Are the 2019 Bison the Best Bison Team Ever?

[Professor Chaos]

It is tough for me to compare teams because of different OOC competition like 2013 K State. Also, in the Valley, itself teams and the challenges they present can vary year to year.

True. 2013 had the toughest singular opponent in K-State but they also had a D2 team in there. I'd also say the MVFC was tougher in 2017-2019 than it was in 2013 (NDSU and SDSU were the only MVFC playoff teams in 2013). Also, that 2013 team didn't play a single seeded team in the playoffs until the title game when they faced #7 Towson. There was no JMU-like team in the playoffs for them like the 2017 and 2019 teams had to deal with.

[Bisman]

Apologies if you're not a stat nerd like I am because this will probably make your head spin but here it is.




Make you're own judgement but I still say the best defense in that group was in 2017. This year's offense was about right in line in most categories with last year's juggernaut offense but did end up 4 points back in points per game. This year's defense was the worst of the bunch (but that's some pretty tough competition).

I still give 2018 the tiniest of nods over the 2013 team. I think purely statistically 2017 was ever a better team than this one but that goose egg in the L for 2019 can't be overlooked.

Another part of the discussion, but hard to quantify, is the level of competition keeps getting better. In 2013, NDSU dominated SDSU. SDSU's recruiting has gotten a lot better over the last 6 years. In 2013, JMU finished 8th in their conference.

[ZHerd]

True. 2013 had the toughest singular opponent in K-State but they also had a D2 team in there. I'd also say the MVFC was tougher in 2017-2019 than it was in 2013 (NDSU and SDSU were the only MVFC playoff teams in 2013). Also, that 2013 team didn't play a single seeded team in the playoffs until the title game when they faced #7 Towson. There was no JMU-like team in the playoffs for them like the 2017 and 2019 teams had to deal with.

Was the mvc really tougher this year though? 2013 SDSU was as good or better and UNI was wayyyy better in 2013 than any mvc team this year. Imo JMU was the only team on par with 2013 kstate and UNI. Towson was probably better than everyone this year except JMU. I know this is really subjective and sort of eye test based to even judge this but I think the mvc was soft this year regardless how many teams went to playoffs. 2013 Bison was best roster/team ever

[noryan34]

I find it absolutely mind boggling that the 2019 Bison just won a NC going 16-0 the first team to go 16-0 in 120 some years and we can actually have the argument that this is the 3rd best team NDSU has had in the last 8 years.........

In what world are we living right now. I dont know but damn it doesnt get old

[ndsubison1]

Where does 2012 rank? Basically the same team as 2013.

[Professor Chaos]

Was the mvc really tougher this year though? 2013 SDSU was as good or better and UNI was wayyyy better in 2013 than any mvc team this year. Imo JMU was the only team on par with 2013 kstate and UNI. Towson was probably better than everyone this year except JMU. I know this is really subjective and sort of eye test based to even judge this but I think the mvc was soft this year regardless how many teams went to playoffs. 2013 Bison was best roster/team ever

UNI finished 7-5 (3-5) in 2013. They lost a bunch of close games (including the close game in the Fargodome) but I don't think great teams lose that many close games. Other than SDSU and UNI the only other MVFC team with a winning record NDSU played was Youngstown St (who finished 8-4 but got snubbed for a playoff spot). The MVFC in 2013 was very average after NDSU. No MVFC team made it past the round 16 in the playoffs other than NDSU. In 2017 through 2019 there's been another MVFC in the quarters each year (and two other MVFC teams in the quarters this year).

As far as talent goes I just would compare the 2013 with the 2017 team (really tough to compare 2013 to 2018/2019 in terms of talent since so many of the 2018/2019 guys still have more years to play) but let's look at it.

QB: Jensen (2013) vs Stick (2017) - advantage 2017
RB: Ojuri/Crockett (2013) vs Anderson/Dunn/Brooks (2017) - push
WR: Vraa/Smith (2013) vs Urzendowski/Shepherd (2017) - advantage 2017
O-line: Turner/Z Johnson/Colville/Gimmestad/Haeg (2013) vs Conner/Z Johnson/Volson/Bacon/Z Johnson (2017) - advantage 2013
TE: Vaadeland/Nelson (2013) vs Wentz/Illies/Jenson (2017) - advantage 2017
FB: Grothman (2013) vs Robbins (2017) - push

DE: Emmanuel/Jirik (2013) vs Tuszka bros/Jones/Butler (2017) - advantage 2013
DT: Perry/Drevlow (2013) vs Tanguay/Steidl (2017) - push
LB: Littlejohn/Olson/Beck (2013) vs Cox/Deluca/Board (2017) - advantage 2017
CB: Williams/Smith (2013) vs Allison/Wimbush (2017) - advantage 2013
S: Dudzik/Heagle (2013) vs Dempsey/Grimsley (2017) - push

Specialists: Lecompte/Keller (2013) vs Koonce/Peterson (2017) - advantage 2013

So, in my opinion, that's 4 for the 2013, 4 for the 2017 team, and 4 pushes. Pretty close but it's all debatable.

