Saturday, October 17
Fargo, N.D.
6 p.m.
North Dakota State
vs
Nevada
Photo by: Chris Colacurci
North Dakota State Hosts Nevada Saturday Night on CBS Sports Network
10/13/2026 5:00:00 PM | Football
THIS WEEK: The North Dakota State football team is back at home this week when the Bison (5-1, 2-1 MW) host the Nevada Wolf Pack (2-3, 1-1 MW) at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700).
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Chris Lewis (play-by-play) and Doug Pederson (analyst) describing the action.
RADIO: Statewide network coverage on all 25 stations across the Pioneer Seeds Bison Sports Network begins 1 hour prior to game time including Bison 1660 and 107.9 The Fox in Fargo with Sam Neidermann (play-by-play), Phil Hansen (analyst) and Noah Gindorff (sideline) on the call. Streaming is available on GoBison.com/allaccess and the NDSU Athletics mobile app.
COACHES SHOW: 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. Watch the show on MW+ or listen on Bison 1660 in Fargo, KCJB-AM 910 in Minot, KSJB-AM 600 in Jamestown, KYCR-AM 1440 in Minneapolis, GoBison.com and the NDSU Athletics mobile app.
MW+ STREAMING: Visit GoBison.com/MW+ and subscribe to MW+ to watch live Bison press conferences, weekly episodes of The Bison Football Show, and other featured content and live games from around the Mountain West Conference including NDSU's home game vs. UTEP.
THE SERIES: This is the first meeting between North Dakota State and Nevada.
BISON FALL AT UNLV: North Dakota State is coming off its first loss of the season 13-7 at UNLV last week. The NDSU defense held the Rebels to two second-half field goals, but the Bison committed three turnovers including a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter. Chris Kiel caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Hayes for NDSU's only score of the game. Donovan Woolen made a team-high 11 tackles and Ray James Jr. had a career-high eight stops plus a half-sack and his first career interception.
NEVADA BACK IN WIN COLUMN: Nevada snapped a three-game losing streak with a 30-13 road win over UTEP last week to improve to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Mountain West. The Wolf Pack held UTEP to 79 rushing yards and made a season-high nine tackles for loss. Nevada running back Herschel Turner ran for a career-high 192 yards on 19 carries including a 72-yard touchdown and Dominic Kelley rushed for 99 yards and a TD. Jeff Choate is 8-22 in his third year as Nevada's head coach after spending the previous four seasons at Montana State, where he brought the Bobcats to the Fargodome for the 2018 FCS second round and 2019 FCS semifinals.
DEFENSIVE RANKINGS: North Dakota State leads the FBS in passing defense (124.5 ypg) and red zone defense (.583) and ranks second in total defense (239.3 ypg), scoring defense (10.3 ppg) and defensive touchdowns (3) through six contests. The Bison also third nationally in pass interceptions (9) and opponent pass efficiency rating (96.65). NDSU's defense has not allowed a touchdown in the eight quarters of play.
DEFENSIVE SCORING: North Dakota State is tied with New Mexico State, Notre Dame and Texas Tech for second in the FBS with three defensive touchdowns behind Alabama (4). The Bison scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone by defensive end Blake Schiltz, a 37-yard interception return by cornerback Marion Moore and a 24-yard fumble recovery by safety Darius Givance.
RED ZONE DEFENSE: North Dakota State leads the FBS in red-zone defense again this week holding opponents to 58 percent on red-zone opportunities. The Bison have allowed three rushing TDs, one passing TD and three field goals in 12 trips inside the 20.
MIDDLE EIGHT: North Dakota State has been excellent in the "middle eight" minutes under head coach Tim Polasek outscoring opponents 269-59 in the final 4:00 of the first half and first 4:00 of the second half. Most of that scoring has come at the end of the first half, where the Bison have a 189-56 advantage. NDSU has scored in the middle eight in 27 of 35 games since the beginning of the 2024 season.
TWO-MINUTE SUCCESS: The Bison scored in the two-minute drill before halftime each of the first three weeks of the season.
— vs. Jacksonville State...Went 88 yards in 8 plays and 1:24...Targeted seven different receivers completing 6 of 7 attempts including a 44-yard TD pass to Jordan McCants for a 17-7 lead.
