For one last time this year, the North Dakota State Bison take the field for a regular season game. The Herd travel to the DakotaDome to take on the University of South Dakota Coyotes. For the second time in two weeks, the Coyotes look to play spoilers in the Missouri Valley Football title.
Simply, the Bison need to down USD to clinch at least a share of the title. With South Dakota State, tied with the Bison on record, travelling to UNI, the title is up for grabs. The Bison can clinch the solo title if the Jackrabbits fail to win at the UNI Dome and beat the Coyotes. Youngstown State has an outside chance of clinching a share, but both NDSU and SDSU must lose.
The Coyotes come into this game on a three-game skid. Losses to Western Illinois, Southern Illinois and South Dakota State negated a solid start to the conference season. The losses, though, have been one score games. The Western Illinois game was won by a single point.
USD has been solid at home this year. They hold a 3-1 record at the DakotaDome so far. That loss was the Western Illinois game, which finished 35-34.
The Coyote offense has been clicking as of late. They have averaged 384 yards a game this season. Nearly 200 of those yards come off the arm of Chris Streveler. The junior transfer from Minnesota has 20 touchdowns this year. He spread the ball out with five different receivers catching three or more touchdowns.
He will face a tough test against a very good Bison defense. The Bison have forced 16 interceptions this season. Streveler has thrown for just nine so far this season.
Streveler is also a duel-threat. He leads USD in rushing, and has ran for another eight touchdowns. He leads the team in rushing yards, average and touchdowns. It is the other side of the ball that has been the issue for the Coyotes.
And then there was last week for USD. They got torched by the Jackrabbits, despite the close score. SDSU went for a school record 630 yards of offense. USD enters, allowing over 230 yards rushing per game. That plays right into the hand of the Bison. The whole gang may be back for NDSU. King Frazier returned from injury last week and Bruce Anderson has been cleared for practice this week.
The Bison already average 227 yards on the ground. Considering the struggles of the passing game currently, it may be just what the Bison need. The Bison have not had a passing touchdown completed to a wide receiver in over five games. The last one was to Darrius Shepherd in the second quarter against Missouri State.
Shepherd did find the end zone last week, with an 84-yard punt return. It was the first return for a touchdown for the Bison this year. On the other side of the punt game, the Bison still have not allowed a touchdown return. In fact, opponents have netted exactly zero yards on three punt returns. While Jackson Koonce has averaged less than 40 yards a punt, the lack of returns is a good sign.
Win or lose, the Bison are sitting pretty in the FCS playoff picture. Last week, the Bison moved up to the No. 2 spot in the playoff committee’s rankings. They held onto their No. 4 spot in the other polls this week.
A win would likely guarantee a first-round bye, and at least one game at the Fargodome. Lose and the show may have to go on the road. The FCS playoff brackets will be announced at 10 a.m. Sunday on ESPN U.