Bison Host UTEP Saturday in First Halloween Home Game Since 1981

Saturday, October 31

Fargo, N.D.

2:30 p.m.

North Dakota State

UTEP

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Photo by: Zachary Lucy

10/27/2026 3:45:00 PM | Football

Tickets Live Stats Live Audio Live Video NDSU Notes UTEP Notes

THIS WEEK: The North Dakota State football team is back home in Mountain West Conference play this week when the Bison (6-2, 3-2 MW) take on the UTEP Miners (1-6, 0-3 MW) at 2:35 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700). Doors open at 1 p.m. and the first 10,000 fans will receive a pair of yellow thundersticks.

TICKETS: Tickets may be purchased online at GoBison.com/tickets or by calling the Bison Ticket Office in the south lobby of the Sanford Health Athletic Complex at (701) 231-6378 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Game day ticket sales, if available, begin 5 hours prior to game time in the east lobby of the Fargodome.

HELMET STRIPE: Saturday is Halloween, and we're dressing up the Fargodome as a Bison football helmet. Fans in sections 1 and 18 are asked to wear white, and fans in sections 2, 17, 19 and 34 wear green to complete the helmet stripe colors at midfield. All other sections wear yellow.

TELEVISION: Saturday's game will be televised by WDAY on statewide ABC stations with Dom Izzo (play-by-play), Kyle Emanuel (analyst) and Sam Goetzinger (sideline). Streaming will be on the MW+ app. Visit GoBison.com/MW+ to subscribe and watch.

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 UTEP. The Bison have a 17-5-1 all-time record against teams from the state of Texas.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN: NDSU has an 11-6 record on Halloween with four straight wins over Southern Illinois (2015), Western Illinois (2009), St. Cloud State (1998) and Omaha (1992). The Bison have not played at home on Halloween since a 14-0 win over Omaha in 1981 at Dacotah Field.

LAST WEEK: North Dakota State is coming of a 21-16 loss at first-place New Mexico last Saturday night. Reis Kessel and Mekhi Collins caught touchdown passes in the second half for NDSU, but a 56-yard interception return touchdown by New Mexico's Austin Brawley in the fourth quarter held up as the winning score. Bison linebacker Ray James made a career-high 11 tackles with his second interception of the year, linebacker Gavin Sell had a career-high 10 tackles including 5.0 tackles for loss, and defensive tackle Logan Larson had three tackles and three pass breakups.

UTEP COMING OFF BYE: The Miners are coming off a bye week and looking to snap a five-game losing streak after falling to San Jose State 24-11 in their last outing Oct. 17. UTEP is one of the three new football-playing members of the Mountain West Conference this year along with Northern Illinois and NDSU. Scotty Walden is in his third year as UTEP's head coach after four seasons at the FCS level as head coach at Austin Peay.

IN THE BACKFIELD: NDSU and New Mexico, the top two scoring defenses in the FBS entering last week's game, both accounted for eight tackles for loss in a defensive battle that saw nine drives end in three plays or less. Bison linebacker Gavin Sell accounted for five of NDSU's eight tackles for loss, all solo stops, including one sack. Sell's 5.0 TFLs were the most by a Bison player since 1984 when defensive tackle Flint Fleming had 6.0 TFLs in a win at South Dakota.

DISRUPTIVE UP FRONT: NDSU defensive tackle Logan Larson made three tackles (one for a loss of 6 yards and two for 0 yards) plus a career-high three pass breakups at New Mexico. It was just the fifth time in school history a Bison defensive lineman has recorded three or more PBUs in a single game, joining defensive ends Toby Anene (2025), Joe Lardinois (2006) and Alvin Robinson (2004). Defensive tackle Steve Krause's five PBUs in the 1982 season-opening win against Northern Michigan is tied with three others for the NDSU school record.

BEAR BRYANT WATCH LIST: North Dakota State's Tim Polasek was named to the midseason watch list for the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year Award. Polasek has a 32-5 overall record including a 6-2 mark this year, his third as the Bison head coach. Former Bison defensive coordinator and safeties coach David Braun (Northwestern) and safeties coach Jake Dickert (Wake Forest) are also among the 28 coaches under consideration along with Mountain West coaches Jason Eck (New Mexico) and Troy Calhoun (Air Force).

MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICAN: North Dakota State left guard Griffin Empey was named to the Midseason All-America Team published by The Sporting News, one of five outlets used to determine consensus All-American status at the FBS level. Empey was one of five offensive linemen selected with Virginia tackle Monroe Mills, Houston center Anthony Boswell, Iowa guard Kade Pieper and Indiana tackle Carter Smith.

DEFENSIVE RANKINGS: North Dakota State is ranked second in the FBS this week for total defense (250.1 ypg), passing defense (128.6 ypg) and red zone defense (.625), as well as third in scoring defense (12.5 ppg), pass interceptions (12) and defensive touchdowns (3). The Bison are seventh in turnovers gained (15) and tied for ninth in turnover margin (+7).

TOP 10 NATIONALLY: Return specialist Jackson Williams has climbed to ninth in the FBS for combined kick return yardage and leads the Mountain West with 368 yards (226 kickoff, 142 punt) not including his 100-yard missed field goal return against Nevada. Williams had 251 all-purpose yards against Nevada and 168 at New Mexico in his last two games. Cornerback Marion Moore is tied for third nationally with four pass interceptions.

DEFENSIVE SCORING: North Dakota State is tied with New Mexico, New Mexico State and Notre Dame for third in the FBS with three defensive touchdowns behind Alabama (5) and Texas Tech (5). 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.

MIDDLE EIGHT: North Dakota State has been excellent in the "middle eight" minutes under head coach Tim Polasek outscoring opponents 282-72 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 202-63 advantage. NDSU has scored in the middle eight in 28 of 37 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. Nine NDSU players have combined for 13 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/RS Jackson Williams (Offense 9/21; Special Teams 10/19)...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...Career-high 251 all-purpose yards against Nevada including a 100-yard missed field goal return touchdown and team-high five receptions for 58 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.
                — CB Marion Moore (Freshman 10/19)...Two interceptions and five tackles including two third-down stops in the win over Nevada.

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 209-30 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.