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THIS WEEK:  Missouri Valley Football Conference rivals North Dakota State (11-1) and South Dakota State (9-4) meet in the second round of the FCS playoffs for the second time in three seasons this week.  Game time is 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700).  The winner advances to face either Richmond or Coastal Carolina in next week's quarterfinal round.
 
TELEVISION:  Live coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN mobile app with Wayne Randazzo calling the play-by-play and Pat Hill as color analyst.  ESPN3 is available from participating Internet service providers on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN mobile app is available through participating ESPN television providers.
 
RADIO:  KFGO-AM 790 and KRWK-FM 101.9 of Fargo along with the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network will have live coverage beginning at 2 p.m.  KFGO's Scott Miller will describe the play-by-play with NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen as color analyst and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson reporting from the sidelines.  A live audio stream will be available free of charge on GoBison.com/allaccess.
 
TICKETS:  Saturday's FCS second round playoff game between North Dakota State and South Dakota State is sold out.  Additional tickets may become available Friday at 8 a.m. on GoBison.com/tickets or at the NDSU ticket office in the Fargodome east lobby.
 
THE SERIES:  North Dakota State leads the all-time series 57-40-5 dating back to 1903 and has won six straight including last month's 37-17 home win.  The teams will not play for the Dakota Marker, the traveling trophy introduced in 2004 when the teams moved to Division I. NDSU has a 7-4 edge in Dakota Marker games with five straight wins, excluding the 2012 NCAA second round playoff game. The Bison lead the series 34-14-3 in Fargo including a 12-1 mark in the Fargodome.
 
EARLIER THIS YEAR:  NDSU rallied from a 10-6 halftime deficit to beat SDSU 37-17 in the teams' first meeting this year.  The Bison marched 88 yards on 12 plays on the first drive of the third quarter to go ahead for good on Kevin Vaadeland's 2-yard TD reception.  John Crockett rushed 28 times for 152 yards and two second-half TDs, Carson Wentz was 12 of 20 passing for 115 yards, and Kyle Emanuel had 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss to lead the defense.  SDSU quarterback Austin Sumner was 14 of 28 passing for 187 yards, Zach Zenner rushed 17 times for 96 yards, Jake Wieneke caught five passes for 87 yards, and TJ Lally made 20 tackles to lead the SDSU defense.
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY:  This is North Dakota State's fifth straight appearance in the FCS playoffs and its second as the No. 2 overall seed (2011).  NDSU is 14-1 in the FCS playoffs including three straight national titles and a quarterfinal appearance in 2010.  This is North Dakota State's 28th postseason appearance overall.  NDSU has a 49-14 record all-time in the postseason including three College Division national championships in 1965, 1968 and 1969 and five Division II titles in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990.  NDSU is 44-13 in the NCAA playoff format since 1973.
 
BISON WEARING GREEN:  North Dakota State will wear its traditional green home jersey and gold pants vs. South Dakota State.  NDSU has worn green only twice in 10 previous home FCS playoff games – 2010 first round vs. Robert Morris the year before the alternate gold jersey was introduced, and the 2011 quarterfinal vs. Lehigh.  Fans sitting in even-numbered sections and student sections should wear gold, and fans in odd sections should wear green.
 
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE:  North Dakota State is the No. 2 overall seed for the FCS playoffs and will have home field advantage through the semifinals for the fourth straight season.  NDSU is 10-0 at home during the FCS playoffs and has won 11 straight home playoff games including a 1992 Division II first round game against Northeast Missouri State at Dacotah Field.  Minnesota State Mankato was the last team to beat NDSU at home in the playoffs, a 27-7 defeat in the 1991 Division II first round.
 
NATIONAL AWARD FINALISTS:  North Dakota State has three finalists for the national FCS awards presented by The Sports Network.  Senior defensive end Kyle Emanuel and senior strong safety Colten Heagle are two of the 25 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in the nation.  First-year head coach Chris Klieman is among the 21 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award for FCS Coach of the Year.  The awards will be presented Dec. 15 in Philadelphia.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE:  Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Emanuel headlined a list of 10 NDSU players named to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference team Monday.  Emanuel was one of eight NDSU players on the first team joining fullback Andrew Bonnet, left tackle Joe Haeg, center Jesse Hinz, linebacker Carlton Littlejohn, safeties Christian Dudzik and Colten Heagle, and punter Ben LeCompte.  Running back John Crockett and linebacker Travis Beck were selected to the second team.  Quarterback Carson Wentz, wide receiver Zach Vraa and kicker Adam Keller were honorable mentions.
 
