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NDSU Notes | Illinois State Notes | MVFC Notes | Bracket

LIVE EVENTS:
Friday Illinois State Press Conference
Friday NDSU Press Conference
Saturday GameCenter Live Stats
Saturday NDSU All Access Live Audio
Saturday ESPN2 Telecast
Saturday ESPN3 Trophy Presentation
Saturday Postgame Press Conference

THIS WEEK:  Missouri Valley Football Conference co-champions North Dakota State (14-1) and Illinois State (13-1) meet in the NCAA Division I football championship game at 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Toyota Stadium (20,500) in Frisco, Texas.  It's the first time two teams from the same conference have squared off for the FCS title.  The Bison and Redbirds did not meet during the regular season.  Both teams went 7-1 in league play with their only losses both coming at Northern Iowa in back-to-back weeks.
 
TELEVISION:  Live coverage begins at 12 p.m. on ESPN2 and the WatchESPN mobile app with Anish Shroff calling the play-by-play and Kelly Stouffer as color analyst and Cara Capuano on the sidelines.
 
RADIO:  KFGO-AM 790 and KRWK-FM 101.9 of Fargo along with the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network will have live coverage beginning at 11:30 a.m.  KFGO's Scott Miller will describe the play-by-play with NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen as color analyst and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson reporting from the sidelines.  A free audio stream will be available on GoBison.com/allaccess.
 
THE SERIES:  This is the eighth meeting between North Dakota State and Illinois State.  NDSU has won three straight to take a 5-2 lead in the series.
            Series History
            2007 in Fargo - #1 NDSU 54, Illinois State 28
            2008 in Normal - #25 NDSU 25, Illinois State 7
            2009 in Fargo - Illinois State 27, NDSU 24
            2010 in Normal - Illinois State 34, #14 NDSU 24
            2011 in Fargo - #5 NDSU 20, Illinois State 10
            2012 in Normal - #1 NDSU 38, #11 Illinois State 20
            2013 in Fargo - #1 NDSU 28, Illinois State 10
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY:  This is North Dakota State's fifth straight appearance in the FCS playoffs and its second as the No. 2 overall seed (2011).  NDSU is 17-1 in the FCS playoffs including three straight national titles and a quarterfinal appearance in 2010.  This is North Dakota State's 28th postseason appearance overall.  NDSU has a 52-14 record all-time in the postseason including three College Division national championships in 1965, 1968 and 1969 and five Division II titles in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990.  NDSU is 47-13 in the NCAA playoff format since 1973.
 
FOURTH MVFC TITLE:  North Dakota State earned a share of its fourth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship tying Illinois State with a 7-1 record in conference play.  The Bison earned the league's automatic qualifier by virtue of a No. 1 national ranking in the Gridiron Power Index.  NDSU is the second school in Valley Football history to win four straight league titles behind Northern Iowa's run of seven straight from 1990 to 1996.
 
FOUR TITLE TRIPS:  The only two FCS teams to play in four consecutive title games were Eastern Kentucky (1979-82) and Youngstown State (1991-94).  Three-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State is looking to become the second football team in NCAA history to win four straight national championships.  Augustana College of Rock Island, Ill., won four NCAA Division III titles from 1983-86.  Coincidentally, NDSU won Division II football titles in 1983, 1985 and 1986 with a runner-up finish in 1984.  The women's basketball program at NDSU won four straight Division II titles from 1993 to 1996.
 
BISON BLOW OUT BEARKATS IN SEMIFINAL: North Dakota State scored touchdowns on its last four possessions to beat 19th-ranked Sam Houston State 35-3 in the semifinals.  It was 7-3 at halftime before NDSU broke the game open with a 33-yard King Frazier TD run and John Crockett's 55-yard TD run.  Crockett averaged 6.4 yards on 26 carries and finished with 166 yards and three TDs.  Carson Wentz was 13 of 19 passing for 179 yards and a touchdown.  Nick DeLuca made a game- and career-high 13 tackles along with a 35-yard interception return to set up NDSU's final scoring drive, and Carlton Littlejohn and Kyle Emanuel each made 12 tackles.
 
DEFENSE HOLDS FOR QUARTERFINAL WIN:  One week after its offense executed a game-winning drive, No. 2 seed North Dakota State's defense held on the final drive to clinch a 39-32 win over No. 7 seed Coastal Carolina in the quarterfinals.  Kyle Emanuel and Mike Hardie combined on a second down sack and Colten Heagle's interception on fourth-and-12 sealed it.  NDSU got a 45-yard touchdown from running back John Crockett and quarterback Carson Wentz ran in the two-point conversion to erase a 32-31 deficit with 9:28 to play.
 
