This Week in the MVFC
Only two weekends remain, and six different MVFC teams are in a position to reach the seven-win plateau (North Dakota State, with nine, is already there.) The MVFC will take its TV cameras to Springfield, Mo., for the North Dakota State-Missouri State contest (ESPN+). Scott Warmann, Don Patterson and Kelly Burke will call the action from Plaster Field.
Saturday, Nov. 10
#22 UNI at Youngstown State, 11 am CT | Youngstown, Ohio • ESPN+
#22 Illinois State at RV Indiana State, 12 pm CT | Terre Haute, Ind. • ESPN3
RV Western Illinois at South Dakota, 1 pm CT | Vermillion, S.D. • Midco SN / ESPN+
#6 South Dakota State at Southern Illinois, 1 pm CT | Carbondale, Ill. • ESPN+
#1 North Dakota State at Missouri State, 2 pm CT | Springfield, Mo. • ESPN+
Weekly Notebook (PDF)
Streaking
North Dakota State owns the nation’s longest active winning streak in the FCS at 15 games. The 15-game streak is the second-longest in MVFC history. The Bison, meanwhile, own the league’s three longest win streaks of all time (33, 15, 14).
Magic Number = 0
North Dakota State earned at least a share of the 2018 MVFC title and the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA playoffs with a win last weekend against Youngstown State. The Bison hold a two-game advantage over three teams in the standings (UNI, SDSU and Western Illinois). NDSU would win the tiebreaker in the event it ties any of those three teams.
Title Town
North Dakota State has a league-record eight-straight Conference titles (shared or outright), and that is second-only to UNI’s 16. The Panthers had a streak of seven-straight titles from 1990-96.
Still Perfect
North Dakota State (9-0), Colgate (8-0) and Princeton (8-0) still have perfect records through Nov. 3. There are also four unbeaten FBS teams (Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, UCF).
Home Sweet Home
Two league schools are perfect at home this season: North Dakota State (6-0) and South Dakota State (5-0). A total of 27 FCS teams are unbeaten at home this year. North Dakota State (15-straight) and South Dakota State (9-straight) boast two of the longest active home win streaks in the FCS. San Diego (20) has the current longest home win streak among FCS schools.
Working Overtime
League teams have been involved in 68 overtime games since current OT rules were put in place in 1994. A total of 35 conference games have been decided in overtime, including Indiana State’s 51-48 win against South Dakota on Nov. 3, 2018.
Most TDs This Year
Indiana State’s Ryan Boyle accounted for seven TDs in Indiana State’s win against South Dakota (5 passing, 2 rushing). It’s the most in a game by an MVFC player this year. QB Easton Stick of NDSU had 6 TDs (2 rush, 4 pass) in the Bison win vs. UNI.
What a Rush
Indiana State’s Ryan Boyle rushed for 187 yards in the Sycamores’ win against South Dakota on Nov. 3. It was the fifth-most in the league this year, and the most by a QB.
Historic Comeback
Western Illinois trailed Southern Illinois on Nov. 3, 2018, 31-14 before scoring the first of 20 unanswered points with a Sam Crosa field goal with 13:33 remaining in the 4th quarter. The 17-point fourth-quarter comeback tied for the fifth biggest comeback in league history.
6-0 League Start for NDSU
North Dakota State became the 13th team in league history to start an MVFC season with a 6-0 mark after the Bison defeated Youngstown State on Nov. 3. All of the previous 12 earned a playoff berth, and 11 of them won the Conference title.
Turnover Margin
Four MVFC programs rank among the Top 15 in the FCS in turnover margin, topped by North Dakota State, which ranks 4th-best with +1.44. South Dakota State is 7th, while Indiana State and UNI are tied for 15th. Indiana State is tied for the national lead (with Dartmouth) with just four turnovers lost this year.
Taking Care of the Rock
Six MVFC schools rank in the Top 28 of the FCS for fewest interceptions thrown, topped by Indiana State (2nd nationally with just one pick) and North Dakota State (4th, with two).
Defense In the Red Zone
North Dakota State (2nd) and Illinois State (9th) rank among the FCS leaders in Red Zone defense. Missouri State is also in the Top 25, ranking 23rd in the FCS. NDSU’s opponents have reached the Red Zone just 16 times this year (in nine games). Only Colgate (11), Princeton (13) and Kennesaw State (15) have allowed fewer Red Zone trips. South Dakota State ranks 7th in fewest Red Zone trips allowed (18).
Scoring Defense
Three MVFC schools rank among the Top 13 in the FCS for fewest points allowed per game. North Dakota State tops the MVFC and ranks 5th nationally (12.2 ppg), while Illinois State (9th, 18.2 ppg) and South Dakota State (13th, 19.8 ppg) also surrender fewer than three TDs per contest.
Passing Efficiency
South Dakota State’s Taryn Christion ranks second nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 165.7. Easton Stick of NDSU is close behind at 158.3 (7th), while Indiana State’s Ryan Boyle has a rating of 153.6 (11th-best in the FCS).
In the Backfield
Western Illinois’ Pete Swenson leads the FCS in tackles for loss and he’s tied for third nationally in sacks per game.
Tough Schedules
MVFC teams hold seven of the Top 8 spots in the Massey Ratings strength of schedule index. UNI and Western Illinois rank 1-2, followed by New Hampshire (CAA). South Dakota (4th), North Dakota State (5th), South Dakota State (6th), Illinois State (7th) and Southern Illinois (8th) round out the national leaders. All of the league’s 10 members are rated in the Top 36 in the Massey Ratings strength of schedule. Only two leagues (MVFC and Big Sky) have more than three teams among the Top 20 (MVFC has nine.)
4 Teams in Top 25
Four league teams are in the Top 25 this week, and two others are receiving votes. North Dakota State continues to have its unanimous stranglehold in both polls while South Dakota State, Illinois State and UNI are also ranked. Western Illinois and Indiana State are receiving votes. Among conferences, the MVFC is the top-rated league in the FCS (Sagarin Rankings), and also ranks ahead of a two FBS leagues, including Conference USA (both the East and West divisions), and the Sun Belt (West Division).