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THIS WEEK: North Dakota State (1-0) returns from a bye week to host FCS newcomer North Alabama (2-0) on Saturday, Sept. 15. Game time is 2:30 p.m. at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700). The Lions, who won three straight Division II national championships in the 1990s and were national runners-up as recently as 2016, have beaten Southern Utah and Alabama A&M in their first two games as an FCS program. North Alabama is an independent team this year, but will join the Big South Conference in 2019.
 
TELEVISION: Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. on KVLY and the NBC North Dakota network with Brian Shawn calling the play-by-play, Lee Timmerman color analyst, and Ryan Gellner on the sidelines. Pregame coverage hosted by Alex Egan and Beth Hoole begins 1 hour prior to kickoff. ESPN+ will carry the game on ESPN.com and the ESPN app with subscriptions starting at $4.99/month.
 
RADIO: Coverage begins at 2 p.m. on the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network with third-year NDSU play-by-play voice Jeff Culhane joined by NDSU and Buffalo Bills hall of famer Phil Hansen and NDSU sideline reporter Jeremy Jorgenson. Extended coverage locally on 107.9 The Fox, Bison 1660 and 92.7 FM includes "Bison Tailgate" from 11 a.m. to noon with Brad Jones, "Bison Game Day" from noon to 2 p.m. and "Bison Hotline" for two hours following the network broadcast with hosts Keith Brake, Chris Hanson and former NDSU defensive end Cole Jirik.
 
ONLINE: NDSU All Access offers free audio streaming of all NDSU football games as well as live video of Bison home games to subscribers on GoBison.com/allaccess. Live stats for NDSU home games are available on BisonStats.com. Follow @NDSUfootball on Twitter for game updates.
 
TICKETS: Available single-game tickets go on sale at 6 a.m. Friday before each Bison home game ONLINE ONLY at GoBison.com/tickets. Game day ticket sales and will call are available in the east lobby of the Fargodome beginning five hours prior to kickoff.
 
DON'T WAIT TOO LATE: NDSU Athletics and the Fargodome are encouraging fans to enter the stadium early and be prepared for longer wait times with the addition of 30 walk-through metal detectors around the facility. Doors open 90 minutes prior to kickoff. It is strongly recommended that no unnecessary bags are brought in. Clear bags are recommended but not required, and any bag must be 13"x13" or smaller. Express lines will be available for fans not carrying bags.
 
THE SERIES: This is the second meeting between North Dakota State and North Alabama. NDSU won 35-7 in the 1985 Palm Bowl, the NCAA Division II national championship game, played in McAllen, Texas, before a live television audience on ESPN. The Bison scored on two of their first three possessions and then turned three straight UNA turnovers into touchdowns in the third quarter. Tyrone Braxton set the tone for the day returning the opening kickoff 73 yards to set up a six-play scoring drive. NDSU's defense allowed just 71 yards in the first half, intercepted three passes and recovered three fumbles. Fullback Chad Stark rushed 18 times for 113 yards and a TD, and quarterback Jeff Bentrim rushed 16 times for 43 yards and two scores.
 
BISON HAVE BEEN TO UNA: While North Dakota State and North Alabama have only played once in McAllen, Texas, the Bison are no stranger to UNA's home in Florence, Ala. NDSU played in three NCAA Division II national championship games at Braly Stadium winning all three trips in 1986 over South Dakota 27-7, in 1988 over Portland State 35-21, and in 1990 over Indiana (Pa.) 51-11.
 
NDSU ROLLS PAST CAL POLY: Bruce Anderson rushed for a career-high 185 yards and two touchdowns as North Dakota State rolled to a 49-3 victory over Cal Poly on Sept. 1. Lance Dunn tied a career high with three rushing touchdowns for the Bison, who had seven ball carriers combine for 458 yards and seven TDs on the ground. NDSU ran it 45 times and averaged 10.2 yards per carry. Cal Poly's only score was a 50-yard field goal from Casey Sublette in the first quarter. Middle linebacker Dan Marlette led the Bison with nine tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss. Safety Robbie Grimsley and outside linebacker Levi Jordheim had seven tackles apiece to help hold Cal Poly's triple option attack to 82 yards on 52 carries. The Bison defense collected five sacks from five different players.
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: North Dakota State had two players earn Missouri Valley Football Conference honors after the Cal Poly game. Running back Bruce Anderson earned his first Offensive Player of the Week award after rushing 11 times for a career-high 185 yards and two touchdowns. Center Tanner Volson earned his third career Offensive Lineman of the Week honor with four knockdowns and a team-best 89 percent technique grade.
 
