GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota returns home following a three-game road swing ranked No. 6 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 7 in the AFCA Coaches' poll after defeating Indiana State 42-35 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both teams.

The Fighting Hawks improved to 4-1 overall and have now won road games to open conference play in back-to-back seasons under second-year head coach Eric Schmidt. UND is averaging 40.0 ppg and senior Jerry Kaminski leads all FCS quarterbacks with 16 touchdown passes after adding four in the victory over the Sycamores.

NoDak, who is joined by five other MVFC teams in this week's Stats and AFCA polls, hosts Murray State Saturday in the program's annual Homecoming Game. Kickoff against the Racers is set for 1 p.m. CT and will air linearly on Midco Sports and be streamed on Midco Sports Plus and ESPN+. The Fighting Hawks won last year's meeting 35-17 in Murray.

For more information on North Dakota football, follow @UNDfootball on social media or visit FightingHawks.com.

STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Sept. 28; Week Five)
1. Montana State (5-0), 1,417 (49)
2. South Dakota State (4-1), 1,365 (8)
3. Montana (4-1), 1,284
4. Tarleton State (4-0), 1,273
5. North Dakota (4-1), 1,105
6. Lehigh (5-0), 1,093
7. Stephen F. Austin (5-0), 1,078
8. Youngstown State (3-2), 1,035
9. Tennessee Tech (4-0), 950
10. Illinois State (4-1), 905
11. Austin Peay (4-1), 876
12. Idaho State (4-0), 777
13. South Dakota (3-2), 756
14. Lamar (3-1), 702
15. South Carolina State (5-0), 637
16. UC Davis (3-2), 558
17. West Florida (3-1), 409
18. Campbell (4-1), 385
19. Northern Arizona (3-2), 371
20. Harvard (2-0), 305
21. Southern Illinois (3-2), 249
22. Colgate (4-1), 222
23. Mercer (3-2), 147
24. Richmond (4-1), 134
25. Jackson State (4-0), 103

Others Receiving Votes (on two or more ballots): Alabama State (3-1): 88; Elon (4-1): 78; Stony Brook (3-2): 45; Yale (1-1): 42; Southeastern Louisiana (3-2): 38; Northern Iowa (2-2): 29; Monmouth (3-2): 24; Rhode Island (2-3) 10; Villanova (2-3): 6; Morgan State (3-1): 5; William & Mary (2-3): 5; Cornell (1-1): 2

AFCA FCS COACHES TOP 25 (Sept. 28, Week Five)
1. Montana State (5-0), 625 (25)
2. South Dakota State (4-1), 590
3. Tarleton State (4-0), 568
4. Montana (4-1), 550
5. Stephen F. Austin (5-0), 521
6. Lehigh (5-0), 484
7. North Dakota (4-1), 467
8. Tennessee Tech (4-0), 429
9. Austin Peay (4-1), 420
10. Youngstown State (3-2), 386
11. Illinois State (4-1), 370
12. South Carolina State (5-0), 329
13. Lamar (3-1), 322
14. Idaho State (4-0), 311
15. UC Davis (3-2), 236
16. South Dakota (3-2), 223
17. Richmond (4-1), 196
18. West Florida (3-1), 193
19. Northern Arizona (3-2), 175
20. Colgate (4-1), 155
21. Mercer (3-2), 117
22. Harvard (2-0), 82
23. Jackson St. (4-0), 72
24. Campbell (4-1), 71
25. Southern Illinois (3-2), 57

Others Receiving Votes: Elon, 55; Yale, 22; Alabama St., 19; Prairie View A&M, 17; Southeastern Louisiana, 14; UT Rio Grande Valley, 7; Furman, 6; Monmouth (N.J.), 6; Chattanooga, 5; Stony Brook, 5; Cal Poly, 4; Dartmouth, 4; St. Thomas (Minn.), 4; Cal Poly, 4; Delaware St., 3; Villanova, 2; Bryant, 1; Northern Iowa, 1; UIW, 1.