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THIS WEEK:  No. 2-ranked North Dakota State (8-0, 5-0 MVFC) travels to face No. 8-ranked South Dakota State (6-2, 3-2 MVFC) in the 14th annual Dakota Marker game Saturday, Nov. 4.  Game time is 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium (19,340) in Brookings, S.D.
 
TELEVISION:  Coverage begins at 2 p.m. on KVLY and the NBC North Dakota network with Brian Shawn calling the play-by-play, Lee Timmerman color analyst, and Ryan Gellner on the sidelines.  Pregame coverage hosted by Alex Egan and Beth Hoole begins one hour prior to kickoff.  Midco Sports Network will broadcast live with Tom Nieman, analyst Hank McCall and sideline reporter Carla Metts describing the action.  ESPN3 will carry the MidcoSN broadcast on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
 
RADIO:  Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. on the Peterson Farms Seed Bison Radio Network with Jeff Culhane play-by-play, NDSU and Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Phil Hansen analyst, and NDSU's Jeremy Jorgenson sidelines.  Extended coverage locally on 107.9 The Fox, Bison 1660 and 92.7 FM includes "Bison Tailgate" from 10:30-11:30 a.m. with Brad Jones, "Bison Game Day" from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and "Bison Hotline" for two hours following the network broadcast with hosts Keith Brake, Chris Hanson and former NDSU defensive end Cole Jirik.
 
ONLINE:  NDSU All Access live video streaming for home games is by subscription on GoBison.com/allaccess.  Audio streaming of the Bison Radio Network broadcast for every NDSU football game is available free of charge.  Live stats for NDSU home games are available on BisonStats.com.  Follow @NDSUfootball on Twitter for game updates.
 
SDSU TAILGATING INFO:  North Dakota State fans traveling to this week's game may tailgate in designated lots west of the stadium near the intersection of North Campus Drive and Medary Avenue.  Passes for cars and trucks are $10 on game day.  Passes for RVs, buses, trailers, or other oversized vehicles are $50 and advance purchases are available.  Lots open at 9:00 a.m.  RVs and other oversized vehicles must be parked by 11:00 a.m.  Beer and wine are allowed; glass bottles and hard liquor are not permitted.  Alcoholic beverages may not be carried out of the tailgating lots.  No overnight parking on campus.
 
THE SERIES:  This is the 107th meeting between North Dakota State and South Dakota State dating back to 1903.  NDSU leads the series 60-41-5 and has won nine of the last 10 meetings including a 36-10 victory in last year's NCAA quarterfinal matchup.  SDSU's 19-17 last-second win in Fargo last year snapped an eight-game NDSU series winning streak.  The Bison are 24-26-1 in Brookings but have won three straight there.
 
DAKOTA MARKER:  This is the 14th annual Dakota Marker game, established in 2004 when the two teams began Division I competition.  The trophy is a 75-pound model replica of the original quartzite monuments placed at half-mile intervals along the state border in 1891-1892.  NDSU leads the series 8-5 but had a six-game winning streak snapped last year in Fargo.  The Bison are 3-3 in Brookings since 2004 with victories in each of the last three visits.
 
LAST WEEK:  North Dakota State scored 17 points off five turnovers en route to a 30-14 home win over Northern Iowa.  Robbie Grimsley's 27-yard interception return for touchdown tied the game 7-7 before halftime, and the Bison went ahead for good when Ty Brooks' 22-yard TD run capped an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive to start the third quarter.  Tre Dempsey made his 15th career interception, Nick DeLuca had two strip sacks, and Derrek Tuszka had a strip sack as the Bison totaled six sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
 
JORDHEIM, DELUCA TIE RECORDS:  Linebacker Levi Jordheim's three fumble recoveries against Northern Iowa tied the NDSU record set by Don Meyer at Northern Michigan in 1976 and the Missouri Valley Football Conference record set by Missouri State's Dempster Jackson in 1985 vs. Southern Illinois.  Linebacker Nick DeLuca's two strip sacks tied the NDSU record of two forced fumbles done 31 times by 28 players, most recently by defensive end Cole Jirik in the 2012 win at Illinois State.
 
