2025 Game 5: Illinois State

[tony]

The Red Birds are the 2nd ranked opponent in a row that NDSU will face (5 of NDSU's next 6 opponents are ranked.)

4-0 Oklahoma only rushed for 103 yards against them. Their lines are huge, and Rittenhouse is a very mobile QB.

Edit: Last year, NDSU held ISU-Red to 8 yards rushing (.3 ypc). Going to be tough to top that.

[Twentysix]

Illinois state is the best team we will have faced so far this season.

I think they are way overranked though and are barely top 25. USD is probably more like top 40.

[Kujava23]

Soo maybe a quality opponent??

[Twentysix]

Soo maybe a quality opponent??

Best NDSU has faced this year? Yes!

Quality? No.

Sagarin has NDSU as a 21.75 point