FOURTH MVFC TITLE:  North Dakota State earned a share of its fourth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship.  NDSU and Illinois State were both 7-1.  The Bison earned the league's automatic qualifier by virtue of a No. 1 national ranking in the Gridiron Power Index.  NDSU is the second school in Valley Football history to win four straight league titles behind Northern Iowa's run of seven straight from 1990 to 1996.
 
FOUR TITLE TRIPS:  The only two FCS teams to play in four consecutive title games were Eastern Kentucky (1979-82) and Youngstown State (1991-94).  Three-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State is looking to become the second football team in NCAA history to win four straight national championships.  Augustana College of Rock Island, Ill., won four NCAA Division III titles from 1983-86.  Coincidentally, NDSU won Division II football titles in 1983, 1985 and 1986 with a runner-up finish in 1984.  The women's basketball program at NDSU won four straight Division II titles from 1993 to 1996.
 
RUSHING DEFENSE:  North Dakota State ranks 13th nationally in rushing defense at 108.7 yards per game, but NDSU is second nationally with only eight rushing TDs allowed.  Only Sacred Heart has allowed fewer rushing scores (7).  NDSU has held its last two opponents out of the end zone while keeping Missouri State to 99 rushing yards and Youngstown State to 81.
        Rushing TDs Allowed, FCS
        7 - Sacred Heart
        8 - North Dakota State
        8 - Norfolk State
        8 - Harvard
 
STOPPING ZENNER:  North Dakota State has had success stopping South Dakota State running back and Walter Payton Award finalist Zach Zenner in five previous matchups.  Zenner, who rushed for 252 yards and four touchdowns last week at Montana State, managed just 96 yards Nov. 1 at NDSU, which was more than double his previous best against the Bison:

	Zenner's Totals			Zenner vs. NDSU
Year	No.	Yards	TD	Year	No.	Yards	TD
2011	107	470	3	2011	7	34	1
2012	300	2044	13	2012	14 15	43 46	0 0
2013	351	2015	23	2013	8	4	0
2014	305	1886	20	2014	17	96	1
Totals	1063	6415	59	Totals	61	223	2
		(6.0 ypc)				(3.7 ypc)

 
 
VRAA MOVING UP:  North Dakota State wide receiver Zach Vraa had a career-high nine receptions and season-high 119 yards against Indiana State and continues to move up the NDSU record book.  He has caught a pass in 39 of 41 games in his career and ranks fourth in NDSU career receptions (149) and third in receiving yards (2,356) and touchdown catches (22).
            NDSU Career Receiving Yards
            1. 2732 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08 (43g)
            2. 2544 - TR McDonald, 1990-93 (39g)
            3. 2384 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14 (41g)

            NDSU Career Receiving TDs
            1. 26 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99
            2. 24 - Len Kretchman, 1985-88
            3. 23 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14
 
            NDSU Career Receptions
            1. 178 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08
            2. 163 - Travis White, 2002-06
            3. 161 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11
            4. 151 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14

CROCKETT THIRD IN RUSHING:  Senior running back John Crockett has vaulted into third place on North Dakota State's all-time rushing list with 3,740 yards in just his third season with the Bison.  Crockett is sixth in NDSU history with 17 career 100-yard games including a season-high 177 at Missouri State and a career-high 195 yards in last year's NCAA semifinal win over New Hampshire.  This is Crockett's third straight 1,000-yard season despite splitting carries each of his first two seasons.  He ranks 11th in the FCS this year in rushing yards (1,425) and rushing yards per game (118.8).
            NDSU Career Rushing
            1. 4696 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1998-01 (41g)
            2. 3952 - Kyle Steffes, RB, 2003-06 (41g)
            3. 3740 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-14 (42g)
            4. 3694 - Sam Ojuri, RB, 2009-13 (51g)
            5. 3688 - Jake Morris, RB, 1994-97 (35g)

