The North Dakota State Bison continued their impressive run on Saturday night, handing the Illinois State Redbirds a decisive 35-21 defeat at Hancock Stadium. It was a game that showcased NDSU's trademark grit, as they improved to 5-0 on the season while dropping Illinois State to 3-2. The Bison, already buzzing from their national championship earlier this year, wasted no time asserting control in the first quarter, racing out to a 14-0 lead with two quick touchdowns on the ground.
Illinois State fought back valiantly in the second half, though. Their quarterback, Zeke Freeman, connected on a couple of deep passes that briefly made things interesting, pulling within 28-21 late in the third. But NDSU's defense, led by linebacker Jayden Price, clamped down hard, forcing two turnovers that sealed the outcome. Price ended up with 12 tackles and a sack, a performance that felt almost routine for this squad. Indeed, the Bison's rushing attack piled up 245 yards, with running back Ta'Mere Robinson breaking free for 128 of them.
However, not everything was smooth for NDSU. A few penalties crept in, including a roughing call that extended an Illinois State drive unnecessarily. Moreover, the Redbirds' special teams unit showed some spark, blocking a punt and nearly turning it into points. Still, Illinois State's offense struggled against the Bison's front seven, managing just 312 total yards in a game that dragged at times under the cool October night. The crowd of 12,000 or so at Hancock seemed deflated by halftime, watching NDSU methodically pick apart their defense.
For the Bison, this win solidifies their spot atop the Missouri Valley Football Conference standings. Coach Tim Polasek praised his team's focus post-game, but noted areas for improvement ahead of tougher matchups. Illinois State, meanwhile, heads into a bye week with questions about their run defense, which has now allowed over 200 rushing yards in three straight losses to ranked opponents. Indeed, the Redbirds will need adjustments if they hope to contend in the playoff hunt.
As both programs eye the back half of the schedule, this matchup reminds us how quickly fortunes can shift in FCS football.