BISON RALLY PAST JACKS: Two freshmen made game-changing plays in North Dakota State's 27-24 second round win over South Dakota State.  RJ Urzendowski's 12-yard touchdown catch with 54 seconds left and Tre Dempsey's first career interception on the ensuing possession allowed the Bison to run out the clock with one first down.  John Crockett rushed for 102 yards on 23 carries and Carson Wentz was 14 of 25 passing for 235 yards with two TDs to Urzendowski, including a 27-yard strike in the first quarter.  Urzendowski made four catches for 109 yards and Wentz had a 27-yard TD run and finished with 13 carries for 70 yards.  Carlton Littlejohn led the Bison defense with 11 tackles including seven solo stops.
 
DUAL THREATS:  North Dakota State has a pair of dual threats on offense in quarterback Carson Wentz and running back John Crockett.  Wentz's 555 rushing yards are more than any NDSU quarterback since Kevin Feeney's 854 yards in 1996, the last year of veer option football at NDSU.  Crockett's 383 receiving yards are the third most by an NDSU running back.  Wentz has set new NDSU records this season for total offense yards (3,429) and average (228.6).  Crockett has an NDSU-record 2,303 all-purpose yards this season and is second in NDSU career all-purpose yards (5,035) behind Lamar Gordon's mark of 5,251 all-purpose yards from 1998-01.
            NDSU QB Rushing Yards
            1. 1129 - Chris Simdorn, 1988
            2. 1049 - Chris Simdorn, 1989
            3. 989 - Jeff Bentrim, 1984
            4. 854 - Kevin Feeney, 1996
            ----------
            15. 555 - Carson Wentz, 2014

            NDSU RB Receiving Yards
            1. 433 - DJ McNorton, 2010
            2. 386 - Steve McMillan, 1972
            3. 383 - John Crockett, 2014
            4. 357 - Steve McMillan, 1973
            5. 289 - Jim Twardy, 1970
 
EMANUEL WINS BUCHANAN AWARD:  All-America defensive end Kyle Emanuel is the Buck Buchanan Award winner as the top defensive player in the FCS.  Emanuel leads the FCS in tackles for loss (31.0) and sacks (19.5).  In nine games against Top 25 opponents, he has 59 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and nine quarterback hurries.  NDSU All-America strong safety Colten Heagle also was a finalist for the award.
 
EMANUEL GETS PAIR OF SACK RECORDS:   Defensive end Kyle Emanuel made a career-high 12 tackles including 2.5 sacks in the semifinal win over Sam Houston State.  Emanuel ranks sixth in FCS history and fourth in Valley Football history with 35.5 career sacks, and has tied the NDSU career record of 41 sacks established in 1974 and 1990.  Emanuel's 19.5 sacks this season are a new Missouri Valley Football Conference record and fifth in FCS history (since 2000).
            NDSU Career Sacks (half sacks counted as whole)
            41 - Kyle Emanuel, DE, 2011-14
            41 - Phil Hansen, DT, 1987-90
            41 - Jerry Dahl, DE, 1973-74
            31 - Coulter Boyer, DE, 2008-11

            FCS Career Sacks (since 2000)
            42.0 - Chris Gocong, Cal Poly, 2001-05
            39.0 - Robert Mathis, Alabama A&M, 2000-02
            37.5 - Zack Wagenmann, Montana, 2011-14
            37.0 - Davis Tull, Chattanooga, 2011-14
            36.0 - Marques Murrell, Appalachian State, 2003-06
            35.5 - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State, 2011-14
            35.5 - Greg Peach, Eastern Washington, 2005-08

            MVFC Career Sacks
            42 - William Freeney, Northern Iowa, 1989-92
            40 - Bill Walter, Missouri State, 1988-91
            37 - Andre Allen, Northern Iowa, 1991-94
            35.5 - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State, 2011-14

            NDSU Single-Season Sacks (half sacks whole)
            31 - Jerry Dahl, DE, 1973
            21 - Kyle Emanuel, DE, 2014
            16 - Phil Hansen, DT, 1989
            13 - Mike Stratton, DT, 1981

            FCS Single-Season Sacks (since 2000)
            23.5 - Chris Gocong, Cal Poly, 2005
            20.5 - Adrian Hamilton, Prairie View A&M, 2011
            20.0 - Robert Mathis, Alabama A&M, 2002
            20.0 - Eric Bakhtiari, San Diego, 2007
            19.5 - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State, 2014

