Matt

Now that this team has played someone near the top of the poll and someone near the bottom, any thoughts as to where this team really is? The ac is playing at a different level, but where is that line drawn for the next tier? Is there a big dropoff after the top five? Top ten? Seems to me its after the top five or so.

Significant win on Saturday. Shows this team belongs in the conversation. Very good to get that win vs a ranked opponent.

Im looking at matchups in this game and a question comes to my mind: Do I believe the UND offense would be better able to put up points against the PSU defense than Washington State?

24-20 PSU This team will beat a ranked opponent, but it won't be on the road this year.

Absolutely not. I remember some of the great teams playing for a conference championship in November with almost nobody in the stands. Winning isn't the only thing (although it is most important). Look how long it has taken to make even some basic changes fans had been asking for.

Hopefully the worm turns this week on the program's record vs ranked opponents in the D-1 era. This might be it...I think PSU might be a bit of fools gold.

While there's no arguing the environment at that game, or any of the playoff games for that matter, I'm not sure you take that game and position it as representative of the general gameday experience of the building at your average home game like this last weekend for a conference home opener when the team is 2-1.

Scheels inventories the gear that sells. If you lived in Fargo through the late 90s and most of the first decade of the 00s it was Sioux gear everywhere. The ac marketing was awful. It is not a coincidence this is tied to winning. I haven't been in the GF store but I'm guessing it is the football gear that is scarce and not the hockey stuff?

Is it just me or does it seem like the hype for hockey is already sucking the air out of the media share of voice from the athletic department and it is still September?

I get their coach is a D2 guy, but those players are not executing at a D2 level

No, I thought you were referring to the last time a UND offense beat ndsu

To me it was a personnel problem. There were a few players on Saturday that looked the part that ndsu was playing, but not nearly enough. They are just playing a different game. Bubba needs a lot more time to get that many quality players in the program and build tradition.

A D-2 ndsu, yes

I don't see enough of any of the QBs to even pretend I'm in a better position than the coaches to decide which QB should start. Moreover, it's only game 3 and the team is 2-1.

Montana consistently moved the ball on this bison D, and weber was at least able to hit a few big plays. I agree with the trolls around here that this is a good version of bison d at this point in the season, but not all world as they have been. I'm gonna HOPE the UND O simply crapped the bed in a moment that was too big for them. This week will be telling.

24-10 ndsu

Sustaining a running game will be key, will the hogs get it done?

Is the ankle still in question after seeing him run on Saturday?

Question for the former defensive players out there: With Wentz' ability to run, do you bring pressure from the backers on the blitz or play coverage to help protect your secondary? What is more dangerous, Wentz picking apart coverage or tucking and running? Play coverage first and blitz as needed? Play aggressive and live or die with the blitz? Since I believe UND needs to generate turnovers to win, I'm leaning toward sending the dogs.

Fantastic win. That's all there is to it.

While TO's statistically make the difference in pretty much every game, if special teams are the difference Saturday that's a great sign the game is a close one.

I'd just like to announce I am now also offering full cost of attendance. Seems like the hip thing to do.

I sense there are too many people in power at the university that would be totally fine seeing ndsu as Boise State to their Idaho.

Oh, I'm with you don't get me wrong. I'm just interested to see how forcefully some schools, if any, would push back.

Since there are only two programs that have announced this, with one of them-Liberty-openly wanting to move to FBS, i wonder if any FCS conferences would set FCOA policies to prohibit or severely limit offering FCOA. This wouldn't be unprecedented as we've seen conferences set their own scholarship limits. We look at this from the UND perspective, but I can't imagine UNI is very excited at the prospect of competing in this arms race with ndsu. It wouldn't shock me to see them get a coalition of MVFC schools that would like a vote to limit FCOA.