The Bison are the Bison. Really we could probably end this preview here. We know them. They run the ball really well and they play sound but aggressive defense. This year has been their most trying in relation to injuries and high-profile transfer portal entries but at the end of the season, they find themselves back in Frisco. As Jackrabbit fans, we can love to hate them but this is incredibly impressive. The Bison are currently 12-2 with losses to SDSU and FBS Arizona. They crushed Montana in the opening round, played with their food in a ho-hum win over Samford, and had an epic comeback vs. Incarnate Word. Their road to Frisco showed the Bison can still Bison.
Offense
The Bison offense has rolled since losing to the Jackrabbits on October 15th. On the year, they are averaging 35.3 ppg while rushing for 273.3 per game and passing for 126.1. Their offense is efficient and converts on 52% of 3rd down opportunities and 64% of 4th down opportunities. In the Redzone, the Bison score on 91% of their trips and 74% are touchdowns. The Bison offensive line, as always, is excellent and has surrendered just 12 sacks on the season.
The QB for NDSU is #7 Cam Miller (6-1, 212). It is well documented that Cam is 0-3 vs. SDSU but I don’t think that record is his to own. He has played well vs. the Jacks and was 17 for 22 for 227 yards, and 2 TDs along with a rushing TD in October. Again, it is well documented that he was high school teammates with current Jackrabbits Adam Bock and AJ Coons and I’m guessing he draws some energy from playing two close friends. On the season he has completed 66% of his passes for 1,715 yards and 11 TDs. He also has 609 gross yards on the ground with a whopping 15 touchdowns. He is a much better athlete than he is given credit for. Against Incarnate Word he had an awful day passing, owned it, and told the coaches to run him more. He responded with 132 yards and 1 TD. The Jackrabbit defense will need to be ready for the quarterback designed runs and the scrambles. The Jackrabbits also need to be mindful of backup QB #15 Cole Payton (6-3, 230). Payton is still developing as a passer and the Bison have mainly used him as a runner where he has rumbled for 280 net yards and 2 TDs.
The running back room is full of questions right now for NDSU. Dom Gonnella hit the portal at the start of the playoffs. Hunter Luepke had season ending shoulder surgery. #4 Kobe Johnson (5-9, 188) suffered a severe finger injury and his status is unknown. #22 TaMerik Williams (6-1, 229) did not play vs. UIW after suffering a ankle injury vs. Samford and ending the game in a walking boot. Johnson and Williams are HUGE contributors in the run game and if either misses this game it will be a big loss. On the season Johnson leads the team with 898 yards and 8 TD, including a long run of 75 and an average of 7.6 ypc. Williams is second on the team with 679 yards and 8 TD on a 7.4 ypc avg. The 3rd running back is #28 TK Marshall (5-11, 204) who has 364 yards (6.5 ypc) and 5 TDs. Marshall runs really hard and had a nice game against UIW finishing with 70 yards. If either Johnson or Williams are unavailable, I’d expect to see #21 Jalen Bussey (5-5, 160) a bit more. He has just 14 attempts this season for a 3.8 yard average. Again, pending availability, the Bison could play true freshman #8 Barika Kpeenu (5-10, 204) who only has 15 carries on the season. The Bison still have two excellent fullbacks even without Luepke. #49 Hunter Brozio (5-11, 230) is an absolute battering ram. He has just 1 carry on the year and 4 receptions for 41 yards. He is very physical and also moves really really well. The backup fullback/tight end is #33 Logan Hofstedt (6-1, 237) and he is just a swiss army knife type of football player. He has 5 receptions for 53 yards.