            MVFC Single-Season Sacks
            19.5 - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State, 2014
            17 - Brent Hawkins, Illinois State, 2005
            15 - Michael Fox, Missouri State, 1989
            15 - William Freeney, Northern Iowa, 1992
 
RECORD YEAR FOR CROCKETT:  Senior running back John Crockett ran for an NDSU playoff-record and career-high 227 yards in the quarterfinal win over Coastal Carolina, his first career 200-yard game.  Crockett has set school records for rushing attempts (346) and yards (1,920) this season while moving into second place on the NDSU career rushing chart (4,235).  He has rushed for 100 yards in 11 of 15 games this year, including five straight (the sixth longest streak in NDSU history).  Crockett second in NDSU history with 20 games over 100 yards.
            NDSU Career Rushing Yards
            1. 4696 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1998-01 (41g)
            2. 4235 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-14 (45g)
            3. 3952 - Kyle Steffes, RB, 2003-06 (41g)
            4. 3694 - Sam Ojuri, RB, 2009-13 (51g)
            5. 3688 - Jake Morris, RB, 1994-97 (35g)

            NDSU Career Rushing Attempts
            1. 800 - Kyle Steffes, 2003-06
            2. 782 - Lamar Gordon, 1998-01
            3. 730 - John Crockett, 2012-14

            NDSU Career 100-Yard Games
            1. 31 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1998-01
            2. 20 - John Crockett, RB, 2012-14
                20 - Jake Morris, RB, 1994-97
                20 - Chris Simdorn, QB, 1987-90
                20 - Kyle Steffes, RB, 2003-06                  

            NDSU Single-Season Rushing Yards
            1. 1920 - John Crockett, 2014 (15g)
            2. 1723 - Lamar Gordon, 2000 (11g)
            3. 1710 - Jake Morris, 1997 (11g)

            NDSU Single-Season Rushing Attempts
            1. 346 - John Crockett, 2014
            2. 280 - DJ McNorton, 2010
                280 - Jake Morris, 1997

            NDSU Single-Season Rushing TDs
            1. 23 - Jeff Bentrim, QB, 1986
            2. 22 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 2000
                22 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1999
            4. 21 - Tyler Roehl, RB, 2007
            5. 20 - John Crockett, RB, 2014
                20 - Kevin Feeney, QB, 1996
 
KELLER TIES FCS SCORING RECORD:  NDSU kicker Adam Keller's 134 points this year tied the FCS record for points scored by kicking set by Griffin Thomas of Jacksonville State in 2013.  The NDSU scoring record is 138 points by QB Jeff Bentrim in 1986 and RB Lamar Gordon in 2000.  RB John Crockett is also within two TDs of the school scoring record.
            NDSU Single-Season Scoring
            138 - Jeff Bentrim, QB, 1986 (23 TD)
            138 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 2000 (23 TD)
            134 - Adam Keller, K, 2014 (56 PAT, 26 FG)
            132 - Lamar Gordon, RB, 1999 (22 TD)
            126 - John Crockett, RB, 2014 (21 TD)
            126 - Tyler Roehl, RB, 2007 (21 TD)


MORE RECORDS FOR KELLER:  Senior Adam Keller broke NDSU's career records for PAT kicks (189) and field goals made (53) in the second round win over South Dakota State.  He is also the NDSU record holder for PAT attempts (195) and ranks second in field goal attempts (67) six shy of tying the record.  Keller is 56 of 56 on PATs and has converted 115 straight PAT kicks over the past 27 games, second in Missouri Valley Football Conference history behind Taylor Rowan's 129 straight at Western Illinois (2005-08).
 
FCS FIELD GOAL RECORD IN SIGHT:  North Dakota State's Adam Keller has a school-record 26 field goals this year, one shy of the FCS record of 27 set this season by Northern Iowa All-American Michael Schmadeke.  Keller made a school-record five field goals in the 22-10 home win over Montana, and booted a career-long 50-yarder against Indiana State.  Keller is 9-for-12 from 40 yards and beyond this season.
 