AFTER THE OPEN WEEK: NDSU's win over James Madison in last year's national championship game was the 27th straight after an open week in the regular season and playoffs since a 2005 home loss to UC Davis. That streak includes 16 home games, five road games and six national championship games in Frisco, Texas.
 
BLOOM TO BE INDUCTED: Two-time All-America offensive guard Kevin Bloom (1990-93) will be inducted in the 47th class of the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame next Friday, Sept. 21. Bloom was also a first team All-North Central Conference pick in 1992 and 1993. NDSU won three straight NCC rushing crowns behind his blocking and the Bison went 24-8 over those three seasons. The induction will take place in the Nodak Insurance Basketball Performance Center at NDSU's Sanford Health Athletic Complex. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. Limited tickets are available for $30 each by calling Helena Johnston in the NDSU Athletics office at (701) 231-6172.
 
MENARD FIFTH IN CAREER SACKS: Defensive end Greg Menard picked up his 29th career sack against Cal Poly and is now tied for fifth place on NDSU's all-time list with Cole Jirik (2010-13) and Mike Stratton (1980-83). Menard needs three sacks to pass the 31 by Coulter Boyer (2008-11) and 12 to tie the record of 41 total sacks held by Jerry Dahl (1973-74), Phil Hansen (1987-90) and Kyle Emanuel (2011-14).
 
THREE FRESHMEN PLAY: North Dakota State played three true freshmen in the season-opener against Cal Poly. Wide receiver Phoenix Sproles, safety James Kaczor and linebacker Jasir Cox all played for the Bison. A new NCAA football rule this year allows student-athletes to participate in up to four games and still take a redshirt year.
 
PEDERSEN MOVING UP PAT LISTS: Senior kicker Cam Pedersen is approaching the NDSU career records for PAT kicks made and attempted after going 6-for-6 in the season-opener against Cal Poly. Pedersen is NDSU's single-game PAT record holder with a 10-for-10 outing last year against Mississippi Valley State. He also ranks fourth in field goals made (37) and attempted (60) at NDSU.
        NDSU Career PAT Kicks Made
        191 - Adam Keller, 2011-14
        187 - Cam Pedersen, 2015-18
        178 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01

        NDSU Career PAT Kicks Attempted
        198 - Adam Keller, 2011-14
        193 - Cam Pedersen, 2015-18
        182 - Aaron Pederson, 1998-01
 
BISON EXPERIENCED: NDSU returns 25 seniors and 13 returning full-time starters from last year's team that won a sixth FCS national championship in seven years and went 7-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference to capture a seventh straight and third outright conference title. NDSU returns six starters on offense and seven on defense. In addition, the Bison welcome back senior defensive end Greg Menard, who redshirted in 2017 after a knee injury in fall camp, and senior running back Lance Dunn, who missed seven games with a hip injury before returning in the title game.
 
FOURTH-YEAR STARTING QB: Fourth-year starting quarterback Easton Stick is coming off his most productive season completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,466 yards and 28 touchdowns (the second most passing TDs in school history). He was named FCS National Performer of the Year by the College Football Performance Awards. Stick is 35-3 as the starting QB and has moved into third on the NDSU career lists for pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns. He is second in total offense with 7,884 yards trailing only Brock Jensen's 9,838 yards (2010-13).
 
RUSHING QUARTERBACKS: NDSU's Easton Stick is positioned to challenge the Missouri Valley Football Conference record for rushing yards by a quarterback. Stick moved into third place on that list with his 49 yards in the season-opener against Cal Poly.
        MVFC Career Rushing Yards by QB
        2,276 - DeAndre Smith, Missouri State (1987-90)
        2,176 - Tirrell Rennie, Northern Iowa (2010-11)
        1,895 - Easton Stick, North Dakota State (2015-18)
        1,880 - Jeff Ryan, Youngstown State (1998-01)

        NDSU Career Rushing Yards by QB
        3,313 - Chris Simdorn (1987-90)
        2,945 - Jeff Bentrim (1983-86)
        2,473 - Kevin Feeney (1995-98)
        2,264 - Mark Speral (1977-80)
        1,895 - Easton Stick (2015-18)
 
NATIONAL AWARD CANDIDATES: NDSU safety Robbie Grimsley and defensive end Greg Menard were named to the 25-man preseason watch list for the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the FCS defensive player of the year. Bison quarterback Easton Stick and running back Bruce Anderson were nominated for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award, presented to the FCS offensive player of the year.
 
SEVEN PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS: North Dakota State led all teams in the FCS with a school-record seven players named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America team. Running back Bruce Anderson and safety Robbie Grimsley were named to the first team. Quarterback Easton Stick, center Tanner Volson and defensive end Greg Menard earned second-team honors. Offensive tackle Zack Johnson and linebacker Jabril Cox were on the third team.
 