The boundary weapons for NDSU are slightly different as well. DJ Hart, who had a career day vs. SDSU in October, hit the portal. 3rd leading receiver #17 RaJa Nelson (5-8, 190) was carted off the field vs. Samford with a nasty looking leg injury and his status is unknown. However, #0 Zach Mathis (6-6, 205), #12 Braylon Henderson (5-9, 177), and #19 Jake Lippe (6-2, 203) are all still around. Mathis is just a freak with his size and arm length and he leads the team with 28 receptions for 397 yards, and 3 TDs. Henderson possesses world class speed and has 14 receptions for 222 yards. Lippe has 11 receptions for 118 yards. Nelson has come on throughout the season and has 15 receptions for 95 yards. If he can’t go, it will be a big loss for the offense. #86 Eli Green (5-11, 186) has seen his playing time increase with the departure of Hart. He has 5 receptions for 48 yards. #82 Joe Stoffel (6-3, 245) has really developed himself into a high quality MVFC tight end. He is second on the team with 22 receptions for 235 yards and 1 TD. As in typical Bison fashion, he is an excellent blocker.
The offensive line for NDSU has also dealt with two significant injuries at right tackle and center. From left to right they will go #70 Cody Mauch (6-6, 303), #66 Nash Jensen (6-4, 329), #77 Brandon Westberg (6-4, 286), #63 Jake Kubas (6-4, 304), and #74 Grey Zabel (6-6, 290). Mauch and Jensen are two of the best in the business. If Tucker Kraft isn’t the first FCS player off the board in the NFL draft this year, it will be Cody Mauch. If you like offensive line play, watch Mauch because he does it the right way. Westberg has filled in nicely for Jalen Sundell and there hasn’t been much of a drop-off. Jake Kubas maybe doesn’t get the same amount of attention as Mauch and Jensen but he is also a very versatile piece of this offense. Zabel has filled in for Mason Miller and has really shown his athleticism. The “Rams”, as they are known, are as good as ever for NDSU.
Defense
The Bison defense is still really good and they are certainly healthier than they were in the first matchup. They have only allowed 18.4 ppg game! NDSU allows 147.9 rushing yards per game and just 168.8 yards through the air. In their 3 playoff games, they have allowed 163 (Montana), 57 (Samford), and 257 (UIW) yards rushing. They have allowed 183 (Montana), 279 (Samford), and 282 (UIW) passing. On 3rd down opponents are converting on 40% of their opportunities. In the redzone, opponents score 87% of the time with 59% coming as touchdowns. The Jacks settled for field goals in the first matchup and will need to be more efficient in the redzone in this matchup.
The Bison defensive line is where they are likely getting back an All-American in defensive tackle #53 Eli Mostaert (6-3, 280). He suffered a broken fibula in the second game of the season and has not played since. He was questionable for the UIW game and should likely be back for this matchup unless he suffered some sort of setback. In 2021, Eli had 44 tackles, 10 TFL, and 7.5 sacks. He’ll be a big addition if he can go. His twin, #91 Will Mostaert (6-2, 260), left the UIW game with an injury and his status is unknown. On the season, Will has 32 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks. In his press conference, NDSU Head Coach Matt Entz was coy about whether or not we would see these guys on the field together again this season. #58 Javier Derritt (6-1, 279) has really grown this season and has 28 stops, 7 TFL, and 3.5 sacks. #64 Jaxon Duttenhefer (6-1, 280) is a young pup that has steadily improved as the season has gone along. In a reserve role, he has 31 tackles, 6 TFL, and 4 sacks. #61 Kody Huisman (6-4, 279) is another redshirt freshman that has played well this season. He has 18 tackles and 1 sack.
On the edges, #99 Spencer Waege (6-5, 282) is one of the best in the country. His size and speed combination is unique at this level. He has been banged up in the playoffs but he has also been an absolute monster and is certainly leaving it all on the field. Waege has 48 tackles, 17.5 TFL, and 9 sacks along with 8 more QBHs. In the October matchup, he drew 3 false starts but also had a neutral zone infraction of his own while having 2 tackles and a sack. John O’Brian settled down in that second half and Waege had a much quieter second half. #90 Tony Pierce (6-1, 242) starts opposite Waege and and has 18 tackles, 2 TFL, and 1.5 sacks on the season. #56 Loshiaka Roques (6-3, 227) has had a good season and has 21 tackles and .5 sack. He is questionable for this game after suffering a shoulder injury vs. UIW. #55 Kole Menz (6-2, 230) is yet another redshirt freshman along the defensive line who has played quality snaps for the Bison. He has 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. #95 Dylan Hendricks (6-3, 243) is a converted linebacker but is playing some key snaps. He has 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks this year.