OFFENSE COMING OUT STRONG:  North Dakota State has scored on its opening drive of the half 12 of 16 times this year with 10 touchdowns and two field goals.  NDSU erased its only halftime deficit of the year against Western Illinois with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on the first possession of the second half, and broke a 7-7 tie last week against UNI with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.  The Bison are averaging nearly 19 minutes in time of possession in the second half while outscoring opponents 159-30 after halftime.
 
WINNING FORMULA:  Time of possession and the rushing game have been keys for North Dakota State in winning 9 of the last 10 matchups with South Dakota State.  Last year's 19-17 loss was the only game SDSU has led in either category, outrushing the Bison 220-161 and holding the ball for 32:23.  In SDSU's last five losses to FCS opponents, teams have outrushed the Jackrabbits by an average of 295-61 and the last three – NDSU, Youngstown State and Northern Iowa – have held the ball for more than 40 minutes.
 

Year	Site	NDSU TOP	SDSU TOP	NDSU Rush	SDSU Rush
2016	Fargo (NCAA)	40:55	19:05	302	37
2016	Fargo	27:37	32:23	161	220
2015	Brookings	39:19	20:41	202	minus-4
2014	Fargo (NCAA)	31:25	28:35	181	143
2014	Fargo	38:20	21:40	290	89
2013	Brookings	40:20	19:40	262	minus-32
2012	Fargo (NCAA)	37:54	22:06	218	21
2012	Fargo	35:08	24:52	171	46
2011	Brookings	32:26	27:34	149	63
2010	Fargo	33:34	26:26	176	84

 
 
BISON GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK:  North Dakota State has 17 sacks over the last three weeks, the second most in any three-game stretch for NDSU as a Division I program.  Nine different players combined to get six sacks at Youngstown State, five against Western Illinois and six against Northern Iowa.  Caleb Butler and Derrek Tuszka each lead the Bison with 3.5 sacks this season, while Jabril Cox, Levi Jordheim and Cole Karcz have 3.0 sacks apiece.  NDSU recorded 18 sacks in the final three games of the 2008 season, including a Division I school-record eight sacks at Missouri State.
 
BISON SECOND NATIONALLY IN TURNOVER MARGIN:  North Dakota State forced five turnovers in last week's win over Northern Iowa, and the Bison are tied for second in the FCS with a plus-14 turnover margin behind only Grambling State (+18).
 
DECADE LEADER:  North Dakota State's 100 wins this decade are more than any other program in college football.  NDSU is 91-7 since the beginning of 2011, the first of five national championship seasons.  North Dakota State holds the distinction of being the winningest Division II program of the 1980s, going 103-20-2 from 1980-89 with four national titles in that span.
            FCS Winningest Teams, 2010s (by wins)
            100 - North Dakota State (100-12)
            81 - Sam Houston State (81-26)
            76 - Eastern Washington (76-27)
            73 - Jacksonville State (73-23)
            67 - James Madison (67-28)
            66 - New Hampshire (66-33)

            FCS Winningest Teams, 2010s (by pct.)
            .893 - North Dakota State (100-12)
            .818 - Harvard (63-14)
            .760 - Jacksonville State (73-23)
            .757 - Sam Houston State (81-26)
            .738 - Eastern Washington (76-27)
 
NATIONAL POLLS:  No. 2-ranked North Dakota State made its 101st straight STATS FCS Top 25 poll this week, the longest active streak in the national media poll.  NDSU moved into the poll Nov. 1, 2010, after one unranked week following a loss to Illinois State.  The Bison have been in the STATS FCS Top 25 in 107 of the last 108 polls.  Since beating Minnesota and climbing to No. 5 on Sept. 26, 2011, the Bison have been in the top five all but three weeks in 2015.
 
