Totally missed our first elimination scenario Saturday and it came to pass. Murray State, you’re playing for pride the rest of the season. Up top we now have 3 teams in control of their fate for a conference title, and a switch of the number one and two teams as a result of an all time classic Marker game. Much like the polls there is a new #1 team in the MVFC race for the first time since the 2022 Marker Game. Like I said I totally spaced it last week, but now that we have clinch/elimination scenarios we’ll go over them here.

Clinch: None

Elimination:

UNI: Loss or USD win (80.66%)

SIU: Loss or USD win or NDSU win (98.06%)

YSU: Loss or USD win (77.15%)

 

11. Murray State (1-6, 0-4) (0.259 conf wins)

Last week: Loss 40-32 Vs #21 Illinois State (5-3, 2-2)

 

Murray State is continuing to show some fight as the year goes on. Although we didn’t want to hear it, frequent Scared Money Don’t Make Money view Michael Batts said the Racers would come to play in front of a near sold out crowd on homecoming, and at least offensively he was correct. Jayden Johannsen had another nice game and as a team the Racers were able to rush for 217 yards. However, the Racer defense was still so porous they may as well have had my toddler and infant playing as their edge rushers giving up 633 yards. You are not going to win many if any games giving up over 600 yards of total offense. However, once again I do love the Racers keeping some chin at least with their offense.

 

This Week: (+32.07, 3.16%) Vs #1 North Dakota State (7-1, 4-0), 1 PM Sat, ESPN+/ABC (ND/WDAY ONLY)

 

See NDSU for preview.

10. Indiana State (2-5, 1-2) (1.770)

Last Week: Lost 46-21 At Missouri State (5-2, 3-0)

 

Coming off their second win of the year Indiana State was a bit listless in this one. Now granted Missouri State appears to be a very good team this year, but the trees were just kind of out there in this one. They were fairly blanched offensively, but only gained 249 yards, and defensively got wood shedded.

 

This Week: (+8.97, 23.44%) Vs Southern Illinois (2-5, 0-3), 12 PM Sat, ESPN+

 

See Southern Illinois.

 

9. Northern Iowa (2-5, 0-3) (1.851)

Last Week: 31-7 Loss At #7 North Dakota (5-2, 2-1)

 

The long slow painful rebuild year continues for the Panthers. A dismal 214 yards of total offense an only 36 net and 56 gross on the ground. The Panthers were bullied on both sides of the ball all day during a long afternoon in Grand Forks.

 

This Week: (+11.27, 24.18%) Vs Missouri State (5-2, 3-0), 4 PM Sat, ESPN+/Marquee SN/PSN-TV/CFU Channel 15

 

See Missouri State.

8. Southern Illinois  (2-5, 0-3) (2.518)

Last Week: Bye

 

This Week: (-8.97, 76.56%) At Indiana State (2-5, 1-2), 12 PM Sat, ESPN+

 

This one will be a meeting between a SIU team licking their wounds, decimated by injuries, and on a 4 game skid looking to travel to Terre Haute and a perennially bad Sycamore team, with no exception this year. This will be a big test for both teams. On one hand the SIU defense showed some life in their last outing and if they slow down Gavin Screws there is not much else to be afraid of, and a weak Indiana State defense should allow even the SIU B squad to put up points offensively. On the flips side Screws is a good athlete, and if he can put points together  the aforementioned struggling and injured Saluki offense may struggle to keep up.

 

7. Youngstown State (2-6, 1-3) (2.617)

Last Week:Lost 27-17 Vs #4 South Dakota (6-1, 4-0)

 

This was a much better showing by Youngstown this week, and they even jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead, and even had more first downs than USD in this one. However, the explosives and the overall resiliency of the Yotes was too much. I think this was definitely a step in the right direction for the ‘Guins but they still have a ways to go to be who they want to be. 

 

This Week: (+8.63, 28.56%) Vs #7 North Dakota (5-2, 2-1), 5 PM Sat, ESPN+/Midco SN

 

See North Dakota for preview.

6. #21 Illinois State (5-3, 2-2) (4.416)

Last Week: Won 40-32 At Murray State (1-6, 0-4)

 

Although you could not have gotten a better showing out of the Redbird offense in this one, it may be time to have a conversation about their defense. Giving up over 400 yards to Murray State is just unacceptable in anyway shape or form. Illinois State remains on the tail end of the rankings and playoff bubble, and if they don’t want to end the year on the bubble for the second year in a row they are going to have to find some consistency especially on the defense as they head into their stretch of last 4 games post bye.

