

“All of our captains were voted in by the players this year,” Lutz emphasized.

Defensively, SRU is deepest in personnel in the secondary. Freeport graduate and true freshman Ben Lane may see time there regardless.

Kevin Roberts, a sophomore, and Mason Yohn, a freshman, are SRU’s place-kicker and punter, respectively.

“Our kicking game should be stable this year,” Lutz said. “Roberts can hit from as far as 52 years out. I’d be willing to try a field goal from there with the game on the line.”

Wheatley could not be reached for comment.

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