On the Air This Week
All five league games Saturday, Nov. 9, can be seen on either ESPN+ or ESPN3. The Conference will produce and air the Missouri State at Southern Illinois game at 2 pm CT (on ESPN3). Scott Warmann, Danan Hughes and Kelly Burke call the action from Saluki Stadium.
Valley Football Notebook (PDF)
Saturday, Nov. 9
#11 Illinois State at #4 South Dakota St., 2 pm CT | Brookings, S.D. • Midco/ESPN+
Missouri State at RV Southern Illinois, 2 pm CT | Carbondale, Ill. • ESPN3
RV Youngstown State at South Dakota, 2 pm CT | Brookings, S.D. • Midco/ESPN+
Western Illinois at #1 North Dakota St., 2:30 pm CT | Fargo, N.D. • NBC ND/ESPN+
Indiana State at #5 UNI, 4 pm CT | Cedar Falls, Iowa • PSN/ESPN+
NDSU Streak Reaches 30 Games
North Dakota State has extended its current winning streak to an FCS-best 30 games. NDSU set a league and FCS record with a 33-game win streak from 2012-14.
Longest FCS Winning Streaks (All Time)
33 -- North Dakota State (2012-14)
30 -- North Dakota State (2017-present)
26 -- James Madison (2016-17)
24 -- Penn (1992-95)
24 -- Montana (2001-02)
Longest Division I Winning Streaks (All Time)
47 -- Oklahoma (1953-57) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
40 -- Washington (1908-14) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
37 -- Yale (1887-89) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
37 -- Yale (1890-93) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
35 -- Toledo (1969-71) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
34 -- Penn (1894-96) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
34 -- Miami (2000-02) - FBS
33 -- North Dakota State (2012-14) - FCS
31 -- Penn (1896-98) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
31 -- Pittsburgh (1914-18) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
31 -- Oklahoma (1948-50) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
30 -- North Dakota State (2017-present) - FCS
30 -- Texas (1968–1970) - pre-FBS/FCS classification
Celebrating 35 Years
In 2019, The Missouri Valley Football Conference is recognizing some of its all-time greats in accordance with the league’s 35th anniversary and College Football’s 150th anniversary. Following a month-long on-line voting campaign, the Conference is revealing its five best players at 10 different positions. As of Monday, Nov. 4, the league has announced its top QBs and RBs. Honorees are listed alphabetically. The league will announce three position segments each week (next announcement is wide receivers on Wednesday, Nov. 6).
QBs
Taryn Christion, South Dakota State, 2015-18
Brock Jensen, North Dakota State, 2010-13
Easton Stick, North Dakota State, 2015-18
Kurt Warner, UNI, 1990-93
Carson Wentz, North Dakota State, 2012-15
RBs
Shakir Bell, Indiana State, 2010-13
Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State, 2012-15
Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois, 2005-08
David Johnson, UNI, 2010-14
Zach Zenner, South Dakota State, 2011-14
Still Perfect
Just three FCS teams remain unbeaten in 2019. There are seven perfect FBS teams.
FCS Unbeaten Teams (2019)
9-0 North Dakota State
7-0 Dartmouth, Princeton
3 MVFC Teams in Top 5
For just the fifth time in league history, three MVFC schools occupy 3 of the Top 5 spots in a national poll. NDSU (1), SDSU (4), UNI (5) and Illinois State (11) represent the league this week. Southern Illinois and Youngstown State are also receiving votes. The league previously had 3 of the Top 5 teams on Sept. 28, 2015; Sept. 11, 2017; Sept. 18, 2017; and Sept. 25, 2017.
Home Sweet Home
North Dakota State and UNI are both 4-0 at home this season. NDSU (23) leads the FCS for current consecutive wins at home. Alabama’s 31-game winning streak at home leads the FBS. UNI has a current 8-game home winning streak.
NCAA Leaders, Active Home Win Streaks
23 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
14 - Grambling State (SWAC)
13 -- Eastern Washington (Big Sky)
11 -- Stetson (PFL)
11 -- Southeast Missouri State (OVC)
Taking the Show on the Road
North Dakota State extended its FCS-leading road winning streak to nine games with its victory at Youngstown State on Nov. 2.
NCAA Leaders, Active Road Win Streaks
9 - North Dakota State (MVFC)
7 - Princeton (Ivy)
5 - Dartmouth (Ivy)
4 - James Madison (CAA)
Back to Back, Jack
NDSU picked up its fourth win against a top-25 team in as many games as the Bison knocked off #10 Illinois State on Oct. 12. The Bison closed the 2018 season with four-straight wins against ranked foes (#23 Montana State, #7 Colgate, #5 South Dakota State and #3 Eastern Washington.) During its current 30-game winning streak, NDSU has beaten 17 teams ranked in the Top 25 at the time of the game.
Yet Another FBS Win
Thanks to SIU’s 45-20 win at UMass on Sept. 7 the league has had at least one FBS win in each of the last 10 seasons. The MVFC has 46 FBS wins in its history. Southern Illinois (at UMass and at Arkansas State) was the only MVFC school to face two FBS opponents this season.
