THIS WEEK: North Dakota State (9-3) goes on the road in FCS playoffs for only the fourth time in program history this week when the Bison take on No. 6 seed Montana State (8-3) in the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship. Game time is 2 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. MT at Bobcat Stadium (17,000) in Bozeman, where Montana State has the longest active home winning streak in Division I at 26 games.
 
TELEVISION: ESPN+ will have live coverage beginning at 2 p.m. CT with Noah Reed (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst). ESPN+ is available by subscription on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
 
RADIO: Statewide network coverage begins at 1 p.m. CT on the Pioneer Seeds Bison Sports Network including Bison 1660 and 107.9 The Fox in Fargo with Sam Neidermann (play-by-play), Phil Hansen (analyst) and James Hendricks (sideline). The network broadcast includes 1-hour pregame and 30-minute postgame shows. Streaming is available on GoBison.com/allaccess and the NDSU Athletics mobile app.
 
THE SERIES: This is the 38th meeting between North Dakota State and Montana State dating back to 1914. MSU leads the series 21-16, but NDSU has won the last four straight, all in the FCS playoffs. The Bison won in the 2010 and 2018 second round, 2019 semifinal and 2021 championship. This is NDSU's third trip to Bozeman as an FCS program. The Bison lost 20-17 in 2005 and won 42-17 in the second round of the 2010 playoffs.
 
PLAYOFF ROAD TRIP: This is NDSU's 50th game in the FCS playoffs, but only the fourth true road game for the Bison excluding 10 national championship game appearances in Frisco, Texas. NDSU hasn't been on the road for the playoffs since April 2021 when the Bison lost 24-20 in the quarterfinals to eventual national champion Sam Houston State. NDSU's first FCS playoff appearance in 2010 included two road games, a 42-17 second round win at Montana State and a 38-31 overtime loss to eventual national champion Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals.
 
THE GREAT OUTDOORS: This week will be only the third outdoor game for North Dakota State this season. NDSU played outdoors against Missouri State and South Dakota State. The Bison have had seven home games in the Fargodome, one at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and indoor road games at North Dakota and Northern Iowa.
 
QUARTERFINALS NEXT: Saturday's winner will advance to face either Sacramento State (8-4) or No. 3 seed South Dakota (9-2) in next week's quarterfinal round either Friday, Dec. 8, or Saturday, Dec. 9. NDSU has advanced to an FCS record 13 straight quarterfinals.
        Most Consecutive FCS Playoff Appearances
        17 - Montana, 1993-2009
        14 - New Hampshire, 2004-2017
        14 - North Dakota State, 2010-2023
        12 - South Dakota State, 2012-2023
        10 - Eastern Kentucky, 1986-1995

        Highest Winning Percentage in FCS Playoffs
        .918 - North Dakota State (45-4)
        .793 - Marshall (23-6)
        .784 - Youngstown State (29-8)
        .776 - Georgia Southern (45-13)

        Most Consecutive FCS Quarterfinals
        13 - North Dakota State, 2010-2022
        6 - Appalachian State, 2005-2010
        6 - Marshall, 1991-1996
        6 - Georgia Southern, 1985-1990
        6 - Georgia Southern, 1997-2002

        Most FCS Quarterfinals (Last)
        17 - Georgia Southern (2012)
        14 - Montana (2021)
        14 - Northern Iowa (2019)
        13 - North Dakota State (2022)
        13 - Delaware (2020)
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY: This is North Dakota State's 14th straight postseason appearance dating back to 2010 and the 37th in program history. NDSU has an 80-17 record in the postseason with 17 national championships including nine FCS titles in 11 years from 2011 to 2021. The Bison won three College Division national championships in 1965, 1968 and 1969 and five Division II titles in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990. NDSU is 75-16 in the NCAA playoff format since 1973. The Bison have a 45-4 mark in the FCS playoffs, including a 35-1 record in the Fargodome.
        Most FCS Playoff Wins
        45 - Georgia Southern
        45 - North Dakota State
        35 - Montana
        29 - Youngstown State
 
