The keys to the dynasty are back in Easton Stick’s hands, but will the 2016 Bison football team be stuck looking for a former-North Dakota State quarterback in its rearview mirror?

Once 1:30 p.m. Saturday strikes inside the Fargodome, football fans will get a glimpse of the new team.

And as every new season starts, there are some questions that will need answers.

5. Sophomore Slump?

Last season, redshirt freshman quarterback Stick had one job: don’t derail the train. He kept the locomotive rolling, filling in for Wentz when he went down with a wrist injury six games into the season.

Stick was good in his freshman campaign. How will he follow up his last year successes as the Bison look for an unprecedented sixth National Championship?

4. Who Will Protect?

The sophomore slump will happen if Stick finds himself looking at the Fargodome ceiling every other play. Former NDSU left tackle Joe Haeg, who handled the backside pass rush last season, may be hearing his name called in the NFL draft next week.

So, who will be the man protecting Stick on the backside? A young man named Colin Conner, who stands 6-feet-5 and weighs 306 pounds, is a possibility. The Bison have seven offensive tackles on the roster, including redshirt freshman Zack Johnson, senior Jack Plankers and senior Landon Lechler.

3. New Cool Corner?

The cornerback who led NDSU in interceptions last season, C.J. Smith, is gone. Jordan Champion is also leaving, taking his 160 total tackles in 58 games with him.

And both of those men played just under 60 games in four years for the green and gold. A shutdown cornerback is the next crucial hole to fill for the Bison.

Luckily, a sophomore named Jalen Allison who backed up Smith and Champion last season seems to be the part of the cornerback answer. Last season, Allison played in 15 games, finished with 23 tackles and one interception that he took back 30 yards for a score.

Allison will replace Smith, but the man who will replace Champion is in a position battle. Will it be the man that is moving from the safety position in sophomore Jaylaan Wimbush? Or will it be a young gun redshirt freshman Dom Davis? Or will it be the man who played in eight games last season sophomore Dakota Reid?

The spring game should help coaches determine who’s filling the corners.

2. The Next Big Leg?

Big bad punter and kickoff specialist Ben LeCompte is trying to make an NFL team with his legs. He was named the 2015 College Sporting News Special Teams Player of the Year, boasting a punting average of 45.9 yards.

He also had 42 touchbacks on 96 kickoffs last season. Now it’s time for sophomore Ian Gallagher to take over LeCompte’s duties. Sophomore field goal kicker Cam Pedersen will need to have a bounce back year after only making 57 percent of his field goals a season ago.

1. Goodbye, Wentz (and ESPN)?

Last season was crazy. Wentz this, Wentz that and the bigger question of a five-peat. Wentz has now left and the five-peat has been accomplished.

Keep the green and gold car between the lines and don’t look in the rearview mirror because Wentz will soon be in Los Angeles or Cleveland.

Without Wentz, will ESPN forget about the Fargo football team? If the Bison don’t win a six-straight National Championship, will ESPN kick NDSU out the door?

If the Bison take care of business against Eastern Washington University on Sept. 10 — as well as the University of Iowa on Sept. 17 in Iowa City — ESPN will still be all over the Bison like the jersey chasers.