College GameDay at SDSU
College GameDay was at Brookings, S.D., for the Dakota Marker game between North Dakota State and South Dakota State on Oct. 26. It marked the ninth time the iconic ESPN show has traveled to an FCS site -- the third time it has visited an MVFC school.
Great Start to a Career
Through the first nine games of his career, North Dakota State rookie QB Trey Lance ranks among the NCAA leaders in pass efficiency (2nd with a 186.1 rating) and ‘points responsible for’ (t9th with 18.0 points per game). He’s the NCAA freshman leader in both categories. Former NDSU QB Easton Stick established the league single-season record with his 172.4 rating in 2018. In the win at Youngstown State on Nov. 2, Lance extended his streak to 160 consecutive passing attempts without an interception, breaking the NDSU school record of 152 set by Easton Stick from 2016 to 2017.
Weston Leads MVFC Receivers
UNI’s Isaiah Weston tallied a team-high 68 yards on five catches in the Panther victory at Illinois State but was held out of the end zone for the first time since week one’s loss to Iowa State. He is the first Panther since Eddie Berlin in 2000 to score a TD in seven consecutive games. Weston ranks 2nd in the FCS by averaging 24.97 yards per reception. He’s tied for 5th in receiving TDs (10), sixth in total receiving yards (924) and eighth in receiving yards per game (102.7).
Kicking It
South Dakota’s Brady Schutt punted just three times in the Coyote loss at Western Illinois, averaging 44.0 yards per kick while placing two inside the WIU 20-yard line with a long punt of 51 yards. He ranks third in the FCS with his 46.1 punting average.
Among the NCAA Rush Leaders
Two MVFC runningbacks are among the FCS leaders in rushing yards per game. Pierre Strong of South Dakota State is 8th (108.3 yards per game) and James Robinson of Illinois State is 9th (107.0 ypg). Robinson is tied for fifth in the FCS with 14 rushing TDs. Javon Williams Jr. of Southern Illinois ranks 8th with 13 rushing touchdowns for the Salukis, which included two in the win against Indiana State on Nov. 2.
Chinn Tops MVFC in INTs
A pair of MVFC student-athletes are among the FCS leaders in interceptions per game. All-American Jeremy Chinn of Southern Illinois leads the league with four interceptions in his seven games played. Freshman Omar Brown of UNI is tied for fifth nationally with five interceptions (in nine games played). He had two picks in the victory against Illinois State.
Simmons Leads MVFC in Offense
South Dakota QB Austin Simmons leads the MVFC and ranks 7th in the FCS in total offense per game (318.4 ypg). Against WIU last week, Simmons completed 25 of 45 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 79 yards.
Going for No. 100
Coach Bo Pelini of Youngstown State will be aiming for victory No. 100 in his head coaching career on Saturday when the Penguins face South Dakota. He’ll be up against one of the winningest coaches among current FCS mentors in Bob Nielson (205 wins). Notably, three current MVFC coaches rank among the Top 9 in the FCS.
Paper or Plastic
Three MVFC student-athletes are in the Top 9 in the FCS in sacks per game. Elerson Smith of UNI leads the MVFC and ranks 3rd nationally with 1.11 per game. Derrek Tuszka of North Dakota State (4th at 1.06 per game) and Justus Reed of Youngstown State (9th at 0.94 per game) also represent the league among the national FCS leaders. A pair of MVFC schools rank among the Top 6 in team sacks per game. Illinois State leads the MVFC and ranks 4th in the FCS (3.67 per game). Southern Illinois is right behind ISU at 3.44 per game (good for 6th in the FCS). Four other MVFC schools are in the Top 25, including UNI (t-11th), South Dakota State (t-11th), North Dakota State (t-25th) and Youngstown State (t-25th).
Turnovers are a Key
Three MVFC schools rank among the FCS leaders in turnover margin this season. UNI forced four turnovers, including three on four consecutive offensive plays in the fourth quarter in its win at Illinois State. The Panthers now rank 7th in the FCS in turnover margin (+9). North Dakota State and Youngstown State both have a +8 margin, which is tied for ninth in the FCS.
What a Rush
North Dakota State leads the MVFC and ranks fourth in the FCS, averaging 288.0 yards per game on the ground. South Dakota State gains 234.4 per game to rank 12th in the FCS, while Southern Illinois ranks 14th (218.1 yards per game). SIU piled up 265 rushing yards against Indiana State, including 180 from RB D.J. Davis.
Total Defense Leaders
Six MVFC schools rank among the Top 23 in the FCS for fewest yards allowed this season, led by North Dakota State (2nd in the FCS with 271.4 yards per game). Three league schools rank in the Top 10 in the FCS for fewest points allowed. North Dakota State leads the MVFC and ranks second nationally, surrendering just 11.0 points per game. South Dakota State (8th, 16.5 ppg) and Illinois State (9th, 16.6 ppg) also represent the MVFC in the Top 10.