No. 11/15 North Dakota vs. No. 1/1 South Dakota State
Grand Forks, N.D. (Alerus Center)
Series: North Dakota leads 47-39-5
Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT
Promotion: White Out -- WEAR WHITE!
TV: Midco Sports
Stream: Midco Sports Plus & ESPN+
Radio: Fighting Hawks Radio Network
Weekly Presser: Coach Schmidt | Coach Freund | Mike Devereaux and Sam Strandell

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- For the second consecutive year, the No. 11/15 Fighting Hawks have a chance to knock off the top-ranked team in the FCS on their home turf when No. 1/1 South Dakota State pays a visit to the Alerus Center Saturday.

This will mark the sixth time that NoDak has squared off with the top team in the country since moving up to the FCS ranks in 2008. The Fighting Hawks nearly pulled off their first victory in those matchups a season ago when top-ranked NDSU escaped with a 15-10 victory over UND, who was ranked No. 13/15 at the time.

UND and SDSU also squared off in a ranked showdown last year as the No. 22/22 Jacks prevailed with a 34-31 overtime victory over the No. 13/16 Fighting Hawks in the regular season finale. SDSU rallied from down 20-7 in the third quarter to build a 28-20 advantage late in the fourth quarter. However, UND would score a touchdown and convert the game-tying, two-point conversion to square things at 28-28 with 1:52 to play.

SDSU would hold UND to a field goal before scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 23-yard reception by Grahm Goering.

It was the first overtime clash in 91 tilts between the border-state foes.

GAME NOTES