THIS WEEK: No. 1 seed North Dakota State (12-0) makes its 16th consecutive postseason appearance this week when the Bison host 17th-ranked Illinois State (9-4) in the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship. Game time is noon Saturday, Dec. 6, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700).
 
TICKETS: Tickets may be purchased online at GoBison.com/tickets or by calling the Bison Ticket Office in the south lobby of the Sanford Health Athletic Complex at (701) 231-6378 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Unclaimed season tickets go on sale to the public at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Game day ticket sales, if available, begin at 7 a.m. in the east lobby of the Fargodome.
 
TELEVISION: Saturday's game will be televised live with Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst) handling the call for ESPN+ on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
 
RADIO: Statewide network coverage on all 25 stations across the Pioneer Seeds Bison Sports Network begins at 11 a.m. including Bison 1660 and 107.9 The Fox in Fargo with Sam Neidermann (play-by-play), Phil Hansen (analyst) and Noah Gindorff (sideline) describing the action. Streaming is available on GoBison.com/allaccess and the NDSU Athletics mobile app.
 
WEEKLY SHOWS: Fans are invited to join NDSU head coach Tim Polasek each Thursday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for the Bison Football Coaches Show live from Holiday Inn Fargo with host Sam Neidermann and other NDSU coaches and players. The show can be heard on Bison 1660 in Fargo, KSJB-AM 600 in Jamestown, KYCR-AM 1440 in Minneapolis, GoBison.com and the NDSU Athletics mobile app. On television, The Bison Football Show airs statewide each Sunday night at 10:35 p.m. on WDAY (Fargo), WDAZ (Grand Forks), KBMY (Bismarck) and KMCY (Minot).
 
THE SERIES: North Dakota State has a 16-2 lead in the all-time series with Illinois State dating back to 2007. The Bison have won 14 straight since 2011 including a 33-16 victory in Normal on Oct. 4. This is the third time the Bison and Redbirds have met in the FCS playoffs. NDSU claimed the 2014 national championship with a 29-27 win in Frisco, Texas, and the Bison won the 2019 quarterfinal matchup 9-3 in Fargo. The Redbirds are 1-8 in Fargo with their only win a 27-24 homecoming spoiler in 2009.
 
LAST MEETING: North Dakota State scored twice in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 33-16 victory at then sixth-ranked Illinois State on Oct. 4. The Redbirds got within 18-16 late in the third before the Bison responded with an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive capped by Bryce Lance's 23-yard touchdown reception from Cole Payton. NDSU's defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive and the Bison scored again on a six-play drive highlighted by a 51-yard pass from Payton to Jackson Williams. An interception by Ryan Jones ended Illinois State's final drive, and the Bison ran out the final 4:38 of the game. Barika Kpeenu rushed for a season-high 116 yards. Payton was 12 of 14 passing for 194 yards while rushing 15 times for 79 yards and scoring two 2-point conversions. Linebacker Nathaniel Staehling made a game- and career-high 11 tackles plus a fumble recovery to lead the Bison defense.
 
QUARTERFINALS NEXT: Saturday's winner will advance to next week's quarterfinal round to face either Rhode Island or No. 8 seed UC Davis. The Bison have advanced to an FCS-record 15 straight quarterfinals. Illinois State has been to six quarterfinal games and is looking to reach the quarters for the first time since its 2019 loss in Fargo.
                Most Consecutive FCS Quarterfinals
                15 - North Dakota State, 2010-2024
                6 - Appalachian State, 2005-2010
                6 - Georgia Southern, 1997-2002
                6 - Marshall, 1991-1996
                6 - Georgia Southern, 1985-1990

                Most FCS Quarterfinals (Last)
                17 - Georgia Southern (2012)
                15 - North Dakota State (2024)
                15 - Montana (2023)
                14 - Northern Iowa (2019)
                13 - Delaware (2020)
 
