Bison Bowl-Eligible After Beating Nevada 31-17

Saturday, October 17

Fargo, N.D.

6 p.m.

North Dakota State

6-1 , 3-1

Nevada

2-4 , 1-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Nevada	0	11	6	0	17
North Dakota St.	0	19	5	7	31

Jackson Williams 100-yard missed field goal return

Photo by: Zachary Lucy

Bison Bowl-Eligible After Beating Nevada 31-17

10/17/2026 10:40:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Statistics

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State is bowl-eligible in its first year as a Football Bowl Subdivision member after securing its sixth victory 31-17 over Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 17, before a crowd of 18,261 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

The Bison improved to 6-1 and are tied with Wyoming and Air Force in the Mountain West standings with 3-1 conference records.

It was anything but an ordinary win for NDSU, which dug out of an 11-0 hole with 19 second-quarter points highlighted by a 100-yard return of a missed field goal on the final play of the first half by Jackson Williams, who accounted for 251 all-purpose yards including a team-high five receptions for 58 yards.

Nevada had a chance to tie the game on its first possession of the third quarter when AJ Bianco connected with Gary Givens on a 19-yard touchdown pass, but NDSU defensive tackle Keenan Wilson forced a fumble on the ensuing two-point try and defensive end Matthew Stenbroten scooped and scored from 74 yards out to give the Bison a 21-17 lead.

Drew Klein added a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter and tight end Reis Kessel caught his second touchdown of the season on a 12-yard pass from Nathan Hayes early in the fourth quarter to make it 31-17.

Hayes, who finished 19 of 25 passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns, also scored on a 5-yard run to pull NDSU within 11-6 in the second quarter, then connected with wide receiver Mekhi Collins 21-yard touchdown pass to the back corner of the end zone to give the Bison a 12-11 with just 21 seconds left before halftime.

Linebacker Donovan Woolen led NDSU with seven tackles, safety Will Steil made six tackles, cornerback Marion Moore intercepted two passes, and defensive linemen Logan Larson and Matthew Stenbroten each had three tackles and three quarterback hurries.

North Dakota State goes on the road next Saturday, Oct. 24, to face the New Mexico Lobos, who were 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West heading into Saturday night's game at Hawaii.