NDSU and SDSU to meet for the 115th time Saturday

North Dakota State heads to Brookings Saturday in hopes of first win against South Dakota State since 2019. 

NDSU hasn't exactly had a great season by their standards as they currently sit at 6-2 on the season and sit squarely on the bubble in the race for the FCS playoffs but can save their season with a win over the 8-0 and #1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits. 

South Dakota State has become a force in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and has finally gotten over the green-and-yellow hump that the Bison have been for years. SDSU is also the defending national champion as they thumped NDSU 45-21 in the 2023 FCS championship game. 

The Rabbits are led by first year coach Jimmy Rogers who takes over for John Stiegelmeier. Rogers' team is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. The Rabbit offense is led by Junior quarterback Mark Gronowski he has never lost to NDSU and he is a true dual threat as he is a great runner and passer who leads an offense that averages 39 points a game. His offense has play makers galore as they have a great offensive line and a star running back in senior Isaiah Davis. Davis has rushed for 754 yards which makes him 15th in FCS football in rushing. Gronowski also has three elite receivers in Jaxon Janke, Jadon Janke, and Griffin Wilde. Each has over 200 yards receiving and at least three touchdowns. The Rabbits also have an elite tight end in Zach Heins, he has 223 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

The Rabbit's defense is led by linebacker Adam Boch who commands a defense that is ranked #1 in scoring defense only allowing 11 points a game. They are also led by safeties Cale Reeder and Tucker Large. The Rabbits are the clear #1 team in the country and some media members think they are invincible. However this year SDSU has proven they are human as they have been in a few low-scoring games that they  barely won. Where NDSU can be successful is in the passing game as last year in the two losses Cam Miller threw the ball really well. SDSU has also been questionable on the defensive line this year as they allow 90.4 yards per game. This would be a great game for the NDSU rushing offense to break out and be the reason they win on Saturday.  

The Bison and Jackrabbits will kick it off at 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.