PLAYOFF REMATCHES: North Dakota State is 9-1 in FCS playoff rematches with regular-season opponents. Three of those victories came after regular-season losses to Montana in 2015, South Dakota State in 2016 and South Dakota in 2023. NDSU was 9-3 in Division II playoff rematches, including a 27-7 win over South Dakota in the 1986 championship and a 51-11 win over Indiana (Pa.) in the 1990 championship.
                NDSU's FCS Playoff Rematches
                2012 - South Dakota State - Won 20-17, Won 28-3 in FCS second round
                2014 - South Dakota State - Won 37-17, Won 27-24 in FCS second round
                2015 - Montana - Lost 38-35, Won 37-6 in FCS second round
                2015 - Northern Iowa - Won 31-28, Won 23-13 in FCS quarterfinal
                2016 - South Dakota State - Lost 19-17, Won 36-10 in FCS quarterfinal
                2018 - South Dakota State - Won 21-17, Won 44-21 in FCS semifinal
                2019 - Illinois State - Won 37-3, Won 9-3 in FCS quarterfinal
                2022 - South Dakota State - Lost 23-21, Lost 45-21 in FCS championship
                2023 - South Dakota - Lost 24-19, Won 45-17 in FCS quarterfinal
                2024 - South Dakota State - Won 13-9, Won 28-21 in FCS semifinal
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY: This is NDSU's 39th postseason appearance and its 16th straight dating back to 2010. The Bison have advanced to the quarterfinals or beyond all 15 previous years in the FCS playoffs. NDSU is 86-18 in the postseason with 18 national championships including 10 FCS titles in 14 years from 2011 to 2024. The Bison are 81-17 in the NCAA playoff format since 1973 and own the record for FCS playoff wins with a 51-5 mark, including 38-1 in the Fargodome.
                Most Consecutive FCS Playoffs
                17 - Montana, 1993-2009
                16 - North Dakota State, 2010-present
                14 - South Dakota State, 2012-present
                14 - New Hampshire, 2004-2017
                10 - Eastern Kentucky, 1986-1995

                Most FCS Playoff Appearances (Last)
                29 - Montana (2025)
                23 - Eastern Kentucky (2024)
                22 - Northern Iowa (2021)
                20 - Appalachian State (2012)
                20 - Furman (2023)

                Most FCS Playoff Wins
                51 - North Dakota State (51-5)
                45 - Georgia Southern (45-13)
                39 - Montana (39-26)
                29 - Youngstown State (29-10)

                FCS Playoff Winning Percentage
                .911 - North Dakota State (51-5)
                .793 - Marshall (23-6)
                .776 - Georgia Southern (45-13)
                .744 - Youngstown State (29-10)

SEED HISTORY: North Dakota State has a top-two seed for the 11th time in 16 FCS playoff appearances. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds have home field advantage through the semifinals, and NDSU has hosted through the semifinal round 12 times. The Bison were No. 3 in 2015 and hosted a semifinal en route to the national title that year after a quarterfinal loss by No. 2 Illinois State. The Bison were No. 3 again in 2022 and won a home semifinal against No. 7 Incarnate Word after UIW beat No. 2 Sacramento State 66-63 in the quarterfinals.
 
18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: North Dakota State has won 18 football national championships. NDSU claimed three College Division national championships in 1965, 1968 and 1969 via the national polls, five Division II playoff 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 before winning again in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024. The Bison lost to the eventual national champion in the 2010 and 2020 quarterfinals and 2016 semifinals.
 
CONFERENCE CHAMPS: NDSU won its 12th championship in 18 years of Missouri Valley Football Conference membership. NDSU has seven outright titles (2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2025) and five shared (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2024). Overall, the Bison have 39 conference championships counting 26 at the Division II level in the North Central Conference and its first FCS title in 2006 as a member of the Great West Football Conference.
 
COACH OF THE YEAR: North Dakota State's Tim Polasek was voted Bruce Craddock MVFC Coach of the Year after leading the Bison to an 8-0 mark in Missouri Valley Football Conference play and a second straight league title. Polasek is 26-2 in his first two years as a head coach.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE: NDSU had a school-record 10 first team and 17 total picks on the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference team highlighted by three-time first team LB Logan Kopp, who was second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year, and two-time first team WR Bryce Lance. Other first team picks were RB Barika Kpeenu, FB Truman Werremeyer, RG Griffin Empey, C Trent Fraley, LT Beau Johnson, DT Keenan Wilson, K Eli Ozick and LS Caleb Bowers. NDSU's seven second team picks included QB Cole Payton, who was second in voting for Offensive Player of the Year, along with TE Carson Williams, DE Toby Anene, LB Donovan Woolen, CB Jailen Duffie, S Darius Givance and RS Jackson Williams, who was selected for the second straight season. NDSU had three honorable mentions: DT Jaxon Duttenhefer, LB Nathaniel Staehling and P Aaron Bickerton.
 
ALL-NEWCOMER: North Dakota State had five players named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team: TE Reis Kessel, RB DJ Scott, OL Nate Tastad, DT Zach Vanderpool and P Aaron Bickerton. Kessel was third in the voting for MVFC Freshman of the Year.
 