VRAA MOVING UP:  North Dakota State wide receiver Zach Vraa had a career-high nine receptions and season-high 119 yards against Indiana State and continues to move up the NDSU record book.  He has caught a pass in 40 of 42 games in his career and ranks fourth in NDSU career receptions (152) and third in receiving yards (2,390) and touchdown catches (23).
            NDSU Career Receiving Yards
            1. 2732 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08 (43g)
            2. 2544 - TR McDonald, 1990-93 (39g)
            3. 2390 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14 (42g)

            NDSU Career Receiving TDs
            1. 26 - Tim Strehlow, 1996-99
            2. 24 - Len Kretchman, 1985-88
            3. 23 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14

            NDSU Career Receptions
            1. 178 - Kole Heckendorf, 2005-08
            2. 163 - Travis White, 2002-06
            3. 161 - Warren Holloway, 2008-11
            4. 152 - Zach Vraa, 2011-14
 
WENTZ BREAKS PASSING, TOTAL OFFENSE MARKS:  First-year starting quarterback Carson Wentz broke North Dakota State's single-season passing yards (2,874) and total offense (3,429) records set last year by Brock Jensen, and Wentz is in position to set new records for passing attempts and completions.  Wentz is the Missouri Valley Football Conference leader and ranks 19th nationally in completion percentage (.634), and also ranks eighth nationally in passing efficiency (152.9), 11th in passing TDs (24), 17th in yards per completion (13.49), and eighth in yards per attempt (8.55).
            NDSU Single-Season Passing Attempts
            1. 338 - Brock Jensen, 2012
            2. 336 - Carson Wentz, 2014
                336 - Graig Gorder, 2002
            4. 329 - Brock Jensen, 2013
            5. 326 - Brock Jensen, 2011

            NDSU Single-Season Completions
            1. 220 - Tony Stauss, 2003
            2. 219 - Brock Jensen, 2011
            3. 218 - Brock Jensen, 2013
            4. 213 - Carson Wentz, 2014
            5. 207 - Brock Jensen, 2012

            NDSU Single-Season Passing Yards
            1. 2874 - Carson Wentz, 2014
            2. 2793 - Brock Jensen, 2013
            3. 2524 - Brock Jensen, 2011
            4. 2331 - Brock Jensen, 2012
            5. 2327 - Steve Walker, 2007

            NDSU Single-Season Passing TDs
            1. 34 - Brock Jensen, 2013 (MVFC record)
            2. 24 - Carson Wentz, 2014
            3. 20 - Steve Walker, 2007
            4. 18 - Ryan Johnson, 1999
            5. 17 - Brock Jensen, 2012
 
LeCOMPTE 2nd IN PUNTING:  Sports Network All-American Ben LeCompte is second in the FCS with a 45.36 punting average, which is the fourth best season in NDSU history entering the championship game.  LeCompte's career 44.07 ranks seventh in FCS history and second in NDSU history behind Mike Dragosavich's 44.46 average (2004-07), and is a Missouri Valley Football Conference record passing Lucas Hileman's 43.41 average at Indiana State (2011-12).
 
TOP-RATED DEFENSE:  North Dakota State is allowing just 13.2 points per game and ranks second in the FCS in scoring defense behind only Harvard (12.3 ppg).  NDSU led the nation in scoring defense the past three years allowing 12.7 points per game in 2011, then 11.5 points in 2012 and 11.3 points last season.  The Bison returned six defensive starters and seven of the top nine tacklers from last year's squad.  NDSU is third in total defense allowing opponents just 270.8 yards per game.

FOUR TOP TACKLERS:  Strong safety Colten Heagle, a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, is NDSU's career leader with 189 solo tackles, while free safety Christian Dudzik is third and linebacker Carlton Littlejohn is fourth.  Littlejohn is fourth and Heagle sixth in total tackles.  Linebacker Travis Beck, who suffered a season-ending injury against Youngstown State, finished seventh in solo tackles (128) and 10th in total tackles (308).
            NDSU Career Solo Tackles
            189 - Colten Heagle, SS, 2010-14
            159 - Joe Mays, LB, 2004-07 (Kansas City Chiefs)
            150 - Christian Dudzik, FS, 2011-14
            148 - Carlton Littlejohn, LB, 2011-14
            147 - Ramon Humber, LB, 2005-09 (New Orleans Saints)
            132 - Craig Dahl, SS, 2003-06 (San Francisco 49ers)

            NDSU Career Total Tackles
            398 - Rick Budde, 1974-76
            391 - Jim Dick, 1982-86
            363 - Sean Fredricks, 1994-97
            337 - Carlton Littlejohn, 2011-14
            337 - Steve Nelson, 1971-73
            334 - Colten Heagle, 2010-14