The linebacker corp for NDSU has some really good players on their depth chart. To me, the best player is #26 James Kaczor (6-0, 215). He leads the team with 94 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 passes defended, and 3 QBH. He’s a terrific player with good speed. Starting in the middle will either be #36 Nick Kubitz (6-2, 225) or #47 Luke Weerts (6-1, 218). Kubitz is 3rd on the team with 66 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, and 5 passes defended. Weerts has 46 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, and 2 passes defended. He was injured against Samford and did not play vs. UIW. Opposite Kaczor is #20 Julian Wlodarczyk (6-3, 207) who has 32 tackles and 3 TFL this season. He has split time this season with #42 Oscar Benson (6-1, 215) who has 20 tackles. #31 Cole Wisniewski (6-4, 225) has returned after a leg injury kept him out the first half of the season. He has 23 tackles in 7 games. #43 Logan Kopp (6-1, 218) has also seen his snaps increase since the first matchup and he has 39 tackles and 2 interceptions. Wisniewski and Kopp can both really move and are strong in coverage. I’m curious to see how this group matches up with Tucker Kraft after not seeing him in the regular season matchup.
The Bison secondary is the strength of this defense. #6 Destin Talbert (6-0, 187), #1 Courtney Eubanks (5-10, 187), and #23 Jayden Price (6-0, 184) are possibly the best trio of corners in the FCS. They have played so many snaps together and are just incredibly sound. Talbert has 56 tackles, 1 INT, 6 PBUs and 7 passes defended. Eubanks has 50 tackles, 1 INT, 5 PBUs and 6 passes defended. Price has 17 tackles. This group did lose Marques Sigle to the portal and he had supplanted Price as the 3rd quarter. The safety group for NDSU is loaded with experience as well. #2 Dawson Weber (6-2, 190) is playing the best football of his career and has been an absolute maniac in the playoffs. He has 49 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 5 INT, 6 PBUs and 11 passes defended. He was outstanding against both Samford and UIW. #25 Michael Tutsie (5-11, 189) is so instinctual and has been making plays for NDSU for a long time. He is second on the team with 73 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 6 PBUs and 7 passes defended. He shows up on stretch run plays where he is able to knife through traffic and make plays for minimal gains. #10 Dom Jones (6-3, 197) is a super sub that sees the field quite a bit, even with the excellent Weber and Tutsie ahead of him. Jones has 35 tackles, 2 PBUs and 2 passes defended.
Special Teams
The Bison special teams have been very good throughout the season. #39 Griffin Crosa has been very clutch in his field goal duties and is 10 for 11 with a long of 47. They have only had 1 FG blocked this season. On kick-offs, #38 Will Cardinal has had 87 opportunities and has 35 touchbacks on a 59.8 yard average. He has booted 4 out of bounds. The Bison are allowing 22.8 yards per kick return and have surrendered a long of just 37. That is some solid consistency! #41 Kaedin Steindorf does not have a spectacular average but with the eye test, he does everything NDSU needs him to do. He has punted 46 times and has a 39.5 yard average with a long of 59 yards. He only has 3 touchbacks and has forced 16 to be faircaught, landing 21 inside the 20, and booting 8 balls 50+ yards!
In the return game, Jayden Price is an excellent punt returner. On 15 attempts he has a 15.5 yard average including a 66 yard TD return. The kick return duties are a bit of an unknown right now. RaJa Nelson is their leading returner with 11 attempts for a 19.1 yard average but with injury questions who knows. Kobe Johnson is next on the list with 4 attempts but his finger injury is also a big question. Next is DJ Hart and he’s gone. I’m guessing Jalen Bussey or Braylon Henderson may get the return duties but I really have no idea. They both have world class speed and Bussey does have 3 attempts for a 20.3 yard average this year.
Predictions
I can see this game going in a million different directions but I do think it will ultimately be a close game. I think the final score will really depend on how many of their injured playmakers the Bison offense gets back. Regardless, I’m picking the Jackrabbits to win their first National Championship.
Jackrabbits 28- Bison 24.
Go Jacks!
Matt
