siouxfan512

Serious question for you: If UND and NDSU played again, do you see the numbers being the same or different? I honestly think our run D would play about the same. I also don't believe there is any way that NDSU holds UND to the same limited yardage. I'm not saying UND would rack up 300-400 yards, but there would be a substantial difference in those numbers if the two teams played again. Need to remember that Santiago and Oliveira were true freshman. That was Santiago's 3rd college game, and either Oliveira's first or second. They definitely grew a lot of the course of the season. The benefit for NDSU was, when UND was able to stuff the run, NDSU has the passing game to turn to. At that point in the season we did not (though another glaring area that we improved on by the end of the season).

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.

I understand where you are going with this, and it was very clear who dominated all areas of that game. I do think it would have been much different had the teams met again later in the year, or in the playoffs. Not saying UND would necessarily win, but I do think it would have been a much more entertaining game, give the growth of both teams in different areas. Our run game was a surprise at the beginning of the year, but much stronger at the end of the year. Remember Santiago and Oliveira are true freshman, and that was their third game (Oliveira's second I think, maybe even first). I'm pretty sure that was also the last game where anyone controlled our run game. O line started to play better, and Santiago found a lot of confidence. Absolutely clear who dominated the head to head match up, but you have to look beyond just one game to gauge an entire offense or defense.

actually, if you weren't a moron and read this forum regularly, I believe most people on here gave credit where credit was due to NDSU after all of their FBS wins (even Kansas). Your program has done extremely impressive things over the past several years. Unfortunately, that success has made you and several other Bison fans arrogant a$$holes that like to put down any accomplishments of teams not called NDSU. It wasn't that long ago that NDSU was not a dominant FCS school.... took us longer to transition than you, and a new coach to boot, but you can't say this year wasn't progress. We improved from last year, beat an FBS school and won games we wouldn't have in the past. Still work to.be done but it won't happen overnight. Most schools don't get the opportunity to have the success that NDSU has had, and while.I won't judge and entire fan base on tour arrogant posts, most fans tend to compose themselves better. Nice work.

Not crazy, but I would personally rather see a setup where you could play a lower level FBS team, even if it was always a road game. Heck, even if we played a 4 or 5 win FBS team, the competition would likely be better than the Wyoming game. This could help for development and recruiting. Won't happen, but it would be cool to see. As you mentioned, you could play out of conference teams, and with this setup you could play teams that you really never get a chance to see. I'd rather see UND have a chance (given that they missed the playoffs) to play a team like Purdue (2-9), Kansas St (4-6), South Carolina (3-8), etc. The problem is, I'm not sure that some of those school would ever be interested in a FBS/FCS bowl game to end their season. But I do like the concept.

Do we think that Jake Geier (Andover) will definitely be playing at LB (as listed on the wiki), or will have get a look at offense. I see he is listed on the MN AP-Allstate 2nd team as a WR. Toivenen is listed on the third team. Both are listed as around 6'2" - 6'3" and around 200 lbs, which would be a pretty nice size for freshman. Anyone know if Toivenen could see playing time as a true freshman, or will he likely redshirt, given our current receiving corps is already adding Dulin and Blackwell into the mix, and possibly moving Smith?

but was't that game lost, due to the QB injury that they supposedly take into consideration?

True, but I'm hoping we go in there and get the win. Lets see Santiago run all over them.

While I agree, a bowl game absolutely will not happen. The NCAA has shown many times over, that they can do whatever the hell they want. So if they chose to select and FCS team to play in a Bowl game, they could do so. Unfortunately, I don't think they would ever consider doing so. As a pipe dream, it is really fun to consider, and depending on who we play, I think our boys could put on a good show (especially with a little chip on their shoulder). Even if we went and lost, it would be a great experience for the players. Again, this won't happen, but if it were going to, UND would have to be in the discussion given that they just missed the playoffs (still shaking my head).

True that their QB is a senior, but they also have a JR QB on the roster that started for them last year due to injury. So its not like they will be starting over either.

I believethey lose they're stting qb, but will have a senior that started as a sophomore (in place of injury) I think they also lose some receivers and a RB, but I'll have to do some checking. Eiher way, if we can add depth to our secondary, there is no reason we shouldn't be able to compete.

Yep, just sucks that we have to wait until next fall to watch more UND football. Really hope this team can work some magic and knock off Bowling Green next year. That would be a good win.

this has nothing to do with big Sky leadership. UND dropped two games that they should have won.

Sounds like a lot of arguing in circles here. Did UND get screwed? Absolutely! Did UND put itself into being a bubble team rather than a easy in, by blowing leads to idaho st and weber st. Yes! Ultimately, E Illinois has no business in the playoffs. Western really doesn't either, but UND could have done a lot to solidify their position by closing out those two games. Good news it the team seemed to fix that towards the end of their season. Bet they have a BIG chip on their shoulder next season.

Hopefully the refs don't know the FCS football committee or were screwed.

Are we going to miss!

Nice job boys!

hopefully ony.in the fact that we would have had a shot at a seed, and we would have been looking at playing for the conference Champs, not just a bid.

Love that he acknowledges the ndsu reference error. Thats funny.

What time is the selection show?

Georges having a really nice game

Falling asleep in the secondary

sry thought that's what you were talking about. Agreed that smith needs to be backfield depth this year.

Beyond impressed by what our boys are doing on both sides of the ball.

norberg, nevermann, gordon.