STOPPING THE RUN:  The Bison, who have allowed just four rushing TDs this year, limited Northern Iowa to 48 yards and no rushing TDs last week after UNI rushed for 399 yards and five TDs over its previous two games. NDSU's rushing defense continues to lead the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 69.1 yards per game and 2.2 yards per carry, which both rank third in the FCS.  The previous lows for a Bison defense in Division I came in 2006 when NDSU allowed 67.2 yards per game and 2.5 per carry.
 
BISON DEFENSE STINGY:  North Dakota State was the last team in the FCS to allow a passing touchdown, and the Bison continue to lead the FCS with just 119.1 passing yards allowed per game.  NDSU is the only team in the FCS allowing less than 200 total yards per game (188.3), and the Bison are second in yards allowed per play (3.58) behind James Madison (3.54).  NDSU ranks second in scoring defense (10.1 ppg) one point behind JMU, and the Bison are first in opponent touchdowns (9) and first downs (81).
 
BEST ROAD WINNING STREAK:  NDSU has won 12 consecutive true road games, which is the longest active road winning streak in the FCS and third best among all Division I programs behind Oklahoma (14) and Alabama (13).  The Bison have won 13 straight away from Fargo including the 2015 national championship game and are 37-2 since 2011.
 
STICK THIRD IN TD PASSES:  Junior quarterback Easton Stick threw his 46th career touchdown pass against Western Illinois, passing Carson Wentz for third place all-time at NDSU behind Brock Jensen (72) and Steve Walker (60).  Stick had a school-record streak of 152 consecutive attempts without an interception ended against Western Illinois.  He has an almost 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio with just 17 picks in 30 games as NDSU's starter.
 
DUNN LEADS IN SCORING:  NDSU's Lance Dunn leads the FCS with 12 rushing touchdowns, 11.1 points per game, and 13 total touchdowns.  He leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 90.6 rushing yards per game, which ranks 19th nationally.
 
INTERCEPTION LEADERS:  NDSU is tied for fourth in the FCS with 14 interceptions behind Campbell (18), James Madison (17) and Kennesaw State (16).  Safety Tre Dempsey leads the Bison with five interceptions.  Dempsey's 15 career picks are second most among active FCS players behind Southern's Danny Johnson (16) and third most in NDSU history behind Marcus Williams (21) and Steve Krumrei (16).
 
URZENDOWSKI PASSES 2,000 YARDS:  Wide receiver RJ Urzendowski is the sixth NDSU player to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards.  Urzendowski has 2,208 yards and ranks fifth in career TD catches (21) and sixth in receptions (135).  He has caught at least one pass in 47 of 53 career games including the last 13 straight contests.
 
TIGHT END PRODUCTION:  NDSU tight ends have been a steady weapon in the NDSU passing game this season.  Seniors Connor Wentz and Jeff Illies, junior Nate Jenson and sophomore Ben Ellefson have combined for 29 catches totaling 358 yards and six TDs.
 
MORE THAN 700 WINS:  North Dakota State has played 1,108 games with a 704-370-34 record in 120 seasons of football, good for a .650 winning percentage.  Only four Ivy League teams each with at least 20 more years of football have more wins at the FCS level: Yale (899), Harvard (868), Penn (847) and Princeton (821).  Northern Iowa has the second most wins among Missouri Valley Football Conference programs with 659.  NDSU's 91 victories since 2011 are more than any other team in Division I football ahead of Alabama (84), Clemson (77), Sam Houston State (75) and Ohio State (74).
 
EARLY-SEASON SCORING:  North Dakota State's 168 points scored through the first three games was the most in NDSU's Division I history and second most in the modern era of the program.  The 2000 NCAA playoff team scored 169 over its first three contests.  NDSU's previous Division I high through three games was 140 points by the 2012 team.
 
