PDF Release | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats

THIS WEEK: Three weeks removed from one of the biggest wins in program history against defending Big 12 champion Kansas State, ESPN's College GameDay is in Fargo this week as North Dakota State (2-0) returns from an open week to host Delaware State (0-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.  ESPN will broadcast live from downtown Fargo at the corner of Broadway and Third Avenue Saturday morning from 8-11 a.m.   Officially licensed merchandise is available at the NDSU Bookstore and Scheels.
 
TELEVISION COVERAGE SHIFTED:  Because of ESPN College GameDay's live broadcast Saturday, television coverage of NDSU's game vs. Delaware State has been shifted away from Fox College Sports over to ESPN3 and ESPN GamePlan.  The game will continue to be available statewide on the NBC North Dakota network.
 
TAILGATING HOURS MOVED UP:  Tailgating lots outside Gate City Bank Field will be opened two hours early to accommodate fans wishing to set up before ESPN's College GameDay.  Reserved tailgating lots will open at 7 a.m. Saturday and general admission lots will open at 7:30 a.m.
 
THE SERIES: This is the first meeting between North Dakota State and Delaware State.  NDSU is 1-0 against teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with a 35-9 home win over Morgan State in September 2010.
 
LAST WEEK:  North Dakota State did not play last week after beating Division II Ferris State 56-10 at Gate City Bank Field on Sept. 7.  The Bison opened up a 35-0 lead in the second quarter and rolled for 293 yards of total offense before halftime.  Quarterback Brock Jensen went 19 of 23 passing for a career-high 259 yards and two touchdowns.  Fullback Andrew Grothmann scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 4-yard pass from Jensen and wide receiver Zach Vraa caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
 
COACHING WINS RECORD:  North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl has a 91-32 (.740) record in his 11th season at the helm of the Bison and is tied for the NDSU record in coaching wins with Rocky Hager, who went 91-25-1 (.782) in 10 seasons from 1987-96.

NDSU All-Time Coaching Wins
1. Craig Bohl, 91-32 (2003-present)
     Rocky Hager, 91-25-1 (1987-96)
3. Ron Erhardt, 61-7-1 (1966-72)
4. Don Morton, 57-15 (1979-86)
     Casey Finnegan, 57-49-11 (1928-40)
 
GOOD COMPANY: In the past two-plus seasons, North Dakota State has the best winning percentage of any Division I school:
 
Win Percentage, Division I (2011-present)
1. North Dakota State (MVFC)        30-2    .938
2. Alabama (SEC)                              27-2    .931
3. Oregon (Pac-12)                           27-3    .900
4. Lehigh (Patriot)                            23-3    .885
5. LSU (SEC)                                      26-4    .867
6. Boise State (Mountain West)      25-4    .862
   Stanford (Pac-12)                          25-4    .862
8. Harvard (Ivy)                                 17-3    .850
9. Northern Illinois (MAC)               25-5    .833
 
WILLIAMS THIRD IN PICKS: North Dakota State's Marcus Williams has 19 career interceptions, which ranks third-best all-time on the MVFC list. Among active players, he currently leads all of FCS in career interceptions per game (0.43) and career interception return yards (409).
 
MVFC Career Leaders - Interceptions
24, Adrion Smith, Missouri St., 1990-93
21, Jeff Smith, Illinois St., 1985-88
19, Marcus Williams, North Dakota St., 2010-present
18, Ty Talton, Northern Iowa, 1995-98
18, Dre Dokes, Northern Iowa, 2003-06
 
WINNING STREAKS:  North Dakota State has the longest active winning streak in the Football Championship Subdivision at 11 games.  The Bison have won six straight at home, 40 of the last 41 non-conference home games, and 31 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis.
 
FCS Winning Streaks (dating back to last season)
1. North Dakota State (MVFC)        11
2. Towson (Colonial)                         7
3. Abilene Christian (Independent) 6
    North Carolina A&T (Mid-Eastern)            6
5. Northern Iowa (MVFC)                  5
6. McNeese State (Southland)          4
    Penn (Ivy)                                       4
 
ON THE ROAD: Following the season-opening win at Kansas State, North Dakota State has now won 13 straight games away from home (which includes two neutral-site games). The Bison last lost a road game in the season finale at Eastern Washington in the 2010 playoffs.
 
