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THIS WEEK:  Fourth-ranked North Dakota State (8-1, 5-1 MVFC) plays Indiana State (4-6, 2-5 MVFC) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700).  This is the "Code Green" game and fans are encouraged to wear green in all seating sections and rows.  There will be a pregame recognition for NDSU's 10 seniors, who are playing their final regular-season home game.  It's the smallest senior class for NDSU since having seven in 2012.
 
TELEVISION:  KVLY and the NBC North Dakota network will have live coverage with Brian Shawn calling the play-by-play, Lee Timmerman color analyst, and Beth Hoole on the sidelines.  ESPN3 will carry the telecast on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app.
 
RADIO:  Coverage begins at 2 p.m. on KPFX-FM 107.9 The Fox and the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network with Jeff Culhane calling the play-by-play, NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen as color analyst, and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson reporting from the sideline.  Extended coverage on 107.9 The Fox and Bison 1660 includes "Bison Game Day" from 12 to 2 p.m. and "Bison Hotline" for 2 hours following the network broadcast with hosts Keith Brake, Chris Hanson and former NDSU safety Christian Dudzik.
 
ONLINE:  NDSU All Access live video streaming for home games is by subscription on GoBison.com/allaccess.  Audio streaming of the Bison Radio Network broadcast for every NDSU football game is available free of charge.  Live stats for NDSU home games are available on BisonStats.com.  Follow @NDSUfootball on Twitter for game updates.
 
THE SERIES:  This is the ninth meeting between North Dakota State and Indiana State dating back to 2008.  NDSU has a 7-1 lead in the series after last year's 28-14 win in Terre Haute.  Indiana State's only win was at the Fargodome on Oct. 13, 2012, when the Sycamores won 17-14 behind Tanner Fritschle's 48-yard field goal and Johnny Towalid's 27- and 31-yard interception returns.  Quarterback Easton Stick ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 126 yards and one TD in his first career start against Indiana State in last year's 28-14 win.
 
LAST WEEK:  North Dakota State turned two turnovers into points and built a 17-0 first quarter lead in last week's 24-3 home win over Youngstown State.  Chase Morlock rushed for a career-high 101 yards including a 71-yard TD.  Brad Ambrosius had a strip sack that led to a 36-yard Cam Pedersen field goal, Robbie Grimsley picked off a pass that set up a 15-yard TD pass to Jeff Illies one play later, and the Bison tacked on a 7-yard Lance Dunn TD run in the fourth.  NDSU rushed for 240 yards, the most allowed this year by YSU's defense that was holding opponents to 102.9 yards per game and had surrendered only one rushing TD all season.
 
RED ZONE DEFENSE:  North Dakota State ranks sixth in the FCS and leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in red zone defense with opponents scoring 21 of 32 trips (66%) inside the 20.  NDSU has allowed just 13 red zone touchdowns—and only six red zone TDs in six conference games—plus eight field goals.  The Bison have been better in conference play allowing red zone scores on just 13 of 23 occasions (57%).
 
SCORING DEFENSE:  North Dakota State is seventh in the FCS allowing just 16.7 points per game, and the Bison have been even better in conference play.  Missouri Valley Football Conference teams are averaging 11.3 points against NDSU and have only six touchdowns and nine field goals in six games.
 
RUSHING DEFENSE:  NDSU has the No. 9 rushing defense in FCS with opponents are averaging 93.6 yards per game on the ground with only five rushing touchdowns.  The Bison held six of their last seven opponents all to season lows rushing—Iowa (34), Illinois State (37), Missouri State (30), Western Illinois (86), Northern Iowa (68) and Youngstown State (92).
 
BISON SHUT DOWN PUNT RETURN GAME:  North Dakota State leads the FCS in punt return defense with only one opponent punt return going for minus-4 yards.  Last week, NDSU forced four fair catches by FCS punt return leader Darien Townsend of Youngstown State, who is averaging 18.6 yards per return.  NDSU junior punter Jackson Koonce is averaging 37.0 yards on 43 punts with a long of 54 at Western Illinois, 26 fair catches and nine punts inside the 20.
 
DEMPSEY LEADS MVFC IN PICKS:  Junior free safety Tre Dempsey leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference with five interceptions and is tied for second with 11 passes defended behind Davontae Harris of Illinois State (13).  NDSU ranks sixth in the FCS with 15 interceptions behind North Dakota (18), Dayton and Northern Iowa (17), Southern Utah and Marist (16).
 
