THIS WEEK: North Dakota State (10-3) is on the road again this week for a Missouri Valley Football Conference rematch with No. 3 seed South Dakota (10-2) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship. Game time is 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
 
TELEVISION: Saturday's game will be televised nationally on ABC with Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Lauren Sisler (sideline) handling the call. The game will also stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
 
RADIO: Statewide network coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. on the Pioneer Seeds Bison Sports Network including Bison 1660 and 107.9 The Fox in Fargo with Sam Neidermann (play-by-play), Phil Hansen (analyst) and James Hendricks (sideline). The network broadcast includes 1-hour pregame and 30-minute postgame shows. Streaming is available on GoBison.com/allaccess and the NDSU Athletics mobile app.
 
THE SERIES: This is the 88th meeting between North Dakota State and South Dakota dating back to 1903. NDSU leads the all-time series 58-27-2 including a 10-2 advantage as Division I opponents. USD snapped a six-game losing streak to the Bison and spoiled NDSU's homecoming with a 24-19 win in the Fargodome on Sept. 30. This is the third NCAA playoff meeting between the two schools. NDSU won the 1985 Division II semifinal in Vermillion (16-7) and the 1986 Division II championship in Florence, Ala. (27-7).
 
PLAYOFF ROAD TRIP: This is NDSU's 51st game in the FCS playoffs, but only the fifth true road game for the Bison excluding 10 national championship game appearances in Frisco, Texas. NDSU's first FCS playoff appearance in 2010 included two road games, a 42-17 second round win at Montana State and a 38-31 overtime loss to eventual national champion Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals. NDSU didn't play another road game until May 2021 with a 24-20 quarterfinal loss to eventual national champion Sam Houston State.
 
LAST WEEK: Offensive lineman Hunter Poncius blocked Montana State's point-after-touchdown kick to give North Dakota State at 35-34 overtime road win in the second round. TaMerik Williams rushed 11 times for a career-high 162 yards including touchdown runs of 44 and 75 yards for the Bison, who had 296 yards on the ground and outgained the No. 2 rushing team in FCS. TK Marshall's 29-yard TD run and Griffin Crosa's PAT with 2:23 left in the game tied it at 28. Cam Miller's 3-yard TD run in overtime put the Bison ahead. Neither team led by more than seven points.
 
PLAYOFF REMATCHES: North Dakota State is 7-1 in FCS playoff rematches with regular-season opponents. Two of those victories came after regular-season losses to Montana in 2015 and South Dakota State in 2016. The only loss was to South Dakota State in last year's national championship. NDSU was 9-3 in Division II playoff rematches, including a 27-7 win over South Dakota in the 1986 national championship. NDSU beat USD at Dacotah Field in Fargo that year, 21-12.
        NDSU's FCS Playoff Rematches
        2012 - South Dakota State - Won 20-17, Won 28-3 in second round
        2014 - South Dakota State - Won 37-17, Won 27-24 in second round
        2015 - Montana - Lost 38-35, Won 37-6 in second round
        2015 - Northern Iowa - Won 31-28, Won 23-13 in quarterfinal
        2016 - South Dakota State - Lost 19-17, Won 36-10 in quarterfinal
        2018 - South Dakota State - Won 21-17, Won 44-21 in semifinal
        2019 - Illinois State - Won 37-3, Won 9-3 in quarterfinal
        2022 - South Dakota State - Lost 23-21, Lost 45-21 in championship
 
SEMIFINALS NEXT: Saturday's winner will advance to face either Southern Conference champion and No. 7 seed Furman (10-2) or Big Sky Conference champion and No. 2 seed Montana (11-1) in next week's semifinal round either Friday, Dec. 15, or Saturday, Dec. 16.
        Most Consecutive FCS Quarterfinals
        14 - North Dakota State, 2010-2023
        6 - Appalachian State, 2005-2010
        6 - Marshall, 1991-1996
        6 - Georgia Southern, 1985-1990
        6 - Georgia Southern, 1997-2002

        Most FCS Quarterfinals (Last)
        17 - Georgia Southern (2012)
        15 - Montana (2023)
        14 - Northern Iowa (2019)
        14 - North Dakota State (2023)
        13 - Delaware (2020)

        Most Consecutive FCS Semifinals
        9 - North Dakota State, 2011-2019
        6 - Marshall, 1991-1996
        5 - Georgia Southern, 1998-2002
        4 - Eastern Kentucky, 1979-1982
        4 - Youngstown State, 1991-1994