Division I Road Winning Percentage Leaders
Team                                            G             W         L           Pct.
North Dakota State    11        11      0     1.000
Oregon (FBS)               11        11      0     1.000
Alabama (FBS)             10        10      0     1.000
Lehigh                         13        12      1       .923
LSU (FBS)                       9          8      1       .889
Boise State (FBS)         12        10      2       .833
Northern Illinois (FBS) 12       10      2       .833
Stanford (FBS)             12        10      2       .833
Alabama State             12          9      2       .818
 
ON THE ROAD: North Dakota State is 13-0 away from Gate City Bank Field since 2011 including two victories in Frisco, Texas, in the FCS national championship.  The Bison have won 18 of their last 22 road games and are 38-20 on the road since head coach Craig Bohl took over in 2003.  NDSU is 13-7 in MVFC road games.  The Bison have not lost away from Fargo since the 38-31 overtime loss to eventual national champion Eastern Washington in the 2010 NCAA quarterfinals.
 
FOUR IN A ROW: North Dakota State is the first team in Missouri Valley Football Conference history to win a game against an FBS foe in four straight years (Kansas-2010; Minnesota-2011; Colorado State-2012; Kansas State-2013). No other MVFC team has won three in successive seasons.
 
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK:  North Dakota State was named the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America on Sept. 3 following its 24-21 win at Kansas State.  NDSU is just the second Football Championship Subdivision team to be recognized.  The other was Appalachian State in 2007 following its opening game win at No. 5-ranked Michigan.
 
TURNER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK:  Left tackle Billy Turner was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week by the league office on Sept. 2.  Turner graded out at 96 percent with 10 knockdowns.  He was responsible for zero quarterback hurries or sacks in front of quarterback Brock Jensen, who was 21-for-30 for 165 yards.  Turner helped paved the way for a rushing attack that outgained Kansas State 215-41 on the ground including 127 yards by running back Sam Ojuri.  NDSU had a 12-minute advantage in time of possession.
 
HEAGLE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Strong safety Colten Heagle was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 1.  Heagle led NDSU with seven solo tackles including two stops for loss at Kansas State in his first game back since a knee injury at Colorado State last September.  He made a tackle in the backfield on third-and-2 in the first quarter to force a Kansas State punt and NDSU scored on the next possession for a 7-0 lead before going on to a 24-21 victory over the defending Big 12 champions.
 
JENSEN DELIVERS LATE:  Quarterback Brock Jensen was 21-for-30 with two touchdowns and one interception at Kansas State and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with 28 seconds left.  Jensen completed 14 of 15 passes in the second half including 7 of 7 on the game's final drive which covered 80 yards in 18 plays over 8 minutes, 30 seconds.
 
LeCOMPTE KEYS SPECIAL TEAMS:  Punter Ben LeCompte averaged 42.2 yards on four punts at Kansas State including three inside the 20 (at the 3, 8 and 12).  LeCompte also handled all five kickoffs, leaving the first four short to avoid returners and getting a touchback with 28 seconds left in the game.  Senior middle linebacker Grant Olson's first career interception with 19 seconds left in the game sealed NDSU's 24-21 victory.
 
BISON PICKED TO WIN VALLEY:  North Dakota State has been picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown in 2013. NDSU, the defending national champion, has won 28 of its past 30 games (going 14-1 each year).  The Bison were a unanimous choice to repeat, earning 39 of a possible 39 first-place votes, in a poll conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors.  The Bison return 18 total starters from a team that went 14-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference last year.
        Named to the preseason all-MVFC offensive unit were quarterback Brock Jensen, offensive tackle Billy Turner, wide receiver Ryan Smith and kicker Adam Keller. Representing NDSU on the all-conference defensive squad were defensive end Cole Jirik, defensive tackle Leevon Perry, linebacker Grant Olson, cornerback Marcus Williams, punter Ben LeCompte and return specialist Ryan Smith. Linebacker Travis Beck was honorable mention. Jensen is on the preseason Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year) Watch List, and Olson and Williams are on the Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year) Watch List.
        A preseason favorite has claimed the league crown 15 times (in 27 previous polls). North Dakota State was picked to win the league last season.
 
2013 Valley Football Preseason Poll
Team (first-place votes)                 Points
1. North Dakota State (39)             390
2. South Dakota State                    323
3. Northern Iowa                            269
4. Illinois State                                264
5. Youngstown State                     253
6. Indiana State                              197
7. Southern Illinois                         188
8. Missouri State                             123
9. Western Illinois                             77
10. South Dakota   61