ILLIES TD RECEPTIONS LEADER:  Junior tight end Jeff Illies is NDSU's new leader in touchdown receptions after catching his fourth TD in last week's win over Youngstown State.  Illies has caught a TD pass in three straight games and has five catches for 87 yards in the last three contests.  Seven of NDSU's 12 passing touchdowns belong to tight ends and running backs.  Darrius Shepherd was the last NDSU wide receiver to catch touchdown, a 25-yard play in the second quarter at Missouri State.
 
RUSHING GAME STILL STRONG:  North Dakota State's rushing game continues to churn out yards despite recent injuries to King Frazier and Bruce Anderson.  The Bison rushed for over 200 yards against Northern Iowa (217) and Youngstown State (240) with Lance Dunn getting his third career 100-yard game at UNI (118) and Chase Morlock his first against YSU (101).  NDSU ranks fourth in the FCS in tackles for loss allowed (3.44/game) and is 15th in rushing offense with a league-leading 225.2 ypg.
 
THREE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT:  Running back Chase Morlock, defensive end Greg Menard and strong safety Robbie Grimsley were voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America.  Morlock has a 3.81 GPA in exercise science, Menard a 3.82 in civil engineering, and Grimsley a 3.58 in criminal justice. Menard was a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American® last year. All three are on the ballot for national honors to be announced in December.
 
RANKED OPPONENTS:  Youngstown State was the seventh Top 25 opponent for North Dakota State this year, the most the Bison have faced in a Division I regular season.  NDSU faced six ranked opponents in 2014 and 10 including the playoffs.  NDSU opened this year with four straight wins over Top 25 competition, including the 11th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes in FBS.  It was the first time since 2008 that NDSU has played four straight Top 25 teams in the regular season.
 
TOUGHEST SCHEDULES:  Four of the nine toughest schedules in the FCS reside in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with Northern Iowa ranked second, North Dakota State third, South Dakota fourth and South Dakota State ninth based on opponent win-loss records.  Of the top 10 toughest schedules, NDSU is the only team that is ranked in the Top 10 of the STATS FCS Top 25, FCS Coaches Poll, and NCAA Division I Football Committee rankings.

Team	Conf.	Opp. W%
1. Cal Poly (6-3)	Big Sky	.657
2. Northern Iowa (4-5)	MVFC	.630
3. North Dakota State (8-1)	MVFC	.629
4. South Dakota (4-5)	MVFC	.627
T5. Northern Arizona (5-4)	Big Sky	.619
T5. Samford (6-3)	Southern	.619
7. Maine (5-4)	Colonial	.615
8. Presbyterian (2-7)	Big South	.610
9. South Dakota State (6-3)	MVFC	.606
10. East Tennessee State (3-6)	Southern	.593

 
 
NCAA COMMITTEE RANKINGS:  The NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee for the first time is revealing its top 10 playoff teams Nov. 3, Nov. 10 and Nov. 15 prior to the FCS playoff selections Nov. 20.  NDSU was fourth in the initial ranking behind Jacksonville State, Sam Houston State and Eastern Washington.  James Madison, The Citadel, Richmond, Chattanooga, Charleston Southern and Central Arkansas rounded out the top 10.  The top eight teams in the bracket will have first-round byes.
 
NARROW LOSSES:  North Dakota State's last three losses have all come on the last play of the game, and seven of the last eight losses have been by a combined 24 points.  NDSU has only three double-digit losses since the beginning of the 2010 season—Western Illinois (2010), at Illinois State (2010), and at Northern Iowa (2014).
            NDSU Losses, since 2010
            2016 - South Dakota State, 19-17*
            2015 - South Dakota, 24-21*
            2015 - at Montana, 38-35*
            2014 - at Northern Iowa, 23-3
            2012 - Indiana State, 17-14
            2011 - Youngstown State, 27-24
            2010 - at Eastern Washington, 38-31 (OT)
            2010 - at Missouri State, 3-0
            2010 - at Illinois State, 34-24
            2010 - Western Illinois, 28-16
            2010 - at Northern Iowa, 16-9
            *games won on final play
 
BOUNCING BACK:  North Dakota State has won the next game after its last 13 losses, including road wins at Western Illinois (2016), Indiana State (2015), Missouri State (2014), South Dakota (2012), Western Illinois (2011) and Youngstown State (2010).  NDSU has not suffered consecutive losses since a five-game losing streak in 2009.
 
SECOND LONGEST STREAK:  NDSU's 14-game winning streak snapped by South Dakota State on Oct. 15 was the second longest in Missouri Valley Football Conference history behind NDSU's 33-game streak that spanned the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons.  The previous MVFC mark was 13 straight wins by Western Kentucky (2002-03) and Northern Iowa (2006-07).
 