FINALISTS: NDSU has four team members under consideration for FCS national awards. QB Cole Payton is one of the top three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the FCS offensive player of the year, and WR Bryce Lance was among the top 30 finalists. LB Logan Kopp was a top 30 finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented to the FCS defensive player of the year, and he is one of 13 finalists for the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award. NDSU head coach Tim Polasek is one of 15 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award for FCS coach of the year.
 
GOOD WORKS TEAM: Senior linebacker Logan Kopp was one of 22 players in college football named to the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Kopp is the 10th NDSU player named to the team, which recognizes extraordinary commitment to community service.
 
NATIONAL AWARDS: North Dakota State was named Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week following the 38-7 victory over then No. 2-ranked and unbeaten South Dakota State. NDSU punter Aaron Bickerton was named FCS Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at North Dakota with a season-high five punts for 55.6 yards per punt, the second highest single-game punting average in NDSU's 22-year Division I history.
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: North Dakota State has had seven players earn 10 Missouri Valley Football Conference player of the week awards this season:
                — QB Cole Payton, Offensive (9/29, 10/13, 10/27)...Had 375 yards of total offense and three TDs against South Dakota...Went 14 of 18 passing for 273 yards and two TDs with 11 carries for 102 yards and one score...Picked up six first downs in the run game including one on fourth-and-short and three third down conversions including a 21-yard scramble on third-and-17...Had 291 total yards and three TDs including a 41-yard scramble against Southern Illinois...Picked up eight first downs on 13 of 16 passing for 243 yards...Totaled 380 yards at South Dakota State rushing 17 times for 137 yards and four TDs while going 18 of 23 passing for 243 yards.
                — LB Nathaniel Staehling, Defensive (9/29)...Scored on a 43-yard interception return to end USD's opening drive of the second half, assisted on two tackles for loss and finished with a team-high five tackles.
                — RS Jackson Williams, Special Teams (9/29, 11/3)...Had 107 all-purpose yards against USD including two 21-yard punt returns, a 21-yard kickoff return, a 35-yard pass reception from NDSU's 10 to spark a 90-yard scoring drive in the first quarter, and a 9-yard touchdown run...Scored a 100-yard kickoff return to extend a four-point lead against Youngstown State and finished with 194 all-purpose yards.
                — RG Griffin Empey, Offensive Line (9/29)...Played 66 snaps against USD with no penalties or sacks allowed and had a 94 percent overall grade with three key blocks to help the Bison rush for 274 yards, 5.5 yards per carry and four touchdowns.
                — C Trent Fraley, Offensive Line (10/26)...Played 67 snaps at SDSU with a 91 percent overall grade and three key blocks to help the Bison rush for 257 yards, 5.2 yards per carry and five touchdowns while going 9 of 16 on third down and controlling the ball for more than 38 minutes.
                — LB Donovan Woolen, Defensive (11/10)...Career-high 18 tackles in 15-10 win at UND, the most tackles by a Bison player since 2015...Assisted on one TFL and had a key stop on second-and-goal at the NDSU 1 before UND missed a field goal to end the drive.
                — P Aaron Bickerton, Special Teams (11/10)...Season-high five punts and 278 yards with a long of 64 at UND...Had the second best single-game average (55.6) in NDSU's 22-year Division I history...Also held for three successful field goal conversions before NDSU took its first lead on a touchdown with 2:22 left in the game.
 
CODE GREEN: North Dakota State will wear green helmets, green jerseys and green pants on Saturday for the ninth time in program history. The Bison are 8-0 in the all-green look since 2019, including a win over South Dakota in this year's homecoming game. NDSU is 43-3 in the green helmet since its debut in 2015.
 
GAMES RECORD: Sixth-year wide receiver RaJa Nelson (2020-25) will play in his 75th career game this week and has already broken the NDSU record of 73 games set by wide receiver Braylon Henderson (2019-24). Two other former Bison reached the 70-game mark: cornerback Jayden Price (2019-23) played 71 games and offensive guard Nash Jensen (2018-22) played 70 games.
                NCAA Career Games Played (since 2020)
                76 - OL Dillan Gibbons, Notre Dame (2017-20)/Florida State (2021-22)
                74 - WR RaJa Nelson, North Dakota State (2020-25)
                73 - WR Braylon Henderson, North Dakota State (2019-24)
                73 - LB Nick Jackson, Virginia (2019-22)/Iowa (2023-24)
                71 - WR Jaxon Janke, South Dakota State (2018-23)
                71 - CB Jayden Price, North Dakota State (2019-23)
                70 - OL Nash Jensen, North Dakota State (2018-22)
                70 - LB Jack Kiser, Notre Dame (2019-24)
                70 - OL Mason McCormick, South Dakota State (2018-23)
 
