College Sporting News Predicts UNI, NDSU 1-2 in Valley Football
8/26/2011 2:26:00 AM | Football
By Kent Schmidt, West Columnist College Sporting News
Parity is what the Missouri Valley Football Conference has and really, from top to bottom, there is no other FCS conference that can make a similar claim.
In fact, there was a six-way tie for third place in the MVFC standings a year ago with Northern Iowa winning and Western Illinois coming in second.
One of the third-place teams in North Dakota State, along with UNI and WIU made the playoffs.
Even former MVFC doormat Indiana State is no longer a given win as the Sycamores was one of the teams tied for third.
It was NDSU, however, that made it the farthest amongst the three MVFC playoff squads.
UNI lost in the opening round to Lehigh.
Western Illinois defeated Coastal Carolina in the opening round before losing to top-seeded Appalachian State in the second round.
NDSU defeated Robert Morris in the opening round and then defeated No. 4 seeded Montana State in the second round.
The Bison nearly defeated eventual national champion #5 seeded Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals but allowed the Eagles to tie the game on a late touchdown drive and then lost in overtime.
This year will be the last with the current nine-team group as a 10th school, current Great West member South Dakota, will join the conference starting next fall.
The addition of the Coyotes will mean every school in the MVFC will miss playing one of the other conference members yearly so the total of conference games will remain at eight. But this year, all teams will play each other.
The three 2010 playoff teams, along with Illinois State and Southern Illinois, appear to be the top teams this year, but as was the case last year, this year's race could be just as jumbled as it was last season.
Any of the teams predicated below these teams could find themselves in the upper echelon of the standings.
Like UNI, North Dakota State returns a plethora of talent this season.
That talent seemed to peak in the playoffs last year after the Bison were up and down during the regular season.
NDSU had highs of defeating FBS Kansas in the season opener and Big Sky co-champion Montana State in the playoffs, but had losses at Missouri State and Illinois State in league play.
One school that NDSU and Coach Craig Bohl has not been able to overcome is UNI. The Bison are 0-3 since joining the MVFC against the Panthers, the only school the Bison have yet to defeat since joining the conference in 2008.
Those three teams will all have to visit the Fargodome this year.
Overall, the Bison return 15 starters overall with seven on offense and eight on defense.
The Bison won last year mainly because of their defense and this year, the defense should continue to be strong.
NDSU ranked seventh nationally in both scoring defense (18.21 ppg) and turnover margin (+1.07 avg.).
The Bison will be headed by preseason All-American senior defensive end Coulter Boyer, who led the team in tackles for loss (13), sacks (10), and quarterback hurries (18) to go with 58 tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown.
The linebacker group will be headed by a pair of seniors in Preston Evans and Chad Willson.
Evans led the team in tackles for a second straight year with 95 and Wilson was third with 74.
The secondary will be headed also by a senior in safety Daniel Evans, who tied Willson for third on the team in tackles with 74.
Evans will be joined by a pair of sophomores in safety Colton Heagle (64 tackles, 6 TFL) and cornerback Marcus Williams (12 pass breakups, 4 INT, 1 for a TD).
The NDSU offense is mostly a run-first group that will be headed by senior running back D.J. McNorton, who had 1,559 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground in 2010. McNorton also added 433 yards and four more scores through the air.
Passing the ball this year will be sophomore quarterback Brock Jensen, who split time as a starter last year but led the Bison during their playoff run.
Jensen totaled 950 yards and seven touchdowns after starting seven games and will likely be the key to the Bison making a further run into the postseason.
His leading receiving target again should be senior Warren Holloway (49 receptions, 698 yards, 5 TDs).
Seniors tackle Paul Cornick and guard Austin Richard, along with sophomore tackle Billy Turner, will head the returning starters on the line.
Missouri Valley Football Conference Games of the Week
North Dakota State @ South Dakota State, Oct. 22
The Bison and Jackrabbits battle again for the Dakota Marker Trophy. NDSU won it last year but have lost the last four contests in Brookings. Can they reverse their road woes this year?
