FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State was named Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week on Monday, Oct. 27, following a 38-7 road win over South Dakota State in a matchup of the top two ranked teams in the Football Championship Subdivision.

NDSU (8-0, 5-0 MVFC) scored on five of six first-half possessions and set the tone with a 16-play, 84-yard opening drive that consumed 9 minutes of the first quarter ending with Cole Payton's 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal. Payton's 17 rushing attempts, 137 yards and four touchdowns were all career highs, and he completed his first 12 pass attempts while finishing the game 18 of 23 passing for 243 yards.

The NDSU defense forced three straight three-and-outs to start the game and limited SDSU to 56 total yards in the first half. Starting linebackers Donovan Woolen (9), Logan Kopp (6) and Nathaniel Staehling (5) combined for 20 tackles, and the Bison defense had four sacks and five pass breakups.

North Dakota State returns home this week for the first of three November home games when the Bison face 18th-ranked Youngstown State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. The Penguins are 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference after beating Murray State 51-17. Tickets are available at GoBison.com/tickets.