AJS

The Forum guys pointed this out and it's something I found interesting. I assumed with the likes of JMU, Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State leaving that it would be easier than ever to make the playoffs. As it's playing out that has not been the case (see #3 MVFC being a potential bubble team). The reasoning being that every team in those conferences now has one less loss than they would have had. Ultimately, the top teams leaving has had the opposite effect that I would have thought.

UND Fan viewing guide. Two categories. Cheering for the team that is bolded. Most Important (Home / Favorite to win) Mercer @ Samford - 12pm Montana @ Montana State - 1pm Stephen F. Austin @ ACU - 2:30pm UC Davis @ Sac. State - 4pm OVC Coin Flip - SEMO Cheering for upsets UNH @ Maine - 11am Wofford @ Furman - 11am Albany @ Rhode Island - 12pm Delaware @ Villanova - 12pm Chattanooga @ Western Carolina - 12pm Idaho @ Idaho State - 2pm Kennesaw State @ EKU - 2pm The top list are the games we've heard about all week. If Davis wins, they are in, lose they are out. Montana wins they are in; lose they are on the bubble. Mercer wins they are in; lose they are on the bubble. The second category are games that I've picked out where I believe the favorite is either presumed in or a bubble team that is anticipated to win the final week. These upsets would throw a curve ball in current projections.

It wouldn’t.

If anyone wants to listen to a podcast where two people are just as confused why UND wouldn't be a lock as everyone on here, listen to this weeks "The McFeely Mess" podcast.

Agreed. I don't see why that game matters (much). I don't see it mattering much w/ Youngstown getting in before UND. I could see wanting SIU to win to make sure they are 6-5 and don't end up with a losing record.

Add this to the list of things that does not make any sense to me about UND being a bubble team as the #3 MVFC team. Hypothetically if NDSU wins on Saturday, they will be at worst the #5 seed (which they should be btw). What doesn't make sense is a conference having two seeded teams and those are the only two to make it. Wouldn't only two indicate that the league is weak? If the league is week, how could you justify having two teams as Top 5 seeds? It's so backwards. All hypothetical, I still think UND is in regardless. It just wouldn't make sense otherwise.

The simplest explanation is there's a portion of the NDSU fanbase that downplays this game to the point where it's bizarre. If there wasn't anything to this game with that portion, treat it like you do every other non-FBS / SDSU / UNI game on the schedule. Somebody did mention it, but there's no doubt that UND is not their #1 rival, but there's also no team that they would rather not lose to.

By who? Certainly not the Fargo media. Or at least not McFeeley or Izzo. They have both said UND is in at 7-4.

Win and in on Saturday, but listening to Herder on Izzo's show, if UND were to lose, are the other three most important results for UND the following? SEMO wins the coin toss against UT Martin and gets the OVC auto bid UT Martin wins there goes one at large Sac State needs to beat UC Davis UC Davis in with win Montana State needs to beat Montana Montana win and lock. Like UND would be on the fence with a loss, but I think UND would be slotted if both were 7-4 Any other games stick out?

I'm going with there is a lot to the list that Shannon went over on the 360-podcast last week. There has to be. At least to how players are feeling at this moment. I'm guessing we'll see players each way flip, but I would say it's solid.

That's really good to hear. You wouldn't think it based on some of the opinions on him from some here, but especially these last few weeks, Kaup has been not only good, but far and away the best safety they have. It would be a huge boost if he did indeed come back. I'm talking Siegel / Ventrelli tier of importance.

This is a winnable game IF UND plays a true three phase game. How much confidence was gained playing them close last year? Based on past performances in the Dome, I'm not optimistic. Prove myself and most everyone else wrong. Change the narrative. The opportunity is there. What if this is the game where UND plays its absolute best regular season game?

Coaches: 23rd STATS: 16th Athlon: 15th Massey: 11th I've been so hyper focused on what has happened in the MVFC the last few weeks, where for UND everything has kind of broken correctly. Going into the last week from a national perspective, they can do no worse than 3rd in the make the playoffs pecking order. Can someone explain what has happened where being a 3rd ranked MVFC team with at worse a 7-4 overall record (7-3 FCS) doesn't leave them as a lock? Non-conference records. SDSU (2-0 FCS), NDSU (2-0 FCS), UND (2-0 FCS), Youngstown (2-0 Non-FBS), Illinois State (2-0 FCS), Missouri State (2-0 FCS), USD (1-1 FCS), UNI (1-1 FCS / Loss #2 Sac State), ISU-Blue (1-1 FCS), SIU (0-2 FCS / FBS win), Western Illinois (0-2 FCS). By my total that's 15-7 overall. Two of those losses (UNI / SIU were to current Top 5 teams). Is this all about SIU losing to SEMO? Were none of the 15 wins quality? Just so strange.

They didn't elaborate, Shannon had the list of who was walking, and he listed them. They talked about who wasn't on there and who surprised them (ex: Zavalney). Didn't get into too much detail.

The 360 podcast dropped the list of players that will be walking on Senior day. Bolded if they are Juniors on the current roster. Christian: OL Cooper: OLB Fenelon: K Hoosman: RB J. Johnson: DL Keech: DL Kimball: LB Krzanowski: ILB Maag: WR Morrison: DL Peterson: Punter Steckler: TE Stevens: K MVJ: OLB Ventrelli: OL White: ILB Zavalney: TE Those that are Seniors that are not walking on Senior day. Buckner Kauppinen Mullin Ogbu Skokna Siegel

NLI's can be signed today. We should see over the next few days who has signed. So far, I've only seen Strathmann.

Completely agree. This has absolutely nothing to do with any of their commentary on this week / UND at all. Every once and a while check out that site and you'll pick up on why @UND1983 says that. It's really fascinating.

Is this going to be a situation where we start to see commitments come in waves? Correct me if I'm wrong, but has there really only been three commitments (non-transfer portal) in 2022? That could be the lowest number in the country. I'm a big proponent in getting a key guy from the portal, I just really hope the strategy isn't to have that become the key focus of recruiting for this staff.

Digging into the safety position a bit. If you look overall, Kauppinen leads that group / the team in tackles (48). My question is, has anyone noticed them rotating more the last few weeks? Buckner appears to be playing more. Is Ball? The stats aren't as lopsided as they were through the SDSU game. ACU Coley: 3 Tackles Kauppinen: 3 Tackles / 1 INT Ball: 3 Tackles Buckner: 1 Tackle / 1 INT ISU Ball: 3 Tackles Coley: 2 Tackles Kauppinen: 2 Tackles Buckner: 1 Tackle / 1 Fumble Recovery

The Coaches Poll is almost universally disliked, but I do think it's noteworthy that UND was T-37 last week and 28th this week. I'm shocked at that jump. Sam Herder had a few general bullet points showing how ridiculous it is but looking at UND specifically. At least they are now somewhat in the same stratosphere as the other polls.

UND is coming off by far their best performance of the year @ Indiana State. Of course, just win, but could there be a bit of a narrative shift for this team? Like last week, I'm focusing on the ST/Defensive combo. They completely outperformed what I expected last week. This week, I'm setting USD's points @ 21. Let's hope again they outperform my expectations. It just might be me, but last week was a shot in the arm. I'm really excited for the game on Saturday. Playoff game. Win and I think they're in.

I would say a little bit of both would be accurate. Ultimately where I fall is giving up 7 points against any scholarship FCS program is impressive.

What a great three phase win. Winning by that margin, gives at least me and extra level of excitement for next week. Is a dominant performance going to give the defense confidence? Can they follow up their best performance with an equally impressive effort against USD? I cannot wait.

1 point against an awful team, not great.

These refs stink