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NDSU Notes | Iowa Notes

THIS WEEK:  Five-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State (2-0) closes its non-conference portion of the schedule this Saturday, Sept. 17, when the Bison face the 11th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0).  Game time is 11 a.m. at Kinnick Stadium (70,585) in Iowa City, Iowa.
 
TELEVISION:  Coverage begins at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 with Beth Mowins calling the play-by-play, Anthony Becht as color analyst, and Rocky Boiman reporting from the sidelines.
 
RADIO:  Coverage begins at 10:30 a.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 includes "Bison Game Day" from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and "Bison Hotline" for 2 hours following the network broadcast with hosts Keith Brake, Chris Hanson and former NDSU safety Christian Dudzik.
 
ONLINE:  Live video streaming will be available on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN mobile app through participating TV providers.  Audio streaming of the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network broadcast will be on GoBison.com/allaccess.  Live stats will be available on BisonStats.com.  Follow @NDSUfootball on Twitter for game updates.
 
THE SERIES:  This is the third meeting between North Dakota State and Iowa in football.  The Hawkeyes won 39-0 in 1946 and 59-0 in 1947, both in Iowa City.  NDSU is 2-1 against Big Ten opponents as a Division I program.  The Bison lost 10-9 at Minnesota in 2006 before winning twice at Minnesota in 2007 (27-21 at the Metrodome) and 2011 (37-24 at TCF Bank Stadium).
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has an 8-3 record against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and has won five 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) and Iowa State (34-14).  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).
 
FCS HAS SEVEN FBS WINS THIS YEAR:  Seven FCS teams have claimed wins over FBS opponents in the first two weeks of the 2016 season, including two Missouri Valley Football Conference teams Northern Iowa and Illinois State.
            FCS Wins Over FBS, 2016
            Albany 22, Buffalo 16
            Eastern Washington 45, Washington State 42
            Northern Iowa 25, Iowa State 20
            Richmond 37, Virginia 20
            Illinois State 9, Northwestern 7
            Eastern Illinois 21, Miami (Ohio) 17
            North Carolina A&T 39, Kent State 36 (4 OT)
 
FORMER BISON NOW HAWKEYES:  Iowa's top two athletic administrators both have ties to NDSU.  Director of athletics Gary Barta was a quarterback for the Bison from 1982 to 1986 and part of Division II national championship teams in 1983, 1985 and 1986.  Deputy director of athletics Gene Taylor was the NDSU athletic director for 13 seasons from 2001 to 2014.
 
BACK-TO-BACK OVERTIMES:  After not playing a home overtime game in the history of NDSU football, the Bison are coming off back-to-back OT home wins over Charleston Southern (24-17) and Eastern Washington (50-44).  NDSU scored on the first offensive play in both games, getting a 25-yard run from King Frazier in the opener and a 25-yard run from Lance Dunn last week.  NDSU is the first Missouri Valley Football Conference team to open a season with back-to-back OT wins and improved to 4-5 in overtime games.
 
DeLUCA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  After missing the second half of the season opener with a shoulder separation, middle linebacker Nick DeLuca was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his game-high 15 tackles in the win over Eastern Washington.  DeLuca also scored on a 40-yard interception return—his sixth career pick—midway through the fourth quarter to give NDSU a 10-point lead.
 
DUNN HAS CAREER DAY RUSHING:  Sophomore running back Lance Dunn from Waterloo, Iowa, scored the game-winning touchdown last week with a 25-yard run on NDSU's first offensive play of overtime to give the Bison a 50-44 win over eighth-ranked Eastern Washington.  Dunn finished with 128 yards and two TDs on 14 carries, all career highs.  He had a 41-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter and, through two games, is NDSU's leading rusher with 178 yards on 26 carries and an average of 6.8 yards per carry.
 
YOUNG DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD TESTED:  North Dakota State's two new starting cornerbacks Jalen Allison and Jaylaan Wimbush were both tested in the season opener.  The duo combined for eight tackles and four pass breakups.  Allison had four tackles, one breakup, and made his second career interception.  Wimbush had four tackles and three breakups including one on fourth-and-9 in the end zone on the final play of the game.
 
PLANK STEPS IN AT LINEBACKER:  North Dakota State junior Matt Plank made a career-high six tackles — all in the second half — filling in at middle linebacker after an injury to starter Nick DeLuca in the 24-17 overtime win over sixth-ranked Charleston Southern.  Plank assisted on a tackle for loss and was part of a defensive effort that held CSU to 2 of 12 on third down and 263 total yards, nearly 100 yards under its average from a year ago.
 
CAREER NUMBERS FOR STICK:  Sophomore quarterback Easton Stick set career highs with 17 completions and 27 passing attempts in the season-opening win over Charleston Southern and passed for a career-high 257 yards last week against Eastern Washington.
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State is 50-4 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 13-2 at home all-time against FCS Top 10 teams.
 
LONGEST IN FCS:  Sophomore kicker Cam Pedersen connected on a career-long 52-yard game-tying field goal at the end of the first half and made all three PAT kicks in the second half and overtime to help lift North Dakota State past Charleston Southern.  The 52-yarder was the longest in the FCS during opening week and tied for third longest in NDSU history.
 