— vs. Fordham...Went 80 yards in 9 plays and 1:24...Completed 6 of 6 passes for four first downs before Chris Kiel's 8-yard TD catch for a 17-0 lead.
— at Air Force...Went 65 yards in 6 plays and 1:19...Completed 3 of 4 passes highlighted by a 51-yard play to Jackson Williams at the 1 before a Myles Mitchell 1-yard TD run for a 28-13 lead.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: NDSU swept all four Old Trapper Mountain West player of the week awards in Week Zero after a 33-7 win over Jacksonville State. Eight NDSU players have combined for 11 MW player of the week honors this year:
— QB Nathan Hayes (Offense 8/31, 9/14)...Completed 14 of 22 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns against Jacksonville State...Passed for 228 yards and two TDs with a 17-yard rushing TD at Air Force.
— LB Donovan Woolen (Defense 8/31, 10/5)...Game-high 10 tackles against Jacksonville State...Team-high nine tackles with an interception, solo sack, assisted TFL and third-and-goal stop in the shutout of Wyoming.
— K Drew Klein (Special Teams 8/31, 9/14)...Scored 15 points with field goals of 34, 44, 42 and 48 yards plus three PAT kicks against Jacksonville State...School-record 56-yard field goal and five PATs at Air Force.
— DE Blake Schiltz (Freshman 8/31)...Recovered a fumble for a touchdown and added a sack in his first collegiate game against Jacksonville State.
— RB Myles Mitchell (Freshman 9/14)...Team-high 15 carries, 61 yards and two touchdowns at Air Force, including a 31-yard TD on the game's opening drive.
— WR Jackson Williams (Offense 9/21)...Career-high seven receptions and 134 yards with one TD at Sacramento State...Scored on a 33-yard pass to cap NDSU's game-opening drive and had four receptions of 20-plus yards.
— S Darius Givance (Defense 9/21)...Career-high seven tackles at Sacramento State including six solo stops...Scored his first collegiate TD on a 24-yard fumble recovery 3:11 into the game.
— LB Gavin Sell (Freshman 9/21)...Five tackles including a forced fumble on Sacramento State's first drive that resulted in an NDSU touchdown and 14-0 lead.
FBS DEBUTS: Ten former FCS teams have reclassified to FBS in the past 10 years, and only North Dakota State and James Madison started with five straight victories. The Dukes started 5-0 in 2022 before finishing 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Sun Belt Conference.
PRESEASON PICKS: NDSU return specialist Jackson Williams was named Mountain West Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year and claimed two spots on the preseason team as kick returner and punt returner. Other NDSU selections were offensive lineman Griffin Empey, defensive tackle Keenan Wilson and safety Darius Givance.
BEDNARIK AWARD: NDSU defensive tackle Keenan Wilson was named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football since 1994. Wilson was an FCS All-American last year starting all 13 games and posting 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.
PAUL HORNUNG AWARD: NDSU return specialist Jackson Williams was named to the preseason watch list for the 17th annual Paul Hornung Award, presented to the most versatile player in major college football. Williams was one of three players in all of Division I last season to have both a kick return touchdown and a punt return touchdown. He totaled 1,106 all-purpose yards.
MAXWELL AWARD: NDSU running back DJ Scott made the preseason watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Scott headlines the Bison backfield this year after rushing for 502 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
FCS ERA BY THE NUMBERS: North Dakota State competed in the Football Championship Subdivision for 22 seasons from 2004 through 2025, spending the past 18 years in the Missouri Valley Football Conference after four years in the Great West Football Conference while reclassifying from Division II. Here are the final numbers from NDSU's FCS era:
— Overall record: 251-49 (.837)
— Record from 2011-2025: 198-22 (.900)
— 13 conference championships (12 MVFC, 1 GWFC)
— 10 national championships (FCS record)
— 16 consecutive postseason appearances
— 51-6 in playoffs (FCS record for wins)
— 38-2 in playoffs at home
— 39-game winning streak (FCS record)
— 33-game winning streak (2nd in FCS)
— 9-5 record vs. FBS opponents
— 26 weeks of AP Top 25 votes
— 21 NFL draft picks (14 in past 8 years)
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 12 conference championships in 18 years of Missouri Valley Football Conference membership, including the 2024 and 2025 titles. 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.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: North Dakota State is 94-6 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 208-30 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. North Dakota State had a 38-2 record in the Fargodome during the FCS playoffs and the Bison's 32-game home winning streak September 2017 through April 2021 is fifth longest in FCS history.
TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Chris Lewis (play-by-play) and Doug Pederson (analyst) describing the action.
RADIO: Statewide network coverage on all 25 stations across the Pioneer Seeds Bison Sports Network begins 1 hour prior to game time including Bison 1660 and 107.9 The Fox in Fargo with Sam Neidermann (play-by-play), Phil Hansen (analyst) and Noah Gindorff (sideline) on the call. Streaming is available on GoBison.com/allaccess and the NDSU Athletics mobile app.
COACHES SHOW: 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. Watch the show on MW+ or listen on Bison 1660 in Fargo, KCJB-AM 910 in Minot, KSJB-AM 600 in Jamestown, KYCR-AM 1440 in Minneapolis, GoBison.com and the NDSU Athletics mobile app.
MW+ STREAMING: Visit GoBison.com/MW+ and subscribe to MW+ to watch live Bison press conferences, weekly episodes of The Bison Football Show, and other featured content and live games from around the Mountain West Conference including NDSU's home game vs. UTEP.
THE SERIES: This is the first meeting between North Dakota State and Nevada.
BISON FALL AT UNLV: North Dakota State is coming off its first loss of the season 13-7 at UNLV last week. The NDSU defense held the Rebels to two second-half field goals, but the Bison committed three turnovers including a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter. Chris Kiel caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Hayes for NDSU's only score of the game. Donovan Woolen made a team-high 11 tackles and Ray James Jr. had a career-high eight stops plus a half-sack and his first career interception.
NEVADA BACK IN WIN COLUMN: Nevada snapped a three-game losing streak with a 30-13 road win over UTEP last week to improve to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Mountain West. The Wolf Pack held UTEP to 79 rushing yards and made a season-high nine tackles for loss. Nevada running back Herschel Turner ran for a career-high 192 yards on 19 carries including a 72-yard touchdown and Dominic Kelley rushed for 99 yards and a TD. Jeff Choate is 8-22 in his third year as Nevada's head coach after spending the previous four seasons at Montana State, where he brought the Bobcats to the Fargodome for the 2018 FCS second round and 2019 FCS semifinals.
DEFENSIVE RANKINGS: North Dakota State leads the FBS in passing defense (124.5 ypg) and red zone defense (.583) and ranks second in total defense (239.3 ypg), scoring defense (10.3 ppg) and defensive touchdowns (3) through six contests. The Bison also third nationally in pass interceptions (9) and opponent pass efficiency rating (96.65). NDSU's defense has not allowed a touchdown in the eight quarters of play.
DEFENSIVE SCORING: North Dakota State is tied with New Mexico State, Notre Dame and Texas Tech for second in the FBS with three defensive touchdowns behind Alabama (4). The Bison scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone by defensive end Blake Schiltz, a 37-yard interception return by cornerback Marion Moore and a 24-yard fumble recovery by safety Darius Givance.
RED ZONE DEFENSE: North Dakota State leads the FBS in red-zone defense again this week holding opponents to 58 percent on red-zone opportunities. The Bison have allowed three rushing TDs, one passing TD and three field goals in 12 trips inside the 20.
MIDDLE EIGHT: North Dakota State has been excellent in the "middle eight" minutes under head coach Tim Polasek outscoring opponents 269-59 in the final 4:00 of the first half and first 4:00 of the second half. Most of that scoring has come at the end of the first half, where the Bison have a 189-56 advantage. NDSU has scored in the middle eight in 27 of 35 games since the beginning of the 2024 season.
TWO-MINUTE SUCCESS: The Bison scored in the two-minute drill before halftime each of the first three weeks of the season.
— vs. Jacksonville State...Went 88 yards in 8 plays and 1:24...Targeted seven different receivers completing 6 of 7 attempts including a 44-yard TD pass to Jordan McCants for a 17-7 lead.
— vs. Fordham...Went 80 yards in 9 plays and 1:24...Completed 6 of 6 passes for four first downs before Chris Kiel's 8-yard TD catch for a 17-0 lead.