TOP 10 ROAD GAMES:  South Dakota State is the third FCS Top 10 team that North Dakota State will play on the road this year.  NDSU's win at Youngstown State was the 10th time NDSU has faced an FCS Top 10 team on the road since 2004.  The Bison are 6-4 in those games.
            FCS Top 10 Opponents on Road
            2017–Won 27-24 at #8 Youngstown State
            2017–Won 40-13 at #6 Eastern Washington
            2015–Won 28-7 at #5 South Dakota State
            2013–Won 20-0 at #6 South Dakota State
            2010–Lost 38-31 at #1 Eastern Washington
            2010–Won 42-17 at #6 Montana State
            2009–Lost 24-14 at #8 Southern Illinois
            2008–Lost 23-13 at #4 Northern Iowa
            2005–Lost 37-6 at #9 Cal Poly
            2005–Won 35-7 at #9 Northwestern State
 
RECORD DAY FOR BISON OFFENSE:  North Dakota State set highs for points, rushing yards and total offense in 14 years of Division I football in the 72-7 win over Mississippi Valley State.  The 683 yards of total offense were the most for the Bison in 29 years and the fourth highest in school single-game history.  NDSU's 498 rushing yards ranked seventh in school history.  NDSU scored touchdowns on its first five possessions with only one drive longer than three plays, and the Bison built a 44-0 lead early in the second quarter.
 
TOP MARKS NATIONALLY:  NDSU's 498 rushing yards against Mississippi Valley State are the second most by an FCS team this season, and the 683 yards of total offense tied for fifth.  NDSU's 72 points are fourth most.  On defense, NDSU's minus-31 rushing yards allowed is third best in FCS and second in NDSU's Division I history (minus-32 at South Dakota State in 2013).  North Dakota State's 57 total yards allowed against Robert Morris and 58 against Mississippi Valley State are the second and third best defensive performances in FCS this year behind only Illinois State (41 vs. Butler).
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:  North Dakota State has had five players earn six Missouri Valley Football Conference player of the week honors this season:
        —Tanner Volson, Offensive Line...Graded 100% assignment and 87% technique with zero sacks against Mississippi Valley State...NDSU averaged 17.5 yards per carry while in the game.
        —Robbie Grimsley, Defensive...Two interceptions, two pass breakups and four tackles at Eastern Washington...Part of a defense that held EWU to 73 yards in the final three quarters.
        —Lance Dunn, Offensive...Scored four TDs on four plays against Robert Morris...Had runs of 61, 5 and 45 yards and a 10-yard catch for 121 all-purpose yards.
        —Jabril Cox, Newcomer (2x)...Team-high eight tackles including four on kickoff coverage, a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss as NDSU held Robert Morris to 57 total yards, four first downs and one trip past midfield...Career-high eight tackles with two sacks and another key tackle for loss in overtime of a win at Youngstown State.
        —Cam Pedersen, Special Teams...Kicked a 36-yard game-winning field goal in overtime at Youngstown State...Also had a 19-yarder to tie the game at halftime and went 3 of 3 on PATs.
 
COX ON JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST:  North Dakota State linebacker Jabril Cox is one of 17 players on the watch list for the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award, presented annually since 2011 to the top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision.  Cox is second on the Bison with 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.  He is a two-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week and was named the STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week after making eight tackles, two sacks and a key tackle for loss in overtime of the win at Youngstown State.  Cox is the first NDSU player nominated for the Jerry Rice Award, named after the NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver who played at Mississippi Valley State.
 
MORGAN SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY:  North Dakota State defensive tackle Grant Morgan is one of 181 national semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented annually by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame to the top scholar-athlete in college football.  Nominees are in their final year of eligibility with at least a 3.2 GPA, outstanding football ability and strong leadership and citizenship.  The NFF will announce Wednesday 12-14 finalists who will receive $18,000 postgraduate scholarships.  The winner is announced in December and earns an additional $7,000 toward a postgraduate scholarship. 
 
WILSON THIRD FRESHMAN TO PLAY:  Running back Seth Wilson from Holmen, Wis., made is debut in the Northern Iowa game and is the third true freshman to play for NDSU this season.  Defensive end Logan McCormick from Appleton, Wis., and cornerback Josh Hayes from Lakeland, Fla., have played since the season opener against Mississippi Valley State.  They were the first true freshmen to play for NDSU since 2015.  NDSU redshirted its entire freshman class in 2016, the only time that has happened in 14 years of Division I football.
 