JOHNSON OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK:  North Dakota State left guard Zack Johnson was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week after North Dakota State's 24-17 overtime win against sixth-ranked Charleston Southern.  Johnson had six total knockdowns including four pancakes and two decleaters while playing 73 reps, did not allow a sack or hurry, and graded out at 98.6% on assignment while leading the Bison offensive line in finish (88%) and technique (76%).  NDSU rushed for 230 yards and put up 424 yards of total offense in the victory.  It was his second career award.
 
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 73-5 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
            73 - North Dakota State
            64 - Alabama
            60 - Florida State
            59 - Oregon
            58 - Clemson
            58 - Ohio State
            57 - Sam Houston State
            55 - Michigan State
            55 - Stanford
 
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.
 
OFFENSE RETURNS SIX STARTERS:  Two NFL draft picks are gone in quarterback Carson Wentz and left tackle Joe Haeg, but North Dakota State returns six offensive starters including quarterback Easton Stick, who went 8-0 as a redshirt freshman.  Senior King Frazier (1158 yards, 11 TD, 5.3 ypc) leads a stable of four returning running backs, NDSU's two leading receivers are back in junior RJ Urzendowski and sophomore Darrius Shepherd, and the Bison return three starters and one reserve on the offensive line.
 
OFFENSIVE LINE EXPERIENCED:  Starting left guard Zack Johnson, center Austin Kuhnert and right tackle Landon Lechler are all back from last year's team along with senior Jack Plankers, who rotated at guard and tackle.  Plankers is slated to start at right guard and third-year sophomore Colin Conner is listed as the starting left tackle, where NDSU has had a pair of NFL draft picks since 2011 in Billy Turner and Joe Haeg.  Tanner Volson made his first two starts at center against Charleston Southern and Eastern Washington filling in for Kuhnert, who served a two-game suspension (academics).
 
FRAZIER LEADS DEEP RUSHING ATTACK:  North Dakota State has had a 1,000-yard rusher for 13 straight seasons after King Frazier's 1,158 yards last season as a junior.  Frazier leads a group of four returning running backs who each had at least 90 carries last year.  He rushed 219 times and averaged 5.3 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns on the season.  Frazier averaged 94.0 yards per game over the final eight contests.  He has four career 100-yard games including a career-high 177 yards at Southern Illinois and back-to-back playoff games last year against Northern Iowa (107) and Richmond (121).
 
EIGHT STARTERS BACK ON DEFENSE:  North Dakota State returns eight starters and eight of the top nine tacklers from last year's defense that ranked third in the FCS in total defense (271.5) and fifth in scoring defense (15.3 ppg). Six of the front seven are back including top tackler Nick DeLuca at middle linebacker (135 tackles) and leading pass rusher Greg Menard at defensive end (10.0 sacks, 15 QB hurries).  Junior safety Tre Dempsey (9 PBU, 3 INT) is the veteran in the defensive backfield, where sophomore Robbie Grimsley also returns after making 10 starts as a true freshman.
 
PRESEASON WATCH LISTS:  North Dakota State senior Nick DeLuca is the only FCS player on the watch list for the 32nd annual Butkus Award, honoring the nation's best collegiate linebacker.  The 51-player watch list is voted on by a 51-member panel of NFL/college GMs, coaches, scouts and media.  DeLuca and junior defensive end Greg Menard were two of 22 players named to the watch list for STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year, which was won in 2014 by NDSU defensive end Kyle Emanuel.
 
DEFENSE STINGY IN PLAYOFF RUN:  North Dakota State finished third in the FCS in total defense, fifth in scoring defense, 10th in rush defense and 11th in pass defense last year after a stingy performance in the playoffs.  NDSU limited its four playoff opponents all to season-lows in total yardage, culminating with a 204-yard performance against a Jacksonville State team that had nine 500-yard games last year.  NDSU's average of 217 yards allowed over four games was the best Bison defense in six FCS playoff trips.
 
KICK RETURN TEAM FIRST NATIONALLY:  North Dakota State last year ranked first in the FCS in kickoff returns with an average of 29.09 yards per return, which was a new NDSU and MVFC single-season record.  Freshman Bruce Anderson was NDSU's leading kickoff returner with 585 yards and a school-record 36.56 yards per return.  Anderson would've led the FCS in kick return average by more than five yards, but his 16 return attempts were two shy of qualifying for the NCAA rankings (1.2 returns/game).  He tied the NDSU career record of two kickoff return touchdowns in the playoffs against Montana (100 yards) and Northern Iowa (97 yards).
 
BISON CHEW UP CLOCK:  North Dakota State led the nation in time of possession with an average of 36:39 last year and the Bison have only been out-clocked once in the last 33 games (South Dakota, 2015).  The Bison held the ball for 43:47 against Western Illinois last year, the most time of possession in NDSU's 12 seasons of Division I football.
 
#PROBISON:  North Dakota State has nine 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 agents Andrew Bonnet and 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
Andrew Bonnet, FB	1st	Philadelphia Eagles (practice squad)
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 (practice squad)
Billy Turner, OL	3rd	Miami Dolphins
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

 
 
NATIONAL EXPOSURE:  North Dakota State has become a well-known name in college football thanks to its run of five straight national championships and several appearances on national television.  NDSU hosted ESPN's College GameDay in 2013 and 2014, SportsCenter on the Road in 2015, and this week is the 16th game played on ESPN (five), ESPN2 (10) or ESPNU (one) since 2011.  The Bison have also won games at Minnesota (2011) on the Big Ten Network and at Kansas State (2013) and Iowa State (2014) on Fox Sports 1.