LEAGUE-BEST 11 ON PRESEASON SQUAD: NDSU had a league-high 11 players named to the preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference teams. First-team offense picks were running back Bruce Anderson, fullback Brock Robbins, offensive tackle Zack Johnson and center Tanner Volson. Quarterback Easton Stick and receiver Darrius Shepherd were second team. First-team defense picks were defensive end Greg Menard, defensive tackle Aaron Steidl, linebacker Jabril Cox and safety Robbie Grimsley. Defensive end Derrek Tuszka was named to the second team.
 
BISON PICKED TO WIN VALLEY: North Dakota State was the unanimous pick to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference followed by South Dakota State in second, Northern Iowa third, Youngstown State fourth, Illinois State fifth and South Dakota sixth. Western Illinois, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Indiana State rounded out the final four spots in order. NDSU's 2013 team was the only other team in league history to earn all of the preseason first place votes.
 
SEVEN STRAIGHT CONFERENCE TITLES: NDSU won its seventh consecutive Missouri Valley Football Conference championship last year, tying the league record set by Northern Iowa in the early 1990s. NDSU won outright MVFC titles in 2012, 2013 and 2017. The Bison shared the 2011 title with Northern Iowa and the 2014 and 2015 crowns with Illinois State. North Dakota State has won 34 football conference championships including 26 in the North Central Conference (last in 1994) and one in the Great West Football Conference (2006).
 
14-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: North Dakota State won its 14th football national championship in 2017. NDSU claimed three College Division national championships in 1965, 1968 and 1969, five Division II titles in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990, and was the first team in college football history to win five straight national titles with FCS crowns in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
 
BISON AT HOME: NDSU is 65-6 at home since 2010. The Bison have won 60 of the last 62 home games over non-conference opponents with its last home loss coming in the 2016 semifinals to James Madison. NDSU is 20-4 at home all-time against FCS Top 10 teams and 21-1 at home in the FCS playoffs. North Dakota State ranked seventh in FCS last year with an average home attendance of 18,333. The Bison drew 18,000-plus to 54 straight home contests from the 2011 quarterfinals through the 2017 second round.
 
KLIEMAN NAMED TO AFCA BOARD: North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman was elected to the American Football Coaches Association Board of Trustees in January as an FCS representative. The Board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which was founded in 1922 and has more than 11,000 members from all levels. Klieman joins 18 other coaches including former NDSU head coach Craig Bohl (2003-2013), who was elected in 2012 and is currently the head coach at the University of Wyoming.
 
KLIEMAN'S FIFTH SEASON AT HELM: Chris Klieman is in his fifth season as head coach at North Dakota State with a 55-6 record including a 28-4 mark in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Klieman has been part of all six FCS national titles in his seven years since coming to NDSU as the defensive backs coach in 2011. He was defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013 before being elevated to head coach in 2014. He is under contract with NDSU through the 2023 season.
 
DECADE LEADER:  North Dakota State's 107 wins this decade are more than any other program in college football.  NDSU is 98-8 since the beginning of 2011, the first of five national championship seasons. North Dakota State holds the distinction of being the winningest Division II program of the 1980s, going 103-20-2 from 1980-89 with four national titles in that span.
        FCS Winningest Teams, 2010s (by wins)
        107 - North Dakota State (107-13)
        87 - Sam Houston State (87-27)
        80 - Eastern Washington (80-28)
        77 - Jacksonville State (77-25)
        74 - James Madison (74-30)

        FCS Winningest Teams, 2010s (by pct.)
        .892 - North Dakota State (107-13)
        .800 - Harvard (64-16)
        .763 - Sam Houston State (87-27)
        .755 - Jacksonville State (77-25)
        .741 - Eastern Washington (80-28)
 
MORE THAN 700 WINS: North Dakota State has played 1,116 games with a 711-371-34 record in its 122nd season of football, good for a .652 winning percentage. Only four Ivy League teams each with at least 20 more years of football have more wins at the FCS level: Yale (902), Harvard (869), Penn (850) and Princeton (821). Northern Iowa has the second most wins among Missouri Valley Football Conference programs with 663. NDSU's 98 victories since 2011 are more than any other team in Division I football ahead of Alabama (91), Clemson (84), Sam Houston State (81) and Ohio State (81).
 
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 has three future FBS games against Oregon in 2020, Arizona in 2022 and Colorado in 2024. NDSU's first three FBS wins were against Ball State (2006), Central Michigan (2007) and Minnesota (2007).