        Most FCS Semifinals (Last)
        13 - Georgia Southern (2012)
        11 - Montana (2011)
        11 - North Dakota State (2022)
        8 - Delaware (2020)
        8 - Youngstown State (2016)
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY: This is North Dakota State's 14th straight postseason appearance dating back to 2010 and the 37th in program history. NDSU has an 81-17 record in the postseason with 17 national championships including nine FCS titles in 11 years from 2011 to 2021. The Bison won three College Division national championships in 1965, 1968 and 1969 and five Division II titles in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990. NDSU is 76-16 in the NCAA playoff format since 1973. The Bison have a 46-4 mark in the FCS playoffs, including a 35-1 record in the Fargodome.
        Most FCS Playoff Wins
        46 - North Dakota State
        45 - Georgia Southern
        36 - Montana
        29 - Youngstown State
        26 - Northern Iowa

        Highest Winning Percentage in FCS Playoffs
        .920 - North Dakota State (46-4)
        .793 - Marshall (23-6)
        .776 - Georgia Southern (45-13)
        .763 - Youngstown State (29-9)

        Most Consecutive FCS Playoff Appearances
        17 - Montana, 1993-2009
        14 - New Hampshire, 2004-2017
        14 - North Dakota State, 2010-2023
        12 - South Dakota State, 2012-2023
        10 - Eastern Kentucky, 1986-1995

        Most FCS Playoff Appearances
        27 - Montana
        22 - Northern Iowa
        22 - Eastern Kentucky
        20 - Appalachian State
        20 - Furman
       
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS: North Dakota State had nine selections to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference team highlighted by Hunter Brozio, who earned two spots as the first team fullback and long snapper. Right guard Jake Kubas, left tackle Jalen Sundell, defensive end Dylan Hendricks, linebacker Logan Kopp and safety Cole Wisniewski also made the first team. Quarterback Cam Miller finished third overall in the voting for MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and made the second team along with NDSU defensive tackle Eli Mostaert. Four honorable mentions were tight end Joe Stoffel, all-purpose player RaJa Nelson, punt returner Jayden Price and placekicker Griffin Crosa. Additionally, linebacker Marcus Gulley and cornerback Marcus Sheppard were named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team.
 
FINALISTS: NDSU has three finalists for FCS national player of the year awards. Linebacker Logan Kopp is a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award presented to the defensive player of the year, and quarterback Cam Miller was 11th in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, presented to the offensive player of the year. Previous NDSU winners were defensive end Kyle Emanuel for the 2014 Buchanan and quarterback Trey Lance for the 2019 Payton. In addition, safety Cole Wisniewski is a finalist for the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, presented annually to an FCS student-athlete who excels on the field, in the classroom and across the community.
 
BISON BLAST BULLDOGS: North Dakota State forced five turnovers and rolled to a 66-3 victory over Drake in the first round of the FCS playoffs, setting NDSU postseason records for touchdowns (9) and points scored. Cam Miller was 10 of 11 passing for 206 yards and two touchdowns while adding 62 rushing yards, and Cole Payton rushed for a career-high 104 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Jung and Jayden Price intercepted passes, Jung and Kole Menz forced fumbles recovered by Julian Wlodarczyk and Loshiaka Roques, and Kelton McCaslin scored on a 5-yard fumble recovery.
 
200-YARD PASSERS: Quarterback Cam Miller against Drake had his third straight 200-yard passing game, fifth this season, and the 10th of his career. Only one other NDSU passer at the Division I level has three straight 200-yard games; Brock Jensen did it in 2013 against Youngstown State (200), South Dakota (230) and Furman (249). Only four other passers have as many career 200-yard games in NDSU history: Jensen (14 from 2010-13), Steve Walker (13 from 2004-07), Easton Stick (13 from 2016-18) and Carson Wentz (11 from 2014-15). Miller currently ranks fourth in school history behind Walker, Jensen and Stick in career passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.
 
14 SENIORS: Prior to the Southern Illinois game, North Dakota State introduced 14 seniors who were playing their final regular-season home game. The 14 were defensive end Jake Kava, offensive linemen Jake Kubas, Jalen Sundell and Brandon Westberg, wide receivers Jake Lippe, Zach Mathis and Giancarlo Volpentesta, cornerbacks Jenaro Ocama and Jayden Price, linebackers Cade Powers, Dylan Taves and Julian Wlodarczyk, tight end Jacob Streit, and running back TaMerik Williams.
 
THE COIN TOSS: North Dakota State has won 40 of 69 pregame coin tosses since 2019 under head coach Matt Entz. The Bison have deferred their choice to the second half 33 times and elected to receive the ball seven times, including the last five tosses they've won. Entz's teams are 7-0 when taking the ball first. The other two games were the 2019 season opener at Target Field against Butler and in 2021 at Illinois State.
 
