SIU heads to the Fargodome on Saturday to face a Bison team that's having a shockingly down season by their standards.
Meet the Bison:
It's been 13 years since North Dakota State lost more than 3 games in a season, SIU has a chance to hand them loss #4 on Saturday. North Dakota has won 9 National Championships among 3 head coaches in that span but this season hasn't lived up to their amazing standards.
The Bison started the season 3-0 with wins over Eastern Washington and Central Arkansas but suffered a 24-19 loss to South Dakota at home. 2 weeks later, they lost 49-24 at North Dakota. After wins over Western lllinois and Murray State, they suffered a 33-16 loss at South Dakota State.
North Dakota State is coached by Matt Entz, in his 5th season as head coach. Entz served as defensive coordinator under Chris Kileman and took over for him when Kileman left for Kansas State. In his first season as head coach, Entz led the Bison to a perfect season winning the National Championship. They took a step back the next season in the COVID year with Trey Lance opting out but won another National Championship in his 3rd season. Last season, Entz and the Bison lost the National Championship to South Dakota State in what might turn out to be a changing of the guard in the FCS.
The Quarterback of the Bison is 6-1 Senior Cam Miller. Miller was a 3 star recruit out of Solon, Iowa and has made starts in each of their last 4 seasons. Last season, Miller started all 15 games for the Bison and ranked 3rd in the FCS in completion percentage. Miller is a true dual-threat QB, he rushed for 561 yards last year and had 15 rushing touchdowns. So far this season, he's rushed for 9 touchdowns and has thrown for 1,578 yards and has 12 passing touchdowns. Miller leads the Bison in rushing yards, attempts, and rushing touchdowns.
North Dakota State's leading receiver is 6-7 Senior Zach Mathis. Mathis has been with the Bison since 2018 where he played one game that season. This season, he's having his best season catching 37 passes for 546 yards, and 5 touchdowns (all career highs).
On the defensive side, 6-3 Senior Defensive End Dylan Hendricks has made an impact. Hendricks leads the Bison in tackles for losses (6.5) and sacks (4). 6-4 Senior Safety Cole Wisniewski leads the Bison in interceptions with 4.
Massey Ratings:
Massey Ratings has North Dakota State winning 27-17 and gives the Bison an 76% chance of winning.
Links:
SIU Game Notes
NDSU Game Notes
In the immortal words of Dan Fouts of The Waterboy it is the last game of the year don't hold anything back
In the immortal words of Dan Fouts of The Waterboy it is the last game of the year don't hold anything back
Last game is Sycs here on 11/18.
Nobody can be shocked that the wheels are coming off the SIU bus again. Offensive numbers don’t lie.
SIU needs to have a serious sense of urgency at this point. They need to be seriously pissed off they lost the last game and be ready to seriously take it out on NDSU……all while executing and holding onto the football. Let’s freakin’ go! Don’t let the wheels come off of this season.
If Southern gets blown out in the FargoDome, as we've seen in the past, it won't matter how many points SIU scores vs. ISUBlue, the Salukis will be out of the playoff picture.
I don't know, I think we're vaguely around the bubble at 7-4 if we lose to NDSU and slaughter ISUblue.
But I'd feel a lot better personally at 8-3 after we win out.
Our record in the BuffaloDome is a miserable 0-6, and we have lost 11/12 to the NDSU. Certainly hope I'm wrong, but I don't see anything changing. Our opportunity at defeating one of the three Dakota institutions was at home, and we didn't get it accomplished. Would love to be 8-3. I feel most confident that a 7-4 record, an FBS win, a FCS 5th best rated defense, and a top 10-15 consistent ranking all season long gets the Dawgs in.
GO DAWGS!!!
it was just a thought on how they should approach the game as I would assume they need to win to make the playoffsIn the immortal words of Dan Fouts of The Waterboy it is the last game of the year don't hold anything back
Last game is Sycs here on 11/18.
Righto! I'm not sure we get in at 7 - 4, assuming we beat InSU next week.
We never win there - usually get whipped, but NDSU is not as good this year, and I have been impressed with our D. If our anemic offense can surprise them with some creative play calling and an inspired performance, just might pull the upset.
I watched them beat us last year in C'dale, and their O line just beat us - we couldn't stop them 2nd half. Maybe we can this year.
Looks like two evenly matched teams. Doesn’t bold well for Dawgs considering our lack of success vs them on the road.
We need to score 1st possession. SIU offense has success moving the ball with their 1st 10 or so scripted plays. After that it’s cross your fingers and pray.
One would think as many reps as this offensive groups had together they would be better.
NDSU isn't great this year but they really need a win to avoid missing the playoffs and I don't feel good about going on the road and beating a desperate Bison team no matter how much they've struggled this year
Not sure anybody paid much attention, but Indiana State has really only been out of 1 game in conference. I can see both upcoming games being 1 possession scores. Those counting ISU as an automatic might end up disappointing
The way Saluki football has back slid the past few years late in the season, I have low confidence in almost every game. So yeah, ISU blue is no gimme.
March on triumphantly!
Not sure anybody paid much attention, but Indiana State has really only been out of 1 game in conference. I can see both upcoming games being 1 possession scores. Those counting ISU as an automatic might end up disappointing
They've had close losses later this season: uni 27 isu 20, und 36 isu 33 OT, ysu 19 isu 7. Should get a win this week against WIU. I'm not worried about it, but we have to show up.
We must play NDSU at least close plus beat ISU handily if we want to make the playoffs. If we go up there and get embarrassed 38 - 7 like we did in '21, that will really hurt our playoff chances.