1,000 YARDS: Wide receiver Bryce Lance is the first NDSU player with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons. His 1,071 yards last year were third most in Bison single-season history and he is sixth this year with 1,001 yards entering the playoffs. Lance is tied with Len Kretchman (1985-88) for third on the NDSU career list with 24 receiving touchdowns, second most in NDSU's Division I history behind school record holder Zach Vraa's 28 TD catches from 2011-15. Lance ranks ninth in NDSU history with 126 career receptions and 2,079 receiving yards.
 
TOUCHDOWNS: Running back Barika Kpeenu's 19 rushing touchdowns rank seventh in NDSU single-season history and are the most since 2014 when John Crockett ran for 21 TDs. The school record is 23 rushing touchdowns by quarterback Jeff Bentrim in the 1986 regular season. Bentrim added six rushing TDs in three playoff games that year, but postseason statistics were not counted by the NCAA until 2002.
 
RECORD PACE: Quarterback Cole Payton's 9.97 yards per play, 284.1 total offense yards per game, 218.2 passing yards per game, 12.3 yards per pass attempt, 74.1 pass completion percentage and 197.4 efficiency rating would all be school single-season records. Payton has three of the top six single-game offensive performances in school history, and his 348 passing yards against Southeast Missouri State were third most in NDSU single-game history.
                NDSU Single-Game Total Offense Yards
                466 - Graig Gorder at Omaha, 11/9/2002 (50 rush, 416 pass)
                455 - Steve Walker at Ball State, 9/23/2006 (4 rush, 451 pass)
                401 - Cole Payton, Southeast Missouri State, 9/13/2025 (53 rush, 348 pass)
                382 - Carson Wentz, Northern Iowa, 10/10/2015 (47 rush, 335 pass)
                380 - Cole Payton, at South Dakota State, 10/25/2025 (137 rush, 243 pass)
                375 - Cole Payton, South Dakota, 9/27/2025 (102 rush, 273 pass)
 
ELITE COMPANY: Two-time All-Missouri Valley Football Conference return specialist Jackson Williams is currently the FCS active career leader and second in NDSU history with an average of 32.9 yards per kickoff return, and he is just the sixth player in Bison history with two kickoff return touchdowns joining school record holders Tony Satter (1987-90), Shamen Washington (2004-09), Marcus Williams (2010-13), Bruce Anderson (2015-18) and Christian Watson (2018-21). Jackson Williams has two of NDSU's seven 100-yard kickoff returns.
 
WINNING STREAKS: North Dakota State's current 19-game home winning streak is second longest in the FCS behind Villanova's 23 and Rhode Island is third with 15 straight home wins. Overall, NDSU has the longest active winning streak in FCS with 16 straight wins, and Lehigh is next with 12. Both streaks are the third longest in NDSU's Division I history.
                NDSU Division I Overall Win Streaks
                39 - Started 11/11/2017, ended 2/27/2021 at Southern Illinois
                33 - Started 10/20/2012, ended 11/8/2014 at Northern Iowa
                16 - Started 9/7/2024 to present

                NDSU Division I Home Win Streaks
                32 - Started 9/2/2017, ended 4/17/2021 by South Dakota State
                26 - Started 10/27/2012, ended 10/17/2015 by South Dakota
                19 - Started 10/21/2023 to present
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: North Dakota State is 91-6 against non-conference opponents since the beginning of its first FCS national championship season in 2011. Two losses were to FBS opponents (31-28 at Arizona in 2021 and 31-26 at Colorado in 2024) 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 31-29 double-overtime win in the 2023 FCS semifinals and 38-35 victory in the 2015 FCS Kickoff are NDSU's only other non-conference losses the past 13 years.
 
BISON AT HOME: The Bison have a 205-29 all-time record in the Fargodome since 1993, including 36-5 against FCS Top 10 ranked teams and 78-1 against FCS non-conference teams with 34 straight wins over non-MVFC teams since 2017. North Dakota State has a 38-1 record in the Fargodome during the NCAA playoffs and has won 20 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 is fifth longest in FCS history.