            NDSU Single-Season Rushing
            1. 1723 - Lamar Gordon, 2000
            2. 1710 - Jake Morris, 1997
            3. 1559 - DJ McNorton, 2010
            4. 1495 - Lamar Gordon, 1999
            5. 1431 - Tyler Roehl, 2007
            6. 1425 - John Crockett, 2014

            NDSU Career Rushing Attempts
            1. 800 - Kyle Steffes, 2003-06
            2. 782 - Lamar Gordon, 1998-01
            3. 655 - John Crockett, 2012-14

            NDSU Career 100-Yard Games
            1. 31 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1998-01
            2. 20 - Jake Morris, RB, 1994-97
            3. 20 - Chris Simdorn, QB, 1987-90
                20 - Kyle Steffes, RB, 2003-06
            5. 19 - Tony Satter, RB, 1987-90
            6. 17 - Jeff Bentrim, QB, 1983-86
                17 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-present

WENTZ CLIMBING SEASON PASSING CHARTS:  First-year starting quarterback Carson Wentz is quickly climbing North Dakota State's single-season lists for passing.  Wentz is seventh in NDSU history for passing attempts (275), sixth in completions (175), fifth in passing yards (2,287), and third in passing touchdowns (19).  He is the Missouri Valley Football Conference leader and ranks 18th nationally in completion percentage (.636), and also ranks 13th nationally in passing efficiency (149.7), 20th in yards per completion (13.26), and 12th in yards per attempt (8.32).
 
TOP SCORING DEFENSE:  North Dakota State is allowing just 11.6 points per game and has the top scoring defense in the FCS for the fourth straight season.  NDSU allowed 12.7 points per game in 2011, then 11.5 points in 2012 and 11.3 points last season.  The Bison returned six defensive starters and seven of the top nine tacklers from last year's squad.
 
SACK MAN:  NDSU defensive end and Buck Buchanan Award finalist Kyle Emanuel ranks No. 2 nationally in sacks (16.5) and tackles for loss (27.0).  In six games against FCS Top 25 opponents, he has 9.5 sacks, 15.0 tackles for loss and 8 quarterback hurries.  Emanuel ranks 11th in FCS history and 4th in Missouri Valley Football Conference with 32.5 career sacks, and is four sacks from tying the NDSU career record established in 1974 and 1990.
            NDSU Career Sacks (half sacks counted as whole)
            41 - Phil Hansen, DT, 1987-90
            41 - Jerry Dahl, DE, 1973-74
            37 - Kyle Emanuel, DE, 2011-14
            31 - Coulter Boyer, DE, 2008-11

            FCS Leaders, Sacks Per Game
            1.50 - Alec May, Georgetown (16.5)
            1.38 - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State (16.5)
            1.33 - Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State (16.0)
            1.12 - Zack Wagenmann, Montana (14.5)
            1.08 - Derek Rivers, Youngstown State (13.0)

FOUR TOP TACKLERS:  Strong safety Colten Heagle, a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, is NDSU's career leader with 178 solo tackles and passed three current NFL players for the school record.  Free safety Christian Dudzik is fourth and linebacker Carlton Littlejohn fifth.  Linebacker Travis Beck is seventh in solo tackles (128) and 10th in total tackles (308).  Heagle and Littlejohn are tied for eighth in total tackles with 309 each.
            NDSU Career Solo Tackle Leaders
            178 - Colten Heagle, SS, 2010-14
            159 - Joe Mays, LB, 2004-07 (Kansas City Chiefs)
            147 - Ramon Humber, LB, 2005-09 (New Orleans Saints)
            140 - Christian Dudzik, FS, 2011-14
            134 - Carlton Littlejohn, LB, 2011-14
            132 - Craig Dahl, SS, 2003-06 (San Francisco 49ers)
            128 - Travis Beck, LB, 2011-14

PAT STREAK: Senior Adam Keller is 44 of 44 this year and has converted 103 straight PAT kicks dating back to the fourth game of 2013 at South Dakota State, a streak which is third longest in MVFC history.  Keller ranks 10th in the FCS in scoring with 9.4 points per game.  He is fifth among FCS active career leaders with 7.8 points per game.
            NDSU Career PATs (made-attempted)
            178 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01 (178-182)
            177 - Adam Keller, 2011-14 (177-183)
            155 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09 (155-165)