OPENING DRIVES: NDSU has scored on its first offensive possession in 11 of 13 games this year with nine touchdowns and two field goals. The Bison have started the second half with points on their first possession in 9 of 13 games with seven touchdowns and two field goals.
 
MILLER SETS RECORD: Quarterback Cam Miller ranks first in the FCS with a .735 completion percentage through 13 games. Miller was 18-for-19 against Central Arkansas and his 94.7 completion rate was an NDSU single-game record for passers with more than 10 attempts. Miller completed his last 17 attempts against UCA and his first six against South Dakota to set a new NDSU record with 23 consecutive completions, breaking Brock Jensen's 2013 record of 21 straight against Kansas State (14) and Ferris State (7).
 
PRICE TIES PUNT RETURN RECORD: All-America punt returner Jayden Price tied the NDSU career record with his fourth career punt return touchdown, a 66-yard run against Murray State. Richard Lewis set the school record with four punt return TDs in 2000 and 2001.
 
TRUE FRESHMEN: North Dakota State has played five true freshmen this season. Kicker Eli Ozick, cornerback Najee Nelson and running back Kelly Watson made their debuts against Western Illinois. Cornerbacks Jaylin Crumby and Jailen Duffie played their first game against Murray State. Players may participate in up to four regular-season games without using a year of eligibility. New this year, FCS postseason games are exempt and will not count toward the four-game rule.
 
CROSA CONNECTS: Bison kicker Griffin Crosa had a streak of 127 consecutive PAT conversions snapped when South Dakota State blocked his first attempt of the game. The streak, dating back to 2019, was the third longest in Missouri Valley Football Conference history. Crosa is second all-time at NDSU in PATs made (195) and third in attempts (197). His career PAT percentage of 99.0 is second in school history behind Jake Reinholz, who was 87-for-87 from 2018 to 2021. Crosa is fifth all-time at NDSU with 38 field goals made and ranks first with an 82.6 career field goal percentage (38-for-46).
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: North Dakota State had five players earn seven Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of the Week honors in 2023:
        – Cole Wisniewski, Defense (9/4, 11/20)...Game- and career-high 11 tackles with his first career interception and one pass breakup against Eastern Washington in his first game at strong safety...Game-high 10 tackles with a TFL in the red zone, a pass breakup, and a 75-yard interception return for TD at Northern Iowa.
        – Kaedin Steindorf, Special Teams (9/4)...Averaged 47.2 yards per punt with three inside the 20 (two inside the 10) and held for five PAT conversions against Eastern Washington.
        – Griffin Crosa, Special Teams (9/11)...Converted field goals from 27, 40 and 31 yards to stake the Bison to a 9-0 lead and added five extra-point kicks in the 44-7 win over Maine.
        – Logan Kopp, Defense (10/9, 10/30)...Nine tackles, two pass breakups, fumble forced and recovered in the 38-10 win at Missouri State...Seven tackles, 1.5 TFLs, a half-sack, forced fumble and interception in the 38-6 win over Murray State.
        – Jake Kubas, Offensive Line (11/13)...Graded 90% with no TFLs or sacks allowed as NDSU rushed for 217 yards and four TDs against the third-ranked defense of Southern Illinois.
 
SHRINE BOWL INVITE: North Dakota State left tackle Jalen Sundell has been invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl, one of college football's top all-star games. Sundell was NDSU's starter at center the past three seasons before moving to left tackle this year. NDSU has had 14 former players participate in the Shrine Bowl, including current Bengals offensive lineman Cordell Volson (2022) and Chargers quarterback Easton Stick (2019).
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: North Dakota State is 81-4 against non-conference opponents since the beginning of its first FCS national championship season in 2011. One loss was to a Pac-12 opponent (31-28 at Arizona in 2021) and two were in the playoffs to the eventual national champion (27-17 to James Madison in 2016 and 24-20 at Sam Houston State in 2020-21). Montana's 38-35 home win in the 2015 FCS Kickoff is NDSU's only other non-conference loss the past 12 years.
 
BISON AT HOME: The Bison have a 189-29 record in the Fargodome, 33-6 at home against FCS Top 10 ranked teams, and winners of 82 of the last 84 home games over non-conference opponents. North Dakota State has a 35-1 record in the Fargodome during the NCAA playoffs and has won 17 straight home playoff games since the 2016 semifinal loss to eventual national champion James Madison. NDSU's 32-game home winning streak September 2017 through April 2021 was fourth longest in FCS history.