CASHING IN ON TURNOVERS:  North Dakota State is second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with a +8 turnover margin behind Northern Iowa (+9) and ahead of South Dakota State (+6). NDSU has a 58-20 advantage over opponents in points off turnovers, while SDSU has outscored opponents 77-24 off turnovers and UNI has outscored opponents 59-23.
 
BIG PLAY RJ:  Wide receiver RJ Urzendowski leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference and is 13th in the FCS in yards per reception with a 19.21 average.  Urzendowski's 65-yard TD against Illinois State is NDSU's longest passing play of the year, and he has four of NDSU's 11 longest plays from scrimmage, including a 47-yard TD catch against Charleston Southern and receptions of 43 yards against Missouri State and 42 against Eastern Washington.
 
ANDERSON KICK RETURN CAREER LEADER:  NDSU sophomore Bruce Anderson is the FCS active career leader in kickoff returns with a 30.4 average.  Anderson has 27 career returns for 821 yards and two touchdowns.  He had 585 yards and a school-record 36.56 yards per return last year, including 100- and 97-yard touchdowns in the NCAA playoffs.
 
AP TOP 25 VOTES:  North Dakota State received an FCS-record 74 votes in the AP Top 25 poll after beating 11th-ranked Iowa and received votes for four weeks.  NDSU received votes after the 2011, 2012 and 2013 national championships and the first 10 weeks of the 2014 season after beating Iowa State.
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has a 9-3 record against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and has won six in a row against FBS foes since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21), Iowa State (34-14) and 11th-ranked Iowa (23-21).  NDSU did not play an FBS opponent in 2015 and does not have any other FBS opponents scheduled until Oregon in 2020 and Colorado in 2024.  NDSU's first three FBS wins were against Ball State (2006), Central Michigan (2007) and Minnesota (2007).
 
BACK-TO-BACK OVERTIMES:  After not playing a home overtime game in the history of NDSU football, the Bison started the season with back-to-back OT home wins over Charleston Southern (24-17) and Eastern Washington (50-44).  NDSU scored on its first offensive play in both games, getting a 25-yard run from King Frazier and a 25-yard run from Lance Dunn.  NDSU is the first Valley Football team to open a season with back-to-back OT wins.
 
FOURTH QUARTER MARCH:  North Dakota State held the ball for 10:45 and outgained Iowa 126 to minus-9 in the fourth quarter of NDSU's come-from-behind 23-21 victory.  The Bison pulled within 21-20 with a 15-play, 80-yard drive that took 8:39 off the clock before getting a three-and-out on defense to set up the game-winning field goal drive.  The 15-play march was reminiscent of NDSU's 18-play, 80-yard, 8:30 game-winning drive at Kansas State in 2013.
 
CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:  The following players have earned Missouri Valley Football Conference player of the week awards this season:
            — Zack Johnson, Offensive Line...Six knockdowns with zero hurries or sacks allowed in 73 snaps against Charleston Southern...Graded out at 98.6% on assignment and led the Bison line in finish (88%) and technique (76%).
            — Nick DeLuca, Defensive...After missing the second half of the season opener with a shoulder separation, made a game-high 15 tackles in the win over Eastern Washington...Also scored on a 40-yard interception return.
            — MJ Stumpf, Defensive...Made three tackles and scored on a 21-yard interception return in the victory at Iowa...Downed a punt at the Iowa 2 to set up one of five three-and-outs...Part of a defensive unit that held Iowa to 34 yards rushing in the game and minus-7 after halftime.
            ­— Cam Pedersen, Special Teams...Converted 2 of 2 PAT kicks and made a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the fourth quarter to give NDSU a 23-21 win at Iowa one week after a game-tying 28-yarder to force overtime in the win over Eastern Washington.
            — Landon Lechler, Offensive Line...Five knockdowns with zero quarterback hurries or sacks in 70 snaps against Iowa...Led the Bison with a 100% assignment grade, 88% finish and 85% technique.
            — Tre Dempsey, Defensive...Two second-half interceptions, one pass breakup in the end zone, one tackle for loss and four total tackles in NDSU's 24-20 victory at Northern Iowa.
            — Austin Kuhnert, Offensive Line...Six knockdowns and did not allow a sack or hurry in 43 plays vs. Youngstown State...Graded 100% assignment, 87% technique and 84% finish as the Bison rushed for 240 yards against a YSU team allowing only 102.9 per game.
 
MENARD ON WATCH LIST:  North Dakota State junior defensive end Greg Menard is on the watch list for STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year, which was won in 2014 by NDSU defensive end Kyle Emanuel.  Menard was STATS FCS All-America third team last year when he ranked second in the MVFC with 10.0 sacks and an additional 15 quarterback hurries.
 
