AT
Western Illinois (0-6) @ North Dakota State Bison (4-2)
Date: 10/21/2023
Kickoff: 2:30 PM (Central)
Location: Fargodome, Fargo, ND
Media: ESPN+, Q98.1 FM
Game Notes: Western Illinois | North Dakota State
NDSU's Record and Stats
The Bison currently sit at a rather unexpected 4-2 and only 1-2 in the MFVC. They started off the season with wins over Eastern Washington (35-10), Maine (44-7) and Central Arkansas (49-31) but then were surprised by South Dakota at NDSU's Homecoming, falling 24-19. They then won at Missouri State 38-10, but followed that up with being on the receiving end of a 49-24 crushing by North Dakota (and really, it wasn't even that close...their last TD was in "garbage time"). They have also dropped out of the FCS top 10 for the first time since 2011. So, it looks like the Bison "dynasty" is over and they have fallen back from the realm of ludicrously better than the entire FCS to merely a really good FCS team. With a matchup at SDSU looming in early November, it's quite likely that NDSU will end up going 0-3 against all the Dakota schools for the first time since 2002 (when they were all still D2). Last year, NDSU finished 12-3, including a 56-17 steamrolling of our Leathernecks. NDSU holds a 10-2 series record, with our only wins coming in 2008 and 2010.
- Quarterback Cam Miller leads the FCS and ranks third in all divisions with a 77.2 completion percentage through six games. Miller was 18-for-19 against Central Arkansas and his 94.7 completion rate was an NDSU single-game record for passers with more than 10 attempts. Miller completed his last 17 attempts against UCA and his first six against South Dakota to set a new NDSU record with 23 consecutive completions, breaking Brock Jensen's 2013 record of 21 straight against Kansas State (14) and Ferris State (7).
- North Dakota State ranks eighth in the FCS converting 50.7% of its offensive third-down opportunities. Quarterback Cam Miller has picked up 11 first downs rushing and receivers Zach Mathis (7) and Eli Green (6) lead the team in third-down passing conversions. Overall, Mathis leads the Bison with 19 total first downs, Miller is second with 16, and Green is third with 13 followed by quarterback Cole Payton (12) and running back TaMerik Williams (10).
- Bison kicker Griffin Crosa has made 115 consecutive PATs dating back to 2019, the fourth most in Missouri Valley Football Conference history and two shy of Adam Keller's mark of 117 straight for NDSU in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Crosa is fourth all-time at NDSU in PATs made and fifth in attempts (159-for-160) and his career PAT percentage of 99.4 is second in school history behind Jake Reinholz, who was 87-for-87 from 2018 to 2021. Crosa is sixth all-time at NDSU with 30 field goals made and ranks first with an 83.3 career field goal percentage (30-for-36). Griffin Crosa is the younger brother of former Leatherneck kicker Sam Crosa.
Chance of Victory
Massey says 1% chance of a WIU victory, with a predicted score of 44-10 for the Bison: https://masseyratings.com/game.php?gid=938288123
Sagarin says 5% chance of a win.
So...I'd say not very likely. Our best chance of a win the rest of the season is still Indiana State, who is also 0-6, including a 27-0 loss to EIU, a 2-point loss to fellow MVFC "cellar dweller" Murray State, and a 44-7 crushing by the other ISU last weekend.
Scott Lawson - Board Admin
