North Dakota State and South Dakota State have met in the FCS second round, quarterfinals, and semifinals. The two rivals now finally meet in the national championship game on Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas.
SDSU has a three-game winning streak on the Bison, including a 23-21 win this season where the Jackrabbits erased a 21-7 halftime deficit. The Jacks are 0-4 vs. NDSU in the FCS playoffs with losses in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018.
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NDSU’s Offense vs. SDSU’s Defense
The Bison offense has taken several hits to its personnel this season. Yet they are still the top-scoring offense in the MVFC, averaging 35.3 PPG, which ranks 18th in the FCS.
NDSU lost two 2023 NFL Draft prospects FB Hunter Luepke and TE Noah Gindorff plus starting center Jalen Sundell and starting RT Mason Miller to season-ending injuries. RB TaMerik Williams got hurt in the quarterfinals and missed the semifinals, and RB Kobe Johnson exited the semifinals late with a finger injury. NDSU also lost depth RB Dominic Gonnella to the transfer portal after the regular-season finale. WR RaJa Nelson got hurt in the quarterfinals and missed the semifinals. NDSU’s most experienced WR Phoenix Sproles entered the transfer portal early in the season. WR DJ Hart entered the transfer portal after an 83-yard receiving performance in the regular-season finale. Finally, backup/running QB Cole Payton has missed some action in the playoffs due to injury.
Williams, Johnson, Nelson, and Payton are expected to suit up and play in the championship game.
Even with the portal departures, the season-ending injuries, and the scattering of injuries throughout the postseason, NDSU’s offense has still rolled thanks to its rushing attack. The Bison rank third in the FCS in rushing yards per game (273.3), compared to their passing offense which ranks 120th (126.1). Cam Miller went 1-of-12 passing for five yards in the semifinals, but NDSU still scored 35 points by rushing 48 times for 328 yards.
The Bison have leaned on the top FCS offensive line, led by NFL prospects LT Cody Mauch and LG Nash Jensen. After Luepke’s season ended in mid-November, Johnson has had games of 115, 206, and 136 rushing yards as he’s totaled 898 yards on the ground. Williams offers more power at 6-foot-1 and 229 pounds. He had 120 rushing yards a week before Luepke’s final game, and he also had 101 yards in the second round, totaling 679 on the season.
Miller has had an up-and-down season for NDSU. He’s had some standout performances — 21/27 for 210 yards at Indiana State, 17/22 for 227 yards vs. SDSU, 20/30 for 174 yards vs. Illinois State, and 15/18 for 194 yards in the quarterfinals vs. Samford. He’s also had weaker performances, including the 1/12 for five yards game in the semifinals vs. UIW and a 6/10 for 58 yards vs. Montana in the second round. Miller has single-digit completions in five of the last six games. On the season, he is completing 66.4% of his passes for 1,715 yards, 11 TDs, and three interceptions while rushing for 497 yards and 15 TDs.
Miller’s single-digit completions are fine against teams that couldn’t stop NDSU’s run. But the Bison will go up against a team that has proven it can stop that rushing attack.
SDSU has the No. 1 FCS rushing defense, allowing 83.0 YPG. The Jacks are third in FCS scoring defense, allowing 15.4 PPG.
The stout defense has done it without star MLB Adam Bock for the later portion of this season. Bock exited the North Dakota game in late October. He returned to play limited snaps in the quarterfinals. Bock then looked like his 2021 First Team All-American self in the semifinals vs. Montana State’s top-ranked FCS rushing offense, totaling eight tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and one sack.
SDSU has shown great depth at LB throughout the season. Jason Freeman has stepped up after transferring from the NAIA to lead SDSU with 74 tackles. Isaiah Stalbird and Graham Spalding are two veteran players who have elevated their play this season.
The strong run defense all starts up front, though, an area of SDSU’s roster that has allowed it to become a legit title contender. SDSU has both star power and depth, allowing it to rotate and keep bodies fresh. Caleb Sanders is as good as it gets in the FCS as an interior defensive lineman. He can plug running gaps but is also productive with 9.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. Reece Winkelman is a veteran at DE, totaling 14.5 TFLs and seven sacks this season.
SDSU’s passing defense is much improved from last season, ranking 12th in the FCS by allowing 180.6 YPG. The DBs are also key in stopping the run, and the safeties especially love coming down physically to meet ball-carriers. Colby Huerter, Cale Reeder, Chase Norblade, and Tucker Large have all played big snaps at safety. Against NDSU, cornerbacks Malik Lofton and DyShawn Gales will likely be tasked with a lot of 1-on-1 coverage. Gales was a First Team All-MVFC selection this year.