DeLUCA, TANGUAY OUT FOR SEASON:  Senior middle linebacker Nick DeLuca had a season-ending shoulder surgery following the win at Iowa and can apply for a medical hardship to return to the Bison in 2017.  DeLuca was the only FCS player on the watch list for the 32nd annual Butkus Award, honoring the nation's best collegiate linebacker, and also was on the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year watch list.  He was first-team all-conference and runner-up for Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.  Junior defensive tackle Nate Tanguay suffered a knee injury against Youngstown State and will miss the remainder of the year.  Tanguay was honorable mention on the preseason all-conference team and had 31 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss in nine starts.
 
FRAZIER LEADS DEEP RUSHING ATTACK:  NDSU has had a 1,000-yard rusher 13 straight years after King Frazier's 1,158 yards last season.  Frazier leads a group of four returning running backs who each had at least 90 carries last year.  He averaged 94.0 yards over the final eight contests last season including back-to-back 100-yard games in the playoffs against Northern Iowa (107) and Richmond (121).  He has five career 100-yard games including a career-high 177 yards at Southern Illinois last year and a season-high 126 at Missouri State this year.
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State is 52-5 at home since 2010.  The Bison have won 53 of the last 54 home games over non-conference opponents including 44 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis.  NDSU is 15-3 at home all-time against FCS Top 10 teams.
 
COACHING STAFF INTACT:  After having at least one new assistant coach every year since beginning Division I play in 2004, North Dakota State has the same full-time coaching staff for the third straight season under head coach Chris Klieman.  NDSU made two changes to support staff adding former Bison defensive back Bryan Shepherd as defensive assistant and former Wisconsin-Stout assistant Kody Morgan in the offensive quality control position.
 
13-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS:  North Dakota State won its 13th football national championship last season.  NDSU claimed three College Division national championships in 1965, 1968 and 1969, five Division II titles in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990, and is the first team in college football history to win five straight national championships with FCS titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
 
MOST WINS IN DIVISION I FOOTBALL:  NDSU has a record of 79-6 since the beginning of the 2011 national championship season.  The Bison went 14-1, 14-1, 15-0, 15-1 and 13-2 for the most wins in Division I football in that five-year span.  Fifteen FCS programs have multiple 10-win seasons since 2011, and only four have reached the 10-win mark at least three times—NDSU (5), Sam Houston State (4), Eastern Washington (3) and Jacksonville State (3).
            Most Wins Since 2011, Division I
            79 - North Dakota State
            71 - Alabama
            65 - Clemson
            65 - Sam Houston State
            64 - Florida State
            64 - Ohio State
 
VALLEY FOOTBALL PRESEASON PICKS:  North Dakota State had five players picked to the preseason all-Missouri Valley Football Conference team: running back King Frazier, offensive guard Zack Johnson, defensive end Greg Menard, linebacker Nick DeLuca, and free safety Tre Dempsey.  NDSU long snapper James Fisher, defensive tackle Nate Tanguay and strong safety Robbie Grimsley earned honorable mention.  NDSU was picked to win the league ahead of Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Illinois State and Youngstown State.
 
BIG LEAGUE BISON:  North Dakota State will host Butler at Target Field in Minneapolis in the season opener August 31, 2019.  It will be the first Division I football game at the Major League Baseball stadium, which is hosting a Division III game next year between in-state rivals St. Thomas and Saint John's.  NDSU has more than 12,000 alumni in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and nearly 26,000 alumni across Minnesota.  The game is in addition to a six-game home schedule at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome in 2019, which is a 12-game regular season.
 
#PROBISON:  North Dakota State has eight former players active in the NFL and two others in the CFL.  Three Bison from last season are still with NFL teams including No. 2 overall draft pick Carson Wentz, fifth-round pick Joe Haeg, and undrafted free agent CJ Smith.  On the sidelines, former Bison safety/punter (1984-1988) and longtime assistant coach (1996-2005) Gus Bradley is in his fourth season as the Jaguars' head coach.

NFL Players	Year	Team
John Crockett, RB	2nd	Green Bay Packers
Kyle Emanuel, LB	2nd	San Diego Chargers
Joe Haeg, OL	1st	Indianapolis Colts
Ramon Humber, LB	8th	Buffalo Bills
CJ Smith, CB	1st	Philadelphia Eagles
Billy Turner, OL	3rd	Denver Broncos
Carson Wentz, QB	1st	Philadelphia Eagles
Marcus Williams, CB	3rd	New York Jets
CFL Players	Year	Team
Brock Jensen, QB	2nd	Ottawa Redblacks
Ryan Smith, WR	3rd	Winnipeg Blue Bombers