Northern Iowa @ North Dakota State, Oct. 29
These two teams don't seem to like each other much but it has been a one way contest since NDSU joined the MVFC towards UNI. Can the Fargodome help NDSU finally get into the win column against the Panthers?
North Dakota State @ Western Illinois, Nov. 19
Both of these schools made the playoffs a year ago and were the last two standing in the FCS playoffs amongst MVFC teams. Will this game be like a playoff game for both or at least one of the teams to end the regular season?
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Northern Iowa
2. North Dakota State
3. Southern Illinois
4. Illinois State
5. Western Illinois
6. South Dakota State
7. Indiana State
8. Youngstown State
9. Missouri State
Offensive Player of the Year:
Tirrell Rennie, QB, Northern Iowa, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Ben Obaseki, DE, Indiana State, Jr.
Biggest Shoes to Fill:
Matt Barr, QB, Western Illinois
North Dakota State Bison
Location: Fargo, ND
Stadium: Fargodome (18,700 Capacity)
Head Coach: Craig Bohl (61-30, NDSU & Overall) 9th Season
Who's Gone: QB Jose Mohler, OT Michael Arndt, DT Matthew Gratzek, CB Josh Gatlin, LB Matt Anderson, P John Prelvitz.
Who's Back: QB Brock Jensen, OT Paul Cornick, OG Austin Richard, OT Billy Turner, RB D.J. McNorton, WR Warren Holloway, NG Leevon Perry, LB Brandon Jemison, LB Preston Evans, LB Chad Willson, CB Marcus Williams, FS Daniel Eaves.
Historical Fact: NDSU has won eight national titles in its history — the last being at the DII level in 1990.
Last Season: The Bison narrowly made the FCS playoff field but won two postseason games and nearly won their quarterfinal game at eventual national champion Eastern Washington and finished 9-5 overall.
This Season: NDSU hopes to build on last year's first ever FCS playoff appearance and go even further into the postseason this year.
Parity is what the Missouri Valley Football Conference has and really, from top to bottom, there is no other FCS conference that can make a similar claim.
In fact, there was a six-way tie for third place in the MVFC standings a year ago with Northern Iowa winning and Western Illinois coming in second.
One of the third-place teams in North Dakota State, along with UNI and WIU made the playoffs.
Even former MVFC doormat Indiana State is no longer a given win as the Sycamores was one of the teams tied for third.
It was NDSU, however, that made it the farthest amongst the three MVFC playoff squads.
UNI lost in the opening round to Lehigh.
Western Illinois defeated Coastal Carolina in the opening round before losing to top-seeded Appalachian State in the second round.
NDSU defeated Robert Morris in the opening round and then defeated No. 4 seeded Montana State in the second round.
The Bison nearly defeated eventual national champion #5 seeded Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals but allowed the Eagles to tie the game on a late touchdown drive and then lost in overtime.
This year will be the last with the current nine-team group as a 10th school, current Great West member South Dakota, will join the conference starting next fall.
The addition of the Coyotes will mean every school in the MVFC will miss playing one of the other conference members yearly so the total of conference games will remain at eight. But this year, all teams will play each other.
The three 2010 playoff teams, along with Illinois State and Southern Illinois, appear to be the top teams this year, but as was the case last year, this year's race could be just as jumbled as it was last season.
Any of the teams predicated below these teams could find themselves in the upper echelon of the standings.
Like UNI, North Dakota State returns a plethora of talent this season.
That talent seemed to peak in the playoffs last year after the Bison were up and down during the regular season.
NDSU had highs of defeating FBS Kansas in the season opener and Big Sky co-champion Montana State in the playoffs, but had losses at Missouri State and Illinois State in league play.
One school that NDSU and Coach Craig Bohl has not been able to overcome is UNI. The Bison are 0-3 since joining the MVFC against the Panthers, the only school the Bison have yet to defeat since joining the conference in 2008.