PEDERSEN TIES PAT RECORD:  Junior placekicker Cam Pedersen tied the 49-year old school record of 10 PAT kicks made in the 72-7 win over Mississippi Valley State.  The mark was set in 1968 by Ken Blazei against Augustana (S.D.).  Pedersen ranks fourth all-time at NDSU for PAT kicks made (149) and attempted (154) and also ranks fourth in field goals made (35) and attempted (56).
 
BISON RETURN 16 STARTERS:  North Dakota State returns nine starters on defense and seven on offense from last year's NCAA semifinal team that finished 12-2 and won a sixth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship with a 7-1 league record.  Included is linebacker Nick DeLuca, a two-time nominee for the Butkus Award, who returns for a fifth season after being limited to three games last year with a shoulder injury.
 
FOUR OUT FOR SEASON:  North Dakota State has lost four players to season-ending knee injuries this year.  Two-time All-America defensive end Greg Menard went out during the opening week of fall camp, but is eligible to return to the Bison for a fifth season in 2018 after playing as a true freshman in 2014.  Redshirt freshman left tackle Dillon Radunz and sophomore running back Demaris Purifoy were both injured in the season-opener against Mississippi Valley State, and junior linebacker Dan Marlette was injured against Missouri State.
 
SIX STRAIGHT CONFERENCE TITLES:  North Dakota State won a share of its sixth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship last season, tying South Dakota State with a 7-1 record in league play.  NDSU won outright MVFC titles in 2012 and 2013.  The Bison shared the 2011 title with Northern Iowa and the 2014 and 2015 crowns with Illinois State.  North Dakota State has won 33 football conference championships including 26 in the North Central Conference (last in 1994) and one in the Great West Football Conference (2006).
 
BISON PICKED TO WIN VALLEY:  North Dakota State was picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference by a single vote over second-place South Dakota State.  NDSU earned 21 of 40 first-place votes and had 380 points followed by SDSU with 19 first-place votes and 379 points.  Youngstown State, national finalist a year ago, was picked third ahead of Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Western Illinois, South Dakota, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Indiana State.
 
SEVEN ON PRESEASON TEAM:  Junior running back Lance Dunn, senior long snapper James Fisher, senior defensive end Greg Menard, senior defensive tackle Nate Tanguay, senior linebacker Nick DeLuca, senior safety Tre Dempsey, and junior safety Robbie Grimsley were voted to the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason team by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media.  Wide receivers Darrius Shepherd and RJ Urzendowski and offensive lineman Austin Kuhnert earned honorable mention for NDSU.
 
BISON AT HOME:  North Dakota State is 60-6 at home since 2010.  The Bison have won 56 of the last 58 home games over non-conference opponents including a string of 45 straight before last year's NCAA semifinal loss to James Madison.  NDSU is 17-4 at home all-time against FCS Top 10 teams.  North Dakota State ranks seventh in FCS this year with an average home attendance of 18,604 and has drawn 18,000-plus to 52 straight home contests.
 
SUCCESS VS. THE FBS:  North Dakota State has a 9-3 record against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and has won six in a row against FBS foes since 2010 with wins at Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21), Iowa State (34-14) and 11th-ranked Iowa (23-21).  NDSU has three future FBS games against Oregon in 2020, Arizona in 2022 and Colorado in 2024.  NDSU's first three FBS wins were against Ball State (2006), Central Michigan (2007) and Minnesota (2007).
 
BIG LEAGUE BISON:  North Dakota State will host Butler at Target Field in Minneapolis in the season opener August 31, 2019.  It will be the first Division I football game at the Major League Baseball stadium, which hosted a Division III game this year between in-state rivals St. Thomas and Saint John's.  NDSU has more than 12,000 alumni in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and nearly 26,000 alumni across Minnesota.  The game is in addition to a six-game home schedule at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome in 2019, which is a 12-game regular season.