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS: North Dakota State had nine selections to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference team highlighted by Hunter Brozio, who earned two spots as the first team fullback and long snapper. Right guard Jake Kubas, left tackle Jalen Sundell, defensive end Dylan Hendricks, linebacker Logan Kopp and safety Cole Wisniewski also made the first team. Quarterback Cam Miller finished third overall in the voting for MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and made the second team along with NDSU defensive tackle Eli Mostaert. Four honorable mentions were tight end Joe Stoffel, all-purpose player RaJa Nelson, punt returner Jayden Price and placekicker Griffin Crosa.
 
FINALISTS: NDSU has three finalists for FCS national player of the year awards. Linebacker Logan Kopp is a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award presented to the defensive player of the year, and quarterback Cam Miller is a candidate for the Walter Payton Award, presented to the offensive player of the year. Previous NDSU winners were defensive end Kyle Emanuel for the 2014 Buck Buchanan Award and quarterback Trey Lance for the 2019 Walter Payton Award. In addition, safety Cole Wisniewski is a finalist for the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, presented annually to an FCS student-athlete who excels on the field, in the classroom and across the community.
 
BISON BLAST BULLDOGS: North Dakota State forced five turnovers and rolled to a 66-3 victory over Drake in the first round of the FCS playoffs, setting NDSU postseason records for touchdowns (9) and points scored. Cam Miller was 10 of 11 passing for 206 yards and two touchdowns while adding 62 rushing yards, and Cole Payton rushed for a career-high 104 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Jung and Jayden Price intercepted passes, Jung and Kole Menz forced fumbles recovered by Julian Wlodarczyk and Loshiaka Roques, and Kelton McCaslin scored on a 5-yard fumble recovery.
 
200-YARD PASSERS: Quarterback Cam Miller against Drake had his third straight 200-yard passing game, fifth this season, and the 10th of his career. Only one other NDSU passer at the Division I level has three straight 200-yard games; Brock Jensen did it in 2013 against Youngstown State (200), South Dakota (230) and Furman (249). Only four other passers have as many career 200-yard games in NDSU history: Jensen (14 from 2010-13), Steve Walker (13 from 2004-07), Easton Stick (13 from 2016-18) and Carson Wentz (11 from 2014-15). Miller currently ranks fourth in school history behind Walker, Jensen and Stick in career passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.
 
14 SENIORS: Prior to the Southern Illinois game, North Dakota State introduced 14 seniors who were playing their final regular-season home game. The 14 were defensive end Jake Kava, offensive linemen Jake Kubas, Jalen Sundell and Brandon Westberg, wide receivers Jake Lippe, Zach Mathis and Giancarlo Volpentesta, cornerbacks Jenaro Ocama and Jayden Price, linebackers Cade Powers, Dylan Taves and Julian Wlodarczyk, tight end Jacob Streit, and running back TaMerik Williams.
 
THE COIN TOSS: North Dakota State has won 40 of 68 pregame coin tosses since 2019 under head coach Matt Entz. The Bison have deferred their choice to the second half 33 times and elected to receive the ball seven times, including the last five tosses they've won. Entz's teams are 7-0 when taking the ball first. The other two games were the 2019 season opener at Target Field against Butler and in 2021 at Illinois State.
 
OPENING DRIVES: NDSU has scored on its first offensive possession in 11 of 12 games this year with nine touchdowns and two field goals. The Bison have started the second half with points on their first possession in 8 of 12 games with six touchdowns and two field goals.
 
MILLER SETS RECORD: Quarterback Cam Miller ranks first in the FCS with a .754 completion percentage through 12 games. Miller was 18-for-19 against Central Arkansas and his 94.7 completion rate was an NDSU single-game record for passers with more than 10 attempts. Miller completed his last 17 attempts against UCA and his first six against South Dakota to set a new NDSU record with 23 consecutive completions, breaking Brock Jensen's 2013 record of 21 straight against Kansas State (14) and Ferris State (7).
 