[tke]

I won't say they are the best, but I will say they were pretty damn good for a rebuilding year LOL

[ZHerd]

UNI finished 7-5 (3-5) in 2013. They lost a bunch of close games (including the close game in the Fargodome) but I don't think great teams lose that many close games. Other than SDSU and UNI the only other MVFC team with a winning record NDSU played was Youngstown St (who finished 8-4 but got snubbed for a playoff spot). The MVFC in 2013 was very average after NDSU. No MVFC team made it past the round 16 in the playoffs other than NDSU. In 2017 through 2019 there's been another MVFC in the quarters each year (and two other MVFC teams in the quarters this year).

As far as talent goes I just would compare the 2013 with the 2017 team (really tough to compare 2013 to 2018/2019 in terms of talent since so many of the 2018/2019 guys still have more years to play) but let's look at it.

QB: Jensen (2013) vs Stick (2017) - advantage 2017
RB: Ojuri/Crockett (2013) vs Anderson/Dunn/Brooks (2017) - push
WR: Vraa/Smith (2013) vs Urzendowski/Shepherd (2017) - advantage 2017
O-line: Turner/Z Johnson/Colville/Gimmestad/Haeg (2013) vs Conner/Z Johnson/Volson/Bacon/Z Johnson (2017) - advantage 2013
TE: Vaadeland/Nelson (2013) vs Wentz/Illies/Jenson (2017) - advantage 2017
FB: Grothman (2013) vs Robbins (2017) - push

DE: Emmanuel/Jirik (2013) vs Tuszka bros/Jones/Butler (2017) - advantage 2013
DT: Perry/Drevlow (2013) vs Tanguay/Steidl (2017) - push
LB: Littlejohn/Olson/Beck (2013) vs Cox/Deluca/Board (2017) - advantage 2017
CB: Williams/Smith (2013) vs Allison/Wimbush (2017) - advantage 2013
S: Dudzik/Heagle (2013) vs Dempsey/Grimsley (2017) - push

Specialists: Lecompte/Keller (2013) vs Koonce/Peterson (2017) - advantage 2013

So, in my opinion, that's 4 for the 2013, 4 for the 2017 team, and 4 pushes. Pretty close but it's all debatable.

Definitely subjective but the lines on both sides of the ball were better in 2013 and that is HUGE. Corners also better which also big. And most people will probably think I’m nuts but I’ll take Jensen as a senior over Stick as a senior. Would also take 2013 RBs though who knows what 17 backs would do behind 13s o-line

[heffray]

UNI finished 7-5 (3-5) in 2013. They lost a bunch of close games (including the close game in the Fargodome) but I don't think great teams lose that many close games. Other than SDSU and UNI the only other MVFC team with a winning record NDSU played was Youngstown St (who finished 8-4 but got snubbed for a playoff spot). The MVFC in 2013 was very average after NDSU. No MVFC team made it past the round 16 in the playoffs other than NDSU. In 2017 through 2019 there's been another MVFC in the quarters each year (and two other MVFC teams in the quarters this year).

As far as talent goes I just would compare the 2013 with the 2017 team (really tough to compare 2013 to 2018/2019 in terms of talent since so many of the 2018/2019 guys still have more years to play) but let's look at it.

QB: Jensen (2013) vs Stick (2017) - advantage 2017
RB: Ojuri/Crockett (2013) vs Anderson/Dunn/Brooks (2017) - push
WR: Vraa/Smith (2013) vs Urzendowski/Shepherd (2017) - advantage 2017
O-line: Turner/Z Johnson/Colville/Gimmestad/Haeg (2013) vs Conner/Z Johnson/Volson/Bacon/Z Johnson (2017) - advantage 2013
TE: Vaadeland/Nelson (2013) vs Wentz/Illies/Jenson (2017) - advantage 2017
FB: Grothman (2013) vs Robbins (2017) - push

DE: Emmanuel/Jirik (2013) vs Tuszka bros/Jones/Butler (2017) - advantage 2013
DT: Perry/Drevlow (2013) vs Tanguay/Steidl (2017) - push
LB: Littlejohn/Olson/Beck (2013) vs Cox/Deluca/Board (2017) - advantage 2017
CB: Williams/Smith (2013) vs Allison/Wimbush (2017) - advantage 2013
S: Dudzik/Heagle (2013) vs Dempsey/Grimsley (2017) - push

Specialists: Lecompte/Keller (2013) vs Koonce/Peterson (2017) - advantage 2013

So, in my opinion, that's 4 for the 2013, 4 for the 2017 team, and 4 pushes. Pretty close but it's all debatable.

I think that LB "advantage 2017" is an arguable push. I see NFL careers as the reason you gave it to 2017. But Beck might be the best LB ever to wear a bison uni and he didn't have an NFL career...

[Professor Chaos]

Definitely subjective but the lines on both sides of the ball were better in 2013 and that is HUGE. Corners also better which also big. And most people will probably think I’m nuts but I’ll take Jensen as a senior over Stick as a senior. Would also take 2013 RBs though who knows what 17 backs would do behind 13s o-line

Yep, it's a very subjective argument no matter which way you go. That's the problems us Bison fans just have to deal with I guess.