Those three teams will all have to visit the Fargodome this year.
Overall, the Bison return 15 starters overall with seven on offense and eight on defense.
The Bison won last year mainly because of their defense and this year, the defense should continue to be strong.
NDSU ranked seventh nationally in both scoring defense (18.21 ppg) and turnover margin (+1.07 avg.).
The Bison will be headed by preseason All-American senior defensive end Coulter Boyer, who led the team in tackles for loss (13), sacks (10), and quarterback hurries (18) to go with 58 tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown.
The linebacker group will be headed by a pair of seniors in Preston Evans and Chad Willson.
Evans led the team in tackles for a second straight year with 95 and Wilson was third with 74.
The secondary will be headed also by a senior in safety Daniel Evans, who tied Willson for third on the team in tackles with 74.
Evans will be joined by a pair of sophomores in safety Colton Heagle (64 tackles, 6 TFL) and cornerback Marcus Williams (12 pass breakups, 4 INT, 1 for a TD).
The NDSU offense is mostly a run-first group that will be headed by senior running back D.J. McNorton, who had 1,559 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground in 2010. McNorton also added 433 yards and four more scores through the air.
Passing the ball this year will be sophomore quarterback Brock Jensen, who split time as a starter last year but led the Bison during their playoff run.
Jensen totaled 950 yards and seven touchdowns after starting seven games and will likely be the key to the Bison making a further run into the postseason.
His leading receiving target again should be senior Warren Holloway (49 receptions, 698 yards, 5 TDs).
Seniors tackle Paul Cornick and guard Austin Richard, along with sophomore tackle Billy Turner, will head the returning starters on the line.
Missouri Valley Football Conference Games of the Week
North Dakota State @ South Dakota State, Oct. 22
The Bison and Jackrabbits battle again for the Dakota Marker Trophy. NDSU won it last year but have lost the last four contests in Brookings. Can they reverse their road woes this year?
Northern Iowa @ North Dakota State, Oct. 29
These two teams don't seem to like each other much but it has been a one way contest since NDSU joined the MVFC towards UNI. Can the Fargodome help NDSU finally get into the win column against the Panthers?
North Dakota State @ Western Illinois, Nov. 19
Both of these schools made the playoffs a year ago and were the last two standing in the FCS playoffs amongst MVFC teams. Will this game be like a playoff game for both or at least one of the teams to end the regular season?
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Northern Iowa
2. North Dakota State
3. Southern Illinois
4. Illinois State
5. Western Illinois
6. South Dakota State
7. Indiana State
8. Youngstown State
9. Missouri State
Offensive Player of the Year:
Tirrell Rennie, QB, Northern Iowa, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Ben Obaseki, DE, Indiana State, Jr.
Biggest Shoes to Fill:
Matt Barr, QB, Western Illinois
North Dakota State Bison
Location: Fargo, ND
Stadium: Fargodome (18,700 Capacity)
Head Coach: Craig Bohl (61-30, NDSU & Overall) 9th Season
Who's Gone: QB Jose Mohler, OT Michael Arndt, DT Matthew Gratzek, CB Josh Gatlin, LB Matt Anderson, P John Prelvitz.
Who's Back: QB Brock Jensen, OT Paul Cornick, OG Austin Richard, OT Billy Turner, RB D.J. McNorton, WR Warren Holloway, NG Leevon Perry, LB Brandon Jemison, LB Preston Evans, LB Chad Willson, CB Marcus Williams, FS Daniel Eaves.
Historical Fact: NDSU has won eight national titles in its history — the last being at the DII level in 1990.
Last Season: The Bison narrowly made the FCS playoff field but won two postseason games and nearly won their quarterfinal game at eventual national champion Eastern Washington and finished 9-5 overall.
This Season: NDSU hopes to build on last year's first ever FCS playoff appearance and go even further into the postseason this year.
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