            NDSU Single-Season Solo Tackles
            57 - Colten Heagle, 2014
            57 - Ramon Humber, 2008
            53 - Mike Sheppard, 2003
            53 - Joe Cichy, 1969
            52 - Chad Willson, 2011
            51 - Carlton Littlejohn, 2014
            51 - Grant Olson, 2012
            50 - Colten Heagle, 2011
            49 - Craig Dahl, 2005
            48 - Kyle Emanuel, 2014
            48 - Preston Evans, 2009
            48 - Joe Mays, 2005
 
50+ GAMES:  North Dakota State has six players who have played in at least 50 career games including free safety Christian Dudzik, who has made all 60 career starts, and defensive end Kyle Emanuel, who has played in all 60 games with 53 starts as the Bison have gone 57-3 in that span.  Linebacker Travis Beck played in 56 of 57 games including before a season-ending injury against Youngstown State.  Linebacker Carlton Littlejohn has played in 58 contests, and strong safety Colten Heagle and tight end Kevin Vaadeland have each played in 57 games.   The FCS record for games played is 62 by Appalachian State linebacker Pierre Banks, who made 47 starts from 2004 to 2008.
 
CHEWING UP CLOCK:  North Dakota State has not been outgained in time of possession this season and ranks second in the FCS averaging 33:51.  The Bison held the ball for 41:12 against Indiana State, one of only four games in NDSU's Division I history that has happened:
            NDSU Time of Possession 40+ Minutes
            41:12 - Indiana State, 2014
            40:48 - Southern Illinois, 2012
            40:20 - at South Dakota State, 2013
            40:17 - Cal Poly, 2006
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has an 8-3 record and has won five straight games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents after beating Iowa State 34-14 in the season-opener.  The Bison are 5-0 against the FBS since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21) and Iowa State (34-14).
 
THREE PEAT:  North Dakota State is just the second team in FCS history to win three straight national championships joining the Appalachian State teams of 2005-07.  NDSU set a school record for wins with a 15-0 mark and become the first undefeated national champion since Southern Conference champion Marshall went 15-0 to win the 1996 title.
 
VAADELAND BACK FOR SIXTH YEAR:  Tight end Kevin Vaadeland, one of 24 seniors on last year's team, returned to the Bison program for a sixth season due to a 2010 injury.  Vaadeland made a career-high five receptions in the win over Montana and his 13 career touchdown catches rank second in NDSU history among tight ends behind Jerimiah Wurzbacher's 14 TDs from 2005-09.
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State has won 23 straight home games and 48 of the last 49 home games over non-conference opponents including 38 straight since a 2003 loss to UC Davis.  NDSU is 10-2 at home against Top 10 teams after beating No. 3/4-ranked Montana and No. 6/6 Coastal Carolina.  The Bison have the longest home winning streak in Division I football.
            Division I Home Winning Streaks
            23 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
            16 - Baylor (Big 12)
            14 - Florida State (ACC)
            14 - Boise State (Mountain West)
            14 - Fordham (Patriot)
 
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE:  North Dakota State is the No. 2 overall seed for the FCS playoffs and had home field advantage through the semifinals for the fourth straight season.  NDSU is 13-0 at home during the FCS playoffs and has won 14 straight home playoff games including a 1992 Division II first round game against Northeast Missouri State at Dacotah Field.  Minnesota State Mankato was the last team to beat NDSU at home in the playoffs, a 27-7 defeat in the 1991 Division II first round.
 
NDSU THIRD IN FCS ATTENDANCE:  North Dakota State finished third in FCS average home attendance drawing 18,571 over nine home dates.  That was down slightly from 2013 when NDSU set a school record for the third straight year drawing 18,622 to rank sixth in the FCS.  The Bison have sold out 21 times since 2006 including four games this season.
            2014 FCS average home attendance
            1. Montana - 23,777
            2. James Madison - 19,816
            3. North Dakota State - 18,571
            4. Montana State - 17,056
            5. Liberty - 17,016
 
CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:  The following players were recognized as Player of the Week by the Missouri Valley Football Conference for their performances:
        - Kyle Emanuel, 3x Defense (Team-high nine tackles at Iowa State including 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble...Had 4 of 5 tackles go for negative yardage in win over Indiana State with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and two QB hurries...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State)
        - John Crockett, Offense (17 carries for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns at Iowa State, including an 80-yard TD to spark Bison to 34 unanswered points in 34-14 win)
        - Joe Haeg, 2x Offensive Line (Graded out at 100% in win at Iowa State with six knockdown blocks as NDSU put up 506 total yards of offense including 302 on the ground...Graded 91% technique and 100% assignment at Southern Illinois with four knockdowns)
        - Adam Keller, Special Teams (School-record five field goals in the 22-10 win over
No. 3/4-ranked Montana, connecting from 41, 22, 32, 47 and 30 yards)
        - Christian Dudzik, Defense (Forced fumble and two interceptions led to three NDSU touchdowns in win over Youngstown State...Also a team- and season-high eight tackles)
 