— at Air Force...Went 65 yards in 6 plays and 1:19...Completed 3 of 4 passes highlighted by a 51-yard play to Jackson Williams at the 1 before a Myles Mitchell 1-yard TD run for a 28-13 lead.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: NDSU swept all four Old Trapper Mountain West player of the week awards in Week Zero after a 33-7 win over Jacksonville State. Eight NDSU players have combined for 11 MW player of the week honors this year:
— QB Nathan Hayes (Offense 8/31, 9/14)...Completed 14 of 22 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns against Jacksonville State...Passed for 228 yards and two TDs with a 17-yard rushing TD at Air Force.
— LB Donovan Woolen (Defense 8/31, 10/5)...Game-high 10 tackles against Jacksonville State...Team-high nine tackles with an interception, solo sack, assisted TFL and third-and-goal stop in the shutout of Wyoming.
— K Drew Klein (Special Teams 8/31, 9/14)...Scored 15 points with field goals of 34, 44, 42 and 48 yards plus three PAT kicks against Jacksonville State...School-record 56-yard field goal and five PATs at Air Force.
— DE Blake Schiltz (Freshman 8/31)...Recovered a fumble for a touchdown and added a sack in his first collegiate game against Jacksonville State.
— RB Myles Mitchell (Freshman 9/14)...Team-high 15 carries, 61 yards and two touchdowns at Air Force, including a 31-yard TD on the game's opening drive.
— WR Jackson Williams (Offense 9/21)...Career-high seven receptions and 134 yards with one TD at Sacramento State...Scored on a 33-yard pass to cap NDSU's game-opening drive and had four receptions of 20-plus yards.
— S Darius Givance (Defense 9/21)...Career-high seven tackles at Sacramento State including six solo stops...Scored his first collegiate TD on a 24-yard fumble recovery 3:11 into the game.
— LB Gavin Sell (Freshman 9/21)...Five tackles including a forced fumble on Sacramento State's first drive that resulted in an NDSU touchdown and 14-0 lead.
FBS DEBUTS: Ten former FCS teams have reclassified to FBS in the past 10 years, and only North Dakota State and James Madison started with five straight victories. The Dukes started 5-0 in 2022 before finishing 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Sun Belt Conference.
PRESEASON PICKS: NDSU return specialist Jackson Williams was named Mountain West Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year and claimed two spots on the preseason team as kick returner and punt returner. Other NDSU selections were offensive lineman Griffin Empey, defensive tackle Keenan Wilson and safety Darius Givance.
BEDNARIK AWARD: NDSU defensive tackle Keenan Wilson was named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football since 1994. Wilson was an FCS All-American last year starting all 13 games and posting 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.
PAUL HORNUNG AWARD: NDSU return specialist Jackson Williams was named to the preseason watch list for the 17th annual Paul Hornung Award, presented to the most versatile player in major college football. Williams was one of three players in all of Division I last season to have both a kick return touchdown and a punt return touchdown. He totaled 1,106 all-purpose yards.
MAXWELL AWARD: NDSU running back DJ Scott made the preseason watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Scott headlines the Bison backfield this year after rushing for 502 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
FCS ERA BY THE NUMBERS: North Dakota State competed in the Football Championship Subdivision for 22 seasons from 2004 through 2025, spending the past 18 years in the Missouri Valley Football Conference after four years in the Great West Football Conference while reclassifying from Division II. Here are the final numbers from NDSU's FCS era:
— Overall record: 251-49 (.837)
— Record from 2011-2025: 198-22 (.900)
— 13 conference championships (12 MVFC, 1 GWFC)
— 10 national championships (FCS record)
— 16 consecutive postseason appearances
— 51-6 in playoffs (FCS record for wins)
— 38-2 in playoffs at home
— 39-game winning streak (FCS record)
— 33-game winning streak (2nd in FCS)
— 9-5 record vs. FBS opponents
— 26 weeks of AP Top 25 votes
— 21 NFL draft picks (14 in past 8 years)
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 12 conference championships in 18 years of Missouri Valley Football Conference membership, including the 2024 and 2025 titles. 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.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: North Dakota State is 94-6 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 208-30 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. North Dakota State had a 38-2 record in the Fargodome during the FCS playoffs and the Bison's 32-game home winning streak September 2017 through April 2021 is fifth longest in FCS history.
Players Mentioned
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