PRICE TIES PUNT RETURN RECORD: All-America punt returner Jayden Price tied the NDSU career record with his fourth career punt return touchdown, a 66-yard run against Murray State. Richard Lewis set the school record with four punt return TDs in 2000 and 2001.
 
TRUE FRESHMEN: North Dakota State has played five true freshmen this season. Kicker Eli Ozick, cornerback Najee Nelson and running back Kelly Watson made their debuts against Western Illinois. Cornerbacks Jaylin Crumby and Jailen Duffie played their first game against Murray State. Players may participate in up to four regular-season games without using a year of eligibility. New this year, FCS postseason games are exempt and will not count toward the four-game rule.
 
CROSA CONNECTS: Bison kicker Griffin Crosa had a streak of 127 consecutive PAT conversions snapped when South Dakota State blocked his first attempt of the game. The streak, dating back to 2019, was the third longest in Missouri Valley Football Conference history. Crosa is third all-time at NDSU in PATs made and attempted (190-for-192) and his career PAT percentage of 99.0 is second in school history behind Jake Reinholz, who was 87-for-87 from 2018 to 2021. Crosa is fifth all-time at NDSU with 38 field goals made and ranks first with an 82.6 career field goal percentage (38-for-46).
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: North Dakota State has had five players earn seven Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of the Week honors in 2023:
        – Cole Wisniewski, Defense (9/4, 11/20)...Game- and career-high 11 tackles with his first career interception and one pass breakup against Eastern Washington in his first game at strong safety...Game-high 10 tackles with a TFL in the red zone, a pass breakup, and a 75-yard interception return for TD at Northern Iowa.
        – Kaedin Steindorf, Special Teams (9/4)...Averaged 47.2 yards per punt with three inside the 20 (two inside the 10) and held for five PAT conversions against Eastern Washington.
        – Griffin Crosa, Special Teams (9/11)...Converted field goals from 27, 40 and 31 yards to stake the Bison to a 9-0 lead and added five extra-point kicks in the 44-7 win over Maine.
        – Logan Kopp, Defense (10/9, 10/30)...Nine tackles, two pass breakups, fumble forced and recovered in the 38-10 win at Missouri State...Seven tackles, 1.5 TFLs, a half-sack, forced fumble and interception in the 38-6 win over Murray State.
        – Jake Kubas, Offensive Line (11/13)...Graded 90% with no TFLs or sacks allowed as NDSU rushed for 217 yards and four TDs against the third-ranked defense of Southern Illinois.
 
SHRINE BOWL INVITE: North Dakota State left tackle Jalen Sundell has been invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl, one of college football's top all-star games. Sundell was NDSU's starter at center the past three seasons before moving to left tackle this year. NDSU has had 14 former players participate in the Shrine Bowl, including current Bengals offensive lineman Cordell Volson (2022) and Chargers quarterback Easton Stick (2019).
 
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS: NDSU defensive tackle Eli Mostaert, long snapper Hunter Brozio, offensive lineman Jalen Sundell and running back TaMerik Williams were named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team. Mostaert was also named to the HERO Sports All-FCS preseason team, and Mostaert and Sundell made Phil Steele's FCS Preseason All-America Team.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: North Dakota State is 80-4 against non-conference opponents since the beginning of its first FCS national championship season in 2011. One loss was to a Pac-12 opponent (31-28 at Arizona in 2021) 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 38-35 home win in the 2015 FCS Kickoff is NDSU's only other non-conference loss the past 12 years.
 
BISON AT HOME: The Bison have a 189-29 record in the Fargodome, 33-6 at home against FCS Top 10 ranked teams, and winners of 82 of the last 84 home games over non-conference opponents. North Dakota State has a 35-1 record in the Fargodome during the NCAA playoffs and has won 17 straight since the 2016 semifinal loss to eventual national champion James Madison. NDSU's 32-game home winning streak September 2017 through April 2021 was fourth longest in FCS history.