UND-FB-FAN

South Dakota will be a very tough opponent. Great out-of-conference game to prepare UND for the conference slate. Everyone who can travel to Vermillion needs to get out there and support Bubba and UND! Big challenge but big opportunity!

In 207, the sound system was not very good. I was disappointed. Since it's a new system, I'm sure it's either a settings issue or the acoustics of the Alerus are what they are. I was very impressed with the new lighting system. Very professional looking presentation on the field - nice, nice job! The new signage and green accents were all great touches, keep up the good work! Lastly, I thought the use of in-game music was much much better. It kept the fans and students who aren't there purely as diehards, like most on this board, engaged and entertained.

Screw the golden buffaloes and the Herald for running that crap. Sick of it. I, along with others, have commented on this before.

11.5k last year for potato bowl versus South Dakota ... tomorrow there will be more folks i.e., there will be 12k + Go UND

I'd love to see the UND video guys be proactive and put that Tamas Stewart hit on the intro video. Utah highlights (and other 2017 game highlights in the future) should be included on the intro video - keeps the fans engaged and following the CURRENT 2017 team.

Best of luck this season. Hoping to watch you guys crush BYU via TV.

Yeah, the cattle don't need much attention in September. Own the Farm

UND 38 Missouri State 31 Not sold on the defense yet, but I'll be doing my part in the stands to help them out. I expect the run game to come to life, hopefully. Go Fighting Hawks

Yeah, Donnell Rodgers is the only true starting ILB on roster. Need true freshman (hard to say, I know) Larson; at least the inside should be solidified for the next couple seasons once Larson gets his feet under him due to some live game experience.

@geaux_sioux said something along the lines that anyone who can pass can beat UND. That's news to me. Obviously corner is thin, but it takes more than a simple offensive philosophy to top UND. Defensive pressure will still be active for UND. With how UND wants to play offense; that is, ball control and increased time of possession, teams that like to air it out have to be careful. Last season UND played plenty of teams that like to air it out and UND won most, with Bowling Green being the exception. Against Utah, UND's pass defense was pretty good when the ball wasn't heading towards Utah's Carrington.

Bought a lot of time with his feet, limited mistakes (interception was a drop/tip off his targeted receiver), made some nice throws, and showed good composure/control at the line of scrimmage (expected out of 4th Year starter). Ute fans were impressed also. He just looks the part out there. Offense is very predictable, though, which is always hard on a QB.

Rice-Eccles Stadium vs. DakotaDome... Utah's defensive front versus South Dakota's defensive front... I definitely think South Dakota has an above average FCS team, but, with that said, they aren't Utah. UND should be able to handle the away environment and run the football. It will still be a tough, close game but I expect UND to pull it out. As for USD's offense, UND's defense will have their hands full. Need to force USD and Streveler into mistakes. For now, I'm just hoping for UND's defense to slow down Missouri State's offense after their impressive showing against Missouri.

I think Studsrud can put up points for UND if given the opportunity. It was ugly in Salt Lake City offensively for UND but, in the end, Studsrud looked quite good. Just have to open up the playbook and give him the opportunity. Fortunately, UND won't play a better defensive line during the regular season than what Utah put out there on the field.

Eastern Washington lost 56-10 to Texas Tech. That is lopsided to say the least. I think Eastern will be down this season (lost too much in terms of coaches AND players); UND needs to take advantage and win the Big Sky Conference outright.

Did I say you couldn't look at other teams? No. I implied that there's no reason to build a team up just so you can feel better if UND loses. That has happened quite regularly since UND's loss to Utah. UND *should* beat Missouri State and South Dakota if they want another top 8 seed in the FCS playoffs. There's no guarantee that UND will go undefeated in-Conference again. I just like to say it how it is: South Dakota may be tough, but based on expectations (UND's rank), UND needs to beat Missouri State and South Dakota.

First Utah, now South Dakota? UND needs to clean things up and play well against Missouri State. Then it's on to the pups ... UND needs to go 2 - 0 to finish out the non-conference slate.

All the banter about Utah's team is interesting, but UND and Bubba should definitely not be about moral victories. Bottom line: UND received a negative result. They lost. UND needs to look at the tape and focus on improving what they did poorly; whether that's against Utah or Sacramento State, it doesn't matter. UND offense needs to work on the running game (fact is it was nonexistent), TE passing game, and RB screen game. That was deficient against Utah. UND defense needs to work on tackling, outside leverage on defense, defending read option runs, and pass coverage on third down. There is a lot to work on. If you get too caught up into the opponent quality, you will spiral downward fast. UND lost; that's all that matters. It sucks and it should feel !@#!$. Move on and feel better by not justifying the loss versus Utah, but rather by crushing Missouri State. Plenty of work to do for September 9th. Embrace the grind and get better. Go UND Fighting Hawks

Man, you are spot on. If UND's OC/QB coach would let UND's senior QB play some true 50/50 run-pass football, UND could legitimately put up a few more touchdowns per game. I understand and respect the run focus philosophy of Bubba and Rudolph, but you have to also play to your players. Studsrud showed against Utah that he can handle 5 to 10 more passes per game and UND's coaches owe it to the players to take more shots and be more aggressive. UND has weapons on offense; play 50-50 ball and not this 75-25 ball that is predictable and doesn't utilize UND's 2017 players. Trust me, Santiago, Oliveira, and Johannesson need their touches, but so does Studsrud via the passing game. He was impressive against Utah. He's a mature, 4th year starter who could carry UND far this season if given the opportunity.

Would be interesting to watch. That being said, UND needs to focus on themselves largely yet. They need to be able to run the ball better and play better pass coverage defensively. Also, the defensive pass rush didn't hit home enough. Lastly, need way more explosive plays offensively. Asking for a lot, I know, but tonight's game showed several areas of weakness that need to be addressed.

I couldn't agree more. I unfortunately sensed this as well, even leading up to the game. I didn't hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, but I felt UND was undermining their chances against Utah the entire time. That is no good for this UND football program, considering they compete with a program only 70 miles away that consistently knocks off FBS teams. Be aggressive and go for the damn win. I fully endorse the physical, run-orientated philosophy of the offense, but when things aren't working, the offense needs to get far more diversified than it did tonight against Utah. Rudolph is probably partly to blame for this, but it is on the entire coaching staff, also.

This game could've been closer, and, dare I say it, UND could've threatened to win if they could've converted red zone opportunities to touchdowns and play better 3rd down defense. UND needs to get more explosive in the offensive passing game (c'mon offensive staff AND players) running game was non-existent; Utah is good but UND needs to get more push than what they showed UND needs to improve greatly in the red zone UNDs passing defense with the young corners has a ways to go Next two non-Conference games are definitely winnable; UND needs to execute and get the job done against Missouri State and South Dakota.

2 score game. UND needs to be aggressive and go for the TD now. Hopefully Studsrud has some momentum going now.

UND's offense hasn't done anything to where they should be exhausted ... they just need to score in the red zone which is on the execution and play design both. Defense has been rotating nicely with defensive line depth. D-line depth is FBS quality.

Yes, and Cloyd is a weapon but the offense hides tight ends Offense design (i. e. Rudolph) needs to be better

First Half Yards: Utah 261 UND 92 that is not good at all ... offense needs to get more diversified