 

This Week: Bye

 

5. #7 North Dakota (5-2, 2-1) (4.858)

Last Week: Won 31-7 Vs Northern Iowa (2-5, 0-3)

 

Simon Romfro was not overly impressive, but when Gaven Ziebarth is leading a rushing attack that combines for 267 he doesn’t necessarily have to. The defense was stifling, and this was a super convincing team win for the Fighting Hawks and a good bounce back.

 

This week: (-8.63, 28.56%) At Youngstown (2-6, 1-3), 5 PM Sat, ESPN+/Midco SN

 

UND will look to continue to roll while Youngstown looks to improve again this week. If Youngstown is going to stand a chance their rush defense will have to have a big showing. The Penguin rush defense has been unimpressive the last 2 weeks, and when UND has been good they have run for a lot of yardage. That is the key battle to watch in this one.

 

4. Missouri State (5-2, 3-0) (5.704)

Last Week: Won 46-21 Vs Indiana State (2-5, 1-2)

 

Another really good complete game out of the Bears in this one. Their air raid attack threw for almost 400 yards, and Jacob Clark just may be a dark horse Payton award candidate. They also were respectable once again on the ground rushing for around 120 net. Also although it was Indiana State, this was easily one of their best defensive performances of the season as well as they didn’t have to rely overtly heavily on turnovers to hold back the scoring in this one.

 

This Week: (-11.27, 75.82%) At Northern Iowa (2-5, 0-3), 4 PM Sat, ESPN+/Marquee SN/PSN-TV/CFU Channel 15

 

Once again a red hot Missouri State team will get fed a team that’s on a bit of a down swing. Missouri State will look to keep their march to a sneaky MVFC title bid rolling against a UNI team that is winless in conference this year, and has yet to win a Valley game. However, if you know anything about Mark Farley led teams, this is the exact type of game they love to play spoiler in.

 

3. #4 South Dakota (6-1, 4-0) (6.144)

Last Week: Won 27-17 @ Youngstown (2-6, 1-3)

 

The Yotes slept through the first part of what was a textbook trap game going into the half down 17-14, but turned it on in the second half to get the Stambaugh monkey off their back. I think there is pause for some concern in giving up 158 gross rush yards to Youngstown State, the offense for the Yotes was stupid efficient as they again rolled.

 

This Week: *GAME of the Week* (+9.02,23.57%) At #3 South Dakota State (5-2, 2-1), 6:30 PM, ESPNU

 

See South Dakota State.

2. (-1) #3 South Dakota State (5-2, 2-1) (6.376)

Last Week: Lost 13-9 At #1 North Dakota State (7-1, 4-0)

 

Really really frustrating loss for the Jacks. As always I’ll keep my SDSU previews and recaps brief to the plethora of other information here at JI, but there were so many missed opportunities by the offense, and to a lesser extent special teams that let down a defensive performance for the ages.

 

This Week: *GAME OF THE WEEK* (-9.02, 76.43%) Vs #4 South Dakota, 6:30 PM, ESPNU

 

Once again the MVFC has decided SDSU needs to play both of its rivalry games consecutively. A lot was made of last year’s match up being the biggest due to the high ranking of both teams, but personally I think this year’s is bigger. The gap appears to be far closer this year, and will be the first real test of the Yotes’ season, as crazy as that is to say, coming in Week 9. Both teams have lights out defenses and want to control the game via the rushing attack. Add in a national TV audience again for the Jacks and the Dana J under the lights, and this one will be special.

 

1. #1 North Dakota State (7-1, 3-0) (7.385)

Last Week: Won 13-9 Vs #3 South Dakota State (5-2, 2-1)

 

When one team needed to put something together to answer the bell the Bison did it. Cam Miller went 7/7 on the game winning drive, and honestly I think you can hand him the Payton now. The rock after a long hiatus has finally returned to Fargo.

 

This week: (-32.06, 96.84%) At Murray State (1-6, 0-4), 1 PM Sat, ESPN+/ABC (ND/WDAY only)

 

After a super physical Marker game that left the Bison banged up they’ll make their first trip to Murray, Ky. Between the Marker hangover, an unexciting opponent, and Murray offensively playing a little hot right now this one might be closer than it should be for a quarter or two, but the Bison will roll.

 

 

Go Jacks!

 

Alex