It’s a stark distinction: North Dakota State is making a 14th straight look within the FCS playoff quarterfinals, whereas South Dakota is doing so for the primary time.
However there’s lots extra to the story of their all-MVFC matchup on Saturday: USD is taking part in at house after profitable at NDSU in the course of the common season, and the visiting Bison are 0-2 on the highway of their 13 earlier quarterfinals (10-0 contained in the Fargodome).
Following is a capsule preview of the NDSU at USD matchup:
North Dakota State (10-3) at No. 3 Seed South Dakota (10-2)
Kickoff – 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday on the DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota (ABC)
Collection – North Dakota State leads 58-27-2 (final assembly: South Dakota gained 24-19 at NDSU on Sept. 30)
Coaches – North Dakota State: Matt Entz (59-10, fifth season); South Dakota: Bob Nielson (40-43, eighth general; 226-123-1 general)
3 Gamers to Watch – North Dakota State: QB Cam Miller (186 of 253, 2,321 yards, 17 TDs, 4 INTs; 640 rush yards, 12 TDs), RB TaMerik Williams (105 carries, 657 yards, 7 TDs), S Cole Wisniewski (79 tackles, 6 INTs, 5 move breakups); South Dakota: QB Aidan Bouman (174 of 258, 2,352 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs), LB Brock Mogensen (110 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 INT), CB Myles Harden (51 tackles, 1 INT, 6 move breakups, 1 fumble restoration)
Notable – Bouman threw two 50+ yard TDs to WR Carter Bell as USD jumped to a 21-3 halftime lead in opposition to NDSU (the Coyotes’ greatest of the season). The visiting Bison are coming off a second-round slugfest at Montana State, profitable 35-34 by blocking an additional level in time beyond regulation. They surrendered over 500 yards within the win – a uncommon regular-season complete for them, however one thing that’s occurred in three of their final 4 playoff video games courting to final yr’s semifinals. Miller is especially harmful operating the ball, however he’s additionally No. 1 within the FCS in completion share (73.5). The Coyotes depend on the gritty operating of Travis Theis (808 yards, six TDs), however redshirt freshman Charles Pierre Jr. offered a elevate with a career-high 123 yards in a 34-24 win over Sacramento State within the second spherical. Mogensen, the MVFC defensive participant of the yr, is 4 tackles shy of 400 in his profession. The place-kickers like dome life: USD’s Will Leyland is ideal this season (12 of 12 subject objectives, 36 of 36 PATs) and NDSU’s Griffin Crossa has loved a giant profession (38 of 46 FGs, 195 of 197 PATs). Â
Up Subsequent – The winner will play No. 2 seed Montana (11-1) or No. 7 seed Furman (10-2) in a nationwide semifinal on Dec. 15 or 16.
Prediction – North Dakota State 27, South Dakota 24