SDSU’s Offense vs. NDSU’s Defense
SDSU is 23rd in FCS scoring offense (33.4), 34th in rushing offense (177.6), and 77th in passing offense (198.3). The Jacks had dominant rushing attacks in the early 2010s. They had high-flying passing offenses in the mid-to-late 2010s. Even though statistically it may not show it this year, the 2022 offense is perhaps the most complete unit SDSU has had.
First-year offensive coordinator Zach Lujan has stressed ball control and a more methodical style of ball. The balanced attack has made it difficult for defenses to emphasize what to take away. Of course, you have to stop the run first. But SDSU can be just as dangerous throwing the ball.
The offense starts with getting RB Isaiah Davis going. His physical running style coupled with his big-play ability takes its toll on a defense. Davis has 1,348 rushing yards this season and 14 touchdowns. In the three playoff games, he has 416 yards on the ground and four TDs, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Amar Johnson has stepped up to be a solid No. 2 RB, rushing for 716 yards and six TDs this season, including a season-high 89 yards against NDSU.
The offensive line saw some new starters this season, but All-American names like Mason McCormick and Garret Greenfield are still there leading the way.
SDSU’s ground game opens up a dangerous play-action attack. Mark Gronowski is at his best off of play-action out of the shotgun, making defenders sneak up and then finding his array of pass-catchers across the middle. Gronowski is completing 65% of his passes for 2,744 yards, 23 TDs, and five interceptions this season. He has also scored 11 TDs on the ground, utilizing his legs on designed runs more later in this season after returning from his knee injury suffered in the spring national title game, which kept him out of the 2021 fall.
The Janke twins, Jaxon and Jadon, lead the pass-catchers at the WR position. Both are 6-foot-3 with a good combination of size, speed, and physicality/elusiveness after the catch. They have over 700 receiving yards each with a combined 13 TD catches. SDSU utilizes its tight ends, and it has one of the best in all of college football in NFL Draft prospect Tucker Kraft. Kraft is 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. He missed a good chunk of this season, including the NDSU game, but is back and has 25 catches for 318 yards and three TDs. Zach Heins is another big target at 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds. He has 29 receptions for 247 yards and four TDs.
The Bison defense has improved as this season progressed, playing a lot of new names on the defensive line and at linebacker. Their secondary has been a strength all year. NDSU is fifth in FCS passing defense (168.9), 45th in rushing defense (147.9), and fifth in scoring defense (18.4).
NDSU has played some redshirt freshmen on the d-line like DE Kole Menz and DT Jaxon Duttenhefer due to graduation from last year and injuries this season. Those two have elevated their play with more snaps. Veteran Spencer Waege has stepped up to have an All-American season at DE, totaling 18.5 TFLs and nine sacks. Preseason All-American DT Eli Mostaert is expected to play snaps in the title game after missing most of this season due to injury. His brother Will, who got hurt in the semifinals, is also expected to play at DT. DE Loshiaka Roques is questionable after he got injured in the semis.
NDSU has played a lot of guys at linebacker with different starting lineups. Veteran James Kaczor leads the defense with 94 total tackles. Nick Kubitz is third on the team with 66 tackles. Luke Weerts (46 tackles) is expected to play after missing the last two playoff games due to an injury.
Four of NDSU’s top six tacklers are secondary players.
The safety tandem of Michael Tutsie (73 tackles, six pass breakups) and Dawson Weber (49 tackles, five interceptions) has proven to be one of the best in the FCS. NDSU lost its No. 3 cornerback Marques Sigle to the transfer portal after the regular season. He was the Bison’s highest-graded CB on PFF. But Courtney Eubanks and Destin Talbert have started all 14 games to lock things down on the outside.
Special Teams
NDSU’s Griffin Crosa is 10/11 on field goals with a long of 47 yards. He has made all 64 PATs. SDSU’s Hunter Dustman is 17/24 on field goals with a long of 45 yards. He has made all 53 PATs
NDSU’s Kaedin Steindorf is averaging 39.5 yards per punt with 21 inside the 20-yard line. SDSU’s Dustman also handles the punting duties, averaging 41.7 yards per punt with 13 inside the 20-yard line.
RaJa Nelson has handled the bulk of NDSU’s kick returns, averaging 19.1 yards on 11 returns. Jayden Price has returned 15 punts for 233 yards and one TD. His 15.5 return average ranks third in the FCS. SDSU is 90th in FCS kick return defense, allowing 22.14 yards per return. The Jacks are 80th in punt return defense, allowing 10.24 yards per return.
Jadon Janke has returned 11 punts for 160 yards, averaging 14.5 yards per return. Tyler Feldkamp, who recently entered the transfer portal, had seven kick returns for 121 yards. Janke has six kick returns for 136 yards, averaging 22.7 yards per return. NDSU is 104th in FCS kick return defense, allowing 22.84 yards per return. The Bison are 84th in punt return defense, allowing 10.57 yards per return.
