I posted the below info back in December on our first few games. It was a slow day at work, haha.
Ok, I got tired of moping about the fact that we were completely snubbed from the playoffs, so I decided to take a look at our non-conference schedule for next season. A lot to be determined before then, and there will certainly be some new faces in the mix for UND as well as our opponents, but here it is. I see UND starting out 2-1 in the non-conference schedule, but if the 2015 season taught us anything, surprises can happen. So maybe with a grade A performance, we can pick up another (and this time quality) FBS win. Feel free to pick this apart and comment, but hopefully it makes a good read for those of us who need some football material to read in lieu of missing the playoffs.
Stony Brook (5-5)(3-5 conf.)
Finished 10th in the Colonial Athletic Conference
Last meeting was 2014 in Grand Forks; UND won 13-3
Key Win:
Beat New Hampshire 31-6 (giving them more wins against playoff teams than E. Illinois J )
Key Departures:
QB Conor Bednarski
DL Victor Ochi (12 solo sacks, 2 assisted sacks, 14 solo TFL, 5 assisted TFL)
Rankings within CAA
Scoring - 7th - 17.3 PPG
Rushing – 7th – 152.7 YPG
Passing – 9th – 148.1 YPG
Scoring D – 1st – 15.7 PPG
Rushing D – 1st – 104.6 YPG (Stony Brook, meet John Santiago)
Passing D – 1st – 145.5 YPG
This really shouldn’t be much of a contest. Stony Brook’s strength is their defense, but if our offense can emerge like we did late this season, then UND should roll by halftime. Hopefully that is the case, because if you lose a game like this, you are already a long to make the playoffs. SB will probably stop some drives, but it looks like their offense continues to be anemic. UND needs to open up a heavy lead, and then start trying some different things to prep for the following week.
Bowling Green (9-3) (7-1 conf.)
Finished 1st in the Mid-American Conference – East (Plays N Illinois this weekend for conference championship)
Won 2 games vs Big 10 (Maryland and Purdue)
Key Departures:
QB Matt Johnson (4465 Yds, 41 TDs,
RB Travis Greene (1036 Yds, 12 TDs)
DB Dernard Turner (4 int, 1 TD)
Key Returning Players:
WR Gehrig Dieter (82 Rec, 882 Yds, 9 TDs)
WR Roger Lewis (76 Rec, 1401 Yds, 14 TDs) (Hi Roger, I’d like you to meet Cole Reyes J )
WR Ronnie Moore (62 Rec, 818 Yds, 5 TDs)
DB Alfonso Mack (5 int)
Rankings withing MAC
Scoring – 1st – 44.2 PPG
Rushing – 5th – 178.2 YPG
Passing – 1st – 387.8 YPG
Scoring D – 8th – 27.8 PPG
Rushing D – 7th – 166.2 YPG
Passing D – 11th – 255.2 YPG
This will be a much bigger test than playing Wyoming. Fortunately, BGSU will be losing a monster of a QB, as well as their senior RB. Unfortunately, BGSU will likely start James Knapke (6-2, 237) at QB, and he will have several dangerous receivers still on the roster. Knapke took over for an injured Matt Johnson in 2014, and threw for 3173 yards and 15 TDs. It is also worth noting that while BGSU loses starting RB Travis Green, they will still have Fred Coppet who still rushed for just over 700 yards 4 TDs. His average per carry was actually slightly better than Greene, and without Will Ratelle on the field, our linebackers will need to step up (Hopefully Taj Rich comes back really strong).
I don’t think BGSU will be as good next year as they were this year, but they will still be a very strong team. Probably not a game you expect to win, but definitely need to be competitive, and if the defense plays well, and our offense is clicking, then who knows. Santiago can always be a game changer and Oliveira will only get better. If Keaton starts next season where he left off, then there is certainly potential in this matchup. Needless to say, this would be UNDs biggest win at the D1 level if they could pull it off.
South Dakota (5-6) (3-5 conf.)
Finished 7th in the dreaded MVFC and somehow was not included in the 2015 FCS Playoffs (Rumor is next year all MVFC teams will get an auto bid)
Key Wins:
Beat NDSU in Fargo 24-21
Key Departures:
Coach Joe Glenn
WR Eric Shufford (45 Rec, 470 Yds, 2 TDs)
LB Keyen Lage (50 solo tackles, 34 assisted, 10 solo TFL, 1 assisted TFL)
Key Returning Players:
QB Ryan Saeger (1984 yds, 12 TDs)
WR B Van Roekel (33 Rec, 518 Yds, 6TDs)
A Van Ginkel (9 solo sacks, 17 solo TFL, 2 assisted TFL)
Rankings within MVFC
Scoring – 9th – 21 PPG
Rushing – 7th – 165.7 YPG
Passing – 7th – 183.7 YPG
Scoring D – 6th – 25.5 PPG
Rushing D – 4th – 159.8 YPG
Passing D – 3rd – 184.7 YPG
My first inclination is that regardless of score, or how many points UND can rack up, the win (and an automatic playoff spot) should go to USD, purely for having the grapes to be a part of the amazing MVFC (sense the sarcasm). In reality, this is a very winnable game for UND, especially at home. Though USD has certainly shown they can play spoiler, go ask about it on bisonville, I dare you. This game is winnable, but will be a good measuring stick. While USD is not a top team right now, they are very capable, and they do play in a tough conference. I still take UND at home.