AJS

Not even on the same planet as NAU. What's more likely, Keaton completes a pass or the defense gets a stop?

Not sure what's worse, the offense or the defense.

One glimmer of hope about this offense is they have shown that they have the capability to play much better in the second half. This one is going to be on the defense again, need to play lights out in the second half to have a chance. When you give up 300 yards passing in half that's not very likely, but they need to shut them out the rest of the way.

Being #10 right now is huge. With the Sam Houston State move, it looks like the committee actually gave some thought to the rankings this week. Just keep winning. Being ahead of SDSU at this point is big.

Couldn't agree more. I know I'm not breaking any news here, but it's pretty crazy to think that since Stanley's injury, UND's top 2 WR's are true freshman. Not ideal, but this type of workload is going to be so valuable moving forward.

Per Tom Miller: "UND QB Keaton Studsrud back practicing today for first time since injury. Doesn't appear 100 percent but good sign for Saturday". (sent Tuesday) Will be anxiously awaiting reports from how he looks the next couple days, they really need him back and healthy this weekend. Disappointed with Stanley, hoping he'll be back for the playoffs. I'm really excited for this game, win and not only are you Big Sky Co-Champions, but I truly believe that when everything else plays out over the last two weeks, that they will get a seed.

I would also think playing more local teams closer to home would help more than it would hurt recruiting.

Ok, good to know I'm not the only one. Well, I wonder what's next! After looking into switching conferences, the travel savings are not enough to leave the Big Sky, we are staying put?

Just in a general sense or do you know something?

We are starting to see things firm up between four of the polls: We are no lower than 9th, no higher than 12th. I like seeing everything become more consistent (STATS Media had been the outlier). Athlon: 9th STATS Media: 12th Coaches: 11th (last week), I'd expect 10th this week AGS: 11th

NAU is on fire, for UND to win, I really think they'll need to play their best game of the year. I'd say NAU is the best team that UND will face in the regular season. Being at home is huge Injuries: Need Studsrud and Stanley back, also need offensive line (Bell / Stockwell) to gut it out for one more week I know someone already asked, but what's the word on injuries?

It's right, we are @ Montana next year -- it doesn't make a lot of sense, since like you said they were there last year. Must be the start of a new round of scheduling.

In all reality a seed would be gigantic for UND, a true game changer. It's ridiculous that a spot or two is a difference between getting a first round bye / home game in the second round or playing at SDSU / Montana week 1!

I think everyone is on the same page that there are certain situations where if you are found guilty, you are gone, no questions ask. I guess we are just in a disagreement with how severe this situation is. Like I said earlier, you can't defend it, but I also don't think this is a get out your pitchforks offense either. I can guarantee that nobody feels worse about this than Josh and this would be a major wake up call. I'm sticking by suspending him for the remaining of the year and that's it. No loss of scholarship, no kicking him off the team. He learns, there is an adequate punishment, we move on.

I think we'll have a lot better idea come Thursday when the FCS Committee releases their updated rankings. There should be one opening this week with Charleston Southern losing, although Richmond lost, it was to JMU, so they'll stay. I just don't know where UND is ranked in the Committee's mind, compared to teams like SDSU, ect. If they are in this weeks Top 10, I'd put them at 50% for a seed w/ a win this Saturday.

This isn't a fun situation and nobody can defend what he did, but some people need to pump the breaks a little. Kick him off the team? What he did was extremely stupid, but settle down. Talk about a mob mentality with some of you, I'll never understand it. Is it a morally superior thing? Do you feel better about yourselves putting down a 21 year old? I do think the suspension needs to be more than a game, so maybe with where we're at with the season just suspend him for the rest of the year? He'll learn from his mistake and should grow as a person because of it.

Whoever starts this weekend, it's the person the coaches think give this team the best chance to win this game. Would everyone feel better with Studsrud, obviously, but it sounds like that's not the option. A couple positives, whoever starts on Saturday probably will know by Wednesday, so they can get the 1st team reps in practice and more importantly mentally prepare knowing they are the guy. It can't be easy going from bench all year to you are the guy the next play. UNC is a decent team and this would have been a battle regardless is Studs was playing, but they don't have as solid of a defense as Weber State. Side note: Special teams still worry me more than the QB situation. They can't have a repeat of last week or they won't win. If UND wins on Saturday, it'll take a huge defensive effort, like we say in the 2nd half of the Weber game. The QB will need to control the game, the running game will need to lead and the QB will have to protect the ball and make timely passes. Having Stanley back would be huge as well.

We are in agreement with the first sentence. I do however think we are a lock at 8-3.

Stony Brook is the worst of the 3.

Positive is I don't think we could be playing any worse and it's only a 6 point game. Adjustments need to be made on the offensively, I mean Weber has a solid defense, but they've given up a decent amount of points in most of their games. This seems like a game where the defense needs to play lights out in the 2nd and cause a turnover or two. Play like they have in the 2nd half of every other home game and they'll be ok.

This looks like the offense we saw the first 4 games of the year, just brutal. As big of a concern and it has been all year is their kick off coverage. The have to have the worst kick offs / coverage in football.

29-7 UNH over Stony Brook mid way thru the 3rd. SBU looks really bad.

It's on MidcoSN2, 624 -- also, yes http://eversport.tv/big-sky/football

If UND wins out, they are in, regardless of the autobid. Basically with your scenario, UND would be the 4th ranked Big Sky team heading into the playoffs. I don't get the logic.

Everyone knew this team would have growing pains, I've actually been fairly impressed with how they've played during this young season. The Sophomore class looks to have taken the step that was crucial for this team, especially Gersich, JJ and Shaw (not counting Boeser, Gardner and Wolanin since I think they showed enough last year that we knew how good they were). The freshman have been better than I thought, especially Hoff, Yon, Bowen and Poolman. Although not ideal with injuries, all 3 freshman D getting playing time early should pay off at the end of the year. Ausmus has struggled, but we know how solid he is. I'm still sticking with my statement from last week that I think this team offensively can better than last year (with the bottom lines contributing much more), the defense will improve (3 freshman played the last 3 games), they won't be as good as last year obviously, but they can be solid. Split the next four series and win 5 in a row heading into winter break with a 14-4 record!