NATIONAL HONORS: The following players earned national recognition this season for their performances:
        - Kyle Emanuel, 2x Sports Network FCS Defensive Player of the Week (Team-high nine tackles at Iowa State including 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State); 2x College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Had 4 of 5 tackles go for negative yardage in win over Indiana State with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and two QB hurries...Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State); 2x CFPA FCS Defensive Lineman of the Week (Career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4.5 TFL with a FF and QBH against South Dakota State...Career-high 10 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3.5 TFL and 27-yard INT return at Missouri State)
        - John Crockett, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (17 carries for 139 yards and a career-high three touchdowns at Iowa State, including an 80-yard TD to spark Bison to 34 unanswered points in 34-14 win)
        - Carlton Littlejohn, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Scored go-ahead touchdown on 5-yard fumble return in 24-7 win at Weber State, where one of his 12 tackles came at the NDSU 2 on a fake field goal to preserve a 21-7 lead)
        - Adam Keller, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (School-record five field goals in the 22-10 win over No. 3/4-ranked Montana, connecting from 41, 22, 32, 47 and 30 yards) and CFPA FCS Placekicker of the Week (Scored 17 points including four FGs in 47-7 win at South Dakota)
        - Ben LeCompte, CFPA FCS Punter of the Week (Two punts averaging 64.5 yards in home win over South Dakota State, including season-long 66-yarder)
        - Christian Dudzik, College Sporting News FCS National All-Star (Forced fumble and two interceptions led to three NDSU touchdowns in win over Youngstown State...Also a team- and season-high eight tackles)
 
SEVEN ALL-AMERICANS: North Dakota State had seven players earn All-America recognition this season for their performances.  Only Colten Heagle (2013 Sports Network third team & College Sports Journal) had previously been named All-America.  Heagle was named to the Associated Press first team, Sports Network second team, Walter Camp and AFCA teams.  Joe Haeg was named to the Associated Press first team, Sports Network first team, FCS Athletic Directors Association, and AFCA team.  Kyle Emanuel was named to the Associated Press first team, Sports Network first team, FCS Athletic Directors Association, Walter Camp and AFCA teams. John Crockett and Ben LeCompte were named Sports Network second team, Andrew Bonnet made the Sports Network third team, and Adam Keller made the AP third team.
 
FOUR ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS:  North Dakota State led the nation with four student-athletes selected to the Capital One Academic All-America Division I football team by a vote of the College Sports Information Directors of America.  Defensive end Kyle Emanuel (3.66 construction management), linebacker Esley Thorton (3.92 exercise science) and quarterback Carson Wentz (4.00 health/physical education) were voted to the first team.  Center Jesse Hinz (3.71 criminal justice/Spanish) was selected to the second team.  Wide receiver Zach Vraa (3.51 sport management) was an Academic All-District honoree.  Those five were all voted to the Missouri Valley Football Conference all-academic first team, and safety Christian Dudzik (3.48 sport management/philosophy) was second team.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE:  Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Emanuel headlined a list of 10 NDSU players named to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference team.  Emanuel was one of eight NDSU players on the first team joining fullback Andrew Bonnet, left tackle Joe Haeg, center Jesse Hinz, linebacker Carlton Littlejohn, safeties Christian Dudzik and Colten Heagle, and punter Ben LeCompte.  Running back John Crockett and linebacker Travis Beck were selected to the second team.  Quarterback Carson Wentz, wide receiver Zach Vraa and kicker Adam Keller were honorable mentions.
 
THE COACH:  The 30th head coach in team history, Chris Klieman (Northern Iowa, 1992) took over the Bison in January after spending the previous three seasons as the defensive backs coach including defensive coordinator duties in 2012 and 2013.  The head coach at Division III Loras College in 2005, Klieman came to NDSU after five years at Northern Iowa. He also made coaching stops at Western Illinois (1994-96), Kansas (1997), Missouri State (1999) and Loras (2002-04).  He is a native of Waterloo, Iowa, and was a three-time all-conference defensive back at UNI from 1986-90.  Klieman's 9-0 start was the best by any first-year coach in school and conference history.  He was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award for FCS Coach of the Year.