            FCS Active Career Scoring Leaders
            9.0 ppg - Tyler Varga, RB, Yale
            8.3 ppg - Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
            7.9 ppg - Zach Zenner, RB, South Dakota State
            7.9 ppg - David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa
            7.8 ppg - Adam Keller, K, North Dakota State
 
FIELD GOAL RECORDS:  Senior Adam Keller has an NDSU single-season record 23 field goals made and second nationally behind Northern Iowa's Michael Schmadeke.  Keller made a school-record five field goals in the win over Montana.  His 50 career field goals rank second in school history and third among FCS active career leaders behind.
            NDSU Single-Season FG Made
            23 - Adam Keller, 2014 (23-27)
            18 - Adam Keller, 2012 (18-24)
            16 - Ryan Jastram, 2011 (16-18)
            16 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006 (16-23)

            NDSU Career FG Made
            51 - Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09 (51-73)
            50 - Adam Keller, 2011-14 (50-63)
            42 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01 (42-63)
            31 - Ryan Jastram, 2009-11 (31-45)

            FCS Active Career FG Leaders
            56 - Jordan Wiggs, Stephen F. Austin
            54 - Justin Syrovatka, South Dakota State
            50 - Adam Keller, North Dakota State

            FCS Leaders, FGM per game
            2.08 - Michael Schmadeke, Northern Iowa (27-29)
            1.92 - Adam Keller, North Dakota State (23-27)
            1.80 - John Carpenter, William & Mary (18-23)
 
50+ GAMES:  North Dakota State has six players who have played in at least 50 career games including free safety Christian Dudzik, who has made all 57 career starts, and defensive end Kyle Emanuel, who has played in all 57 games with 50 starts as the Bison have gone 54-3 in that span.  Linebacker Travis Beck played in 56 of 57 games including before a season-ending injury against Youngstown State.  Linebacker Carlton Littlejohn has played in 55 contests, and strong safety Colten Heagle and tight end Kevin Vaadeland have each played in 54 games.   The FCS record for games played is 62 by Appalachian State linebacker Pierre Banks, who made 47 starts from 2004 to 2008.
 
CHEWING UP CLOCK:  North Dakota State ranks first in the FCS in time of possession averaging 34:19 per game.  The Bison held the ball for 41:12 against Indiana State, one of only four games in NDSU's Division I history that has happened:
            NDSU Time of Possession 40+ Minutes
            41:12 - Indiana State, 2014
            40:48 - Southern Illinois, 2012
            40:20 - at South Dakota State, 2013
            40:17 - Cal Poly, 2006
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has an 8-3 record and has won five straight games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents after beating Iowa State 34-14 in the season-opener.  The Bison are 5-0 against the FBS since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21) and Iowa State (34-14).
 
THREE PEAT:  North Dakota State is just the second team in FCS history to win three straight national championships joining the Appalachian State teams of 2005-07.  NDSU set a school record for wins with a 15-0 mark and become the first undefeated national champion since Southern Conference champion Marshall went 15-0 to win the 1996 title.
 
VAADELAND BACK FOR SIXTH YEAR:  Tight end Kevin Vaadeland, one of 24 seniors on last year's team, returned to the Bison program for a sixth season due to a 2010 injury.  Vaadeland caught 20 passes for 233 yards last year and his eight touchdown receptions ranked third overall in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and second in the FCS among tight ends.  He made a career-high five receptions in the win over Montana and his 12 career touchdown catches rank second in NDSU history among tight ends behind Jerimiah Wurzbacher's 14 TDs from 2005-09.
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State has won 20 straight home games and 46 of the last 47 non-conference home games including 36 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis.  NDSU is 9-2 at home against Top 10 teams after beating No. 3/4-ranked Montana.  The Bison have the longest home winning streak in Division I football.
            Division I Home Winning Streaks
            20 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            16 - Alabama (SEC)
            15 - Baylor (Big 12)
            14 - Florida State (ACC)
            14 - Fordham (Patriot)
 
RECORD ATTENDANCE:  North Dakota State in 2013 set a school record for average home attendance for the third straight year drawing 18,622 over nine games, which ranked sixth in the FCS.  NDSU drew a record crowd of 19,108 for last year's homecoming game against Missouri State, and the crowd of 19,034 for homecoming this year vs. Southern Illinois was the fourth largest in school history.  The Bison have sold out 21 times since 2006 including four games this season.  NDSU ranks third in FCS average home attendance.
            2014 FCS average home attendance
            1. Montana - 23,777
            2. James Madison - 19,816
            3. North Dakota State - 18,825
            4. Montana State - 17,056
            5. Liberty - 17,016
 
THE COACH:  The 30th head coach in team history, Chris Klieman (Northern Iowa, 1992) took over the Bison in January after spending the previous three seasons as the defensive backs coach including defensive coordinator duties in 2012 and 2013.  The head coach at Division III Loras College in 2005, Klieman came to NDSU after five years at Northern Iowa. He also made coaching stops at Western Illinois (1994-96), Kansas (1997), Missouri State (1999) and Loras (2002-04).  He is a native of Waterloo, Iowa, and was a three-time all-conference defensive back at UNI from 1986-90.  Klieman's 9-0 start was the best by any first-year head coach school and conference history.  He is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award for FCS Coach of the Year.
 
FIVE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT:  Quarterback Carson Wentz, wide receiver Zach Vraa, center Jesse Hinz, outside linebacker Esley Thorton and defensive end Kyle Emanuel were voted to the Capital One Academic All-District 6 football team Nov. 6.  To be eligible, student-athletes must be a varsity starter or key reserve with a 3.30 cumulative GPA and sophomore athletic and academic standing.  Wentz has a 4.0 in health and physical education, Vraa has a 3.51 in sports management, Hinz has a 3.71 in criminal justice and Spanish, Thorton has a 3.91 in exercise science, and Emanuel has a 3.66 in construction management.
 
CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:  The following players were recognized as Player of the Week by the Missouri Valley Football Conference for their performances:
        - Kyle Emanuel, 3x Defense (Team-high nine tackles at Iowa State including 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble...Had 4 of 5 tackles go for negative yardage in win over Indiana State with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and two QB hurries...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State)
        - John Crockett, Offense (17 carries for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns at Iowa State, including an 80-yard TD to spark Bison to 34 unanswered points in 34-14 win)
        - Joe Haeg, 2x Offensive Line (Graded out at 100% in win at Iowa State with six knockdown blocks as NDSU put up 506 total yards of offense including 302 on the ground...Graded 91% technique and 100% assignment at Southern Illinois with four knockdowns)
        - Adam Keller, Special Teams (School-record five field goals in the 22-10 win over
No. 3/4-ranked Montana, connecting from 41, 22, 32, 47 and 30 yards)
        - Christian Dudzik, Defense (Forced fumble and two interceptions led to three NDSU touchdowns in win over Youngstown State...Also a team- and season-high eight tackles)
 
NATIONAL HONORS: The following players have earned national recognition this season for their performances:
        - Kyle Emanuel, 2x Sports Network FCS Defensive Player of the Week (Team-high nine tackles at Iowa State including 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State); 2x College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Had 4 of 5 tackles go for negative yardage in win over Indiana State with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and two QB hurries...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State); 2x CFPA FCS Defensive Lineman of the Week (Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State...Career-high 10 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3.5 TFL and 27-yard INT return at Missouri State)
        - John Crockett, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (17 carries for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns at Iowa State, including an 80-yard TD to spark Bison to 34 unanswered points in 34-14 win)
        - Carlton Littlejohn, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Scored go-ahead touchdown on 5-yard fumble return in 24-7 win at Weber State, where one of his 12 tackles came at the NDSU 2 on a fake field goal to preserve a 21-7 lead)
        - Adam Keller, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (School-record five field goals in the 22-10 win over No. 3/4-ranked Montana, connecting from 41, 22, 32, 47 and 30 yards) and CFPA FCS Placekicker of the Week (Scored 17 points including four FGs in 47-7 win at South Dakota)
        - Ben LeCompte, CFPA FCS Punter of the Week (Two punts averaging 64.5 yards in home win over South Dakota State, including season-long 66-yarder)
        - Christian Dudzik, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Forced fumble and two interceptions led to three NDSU touchdowns in win over Youngstown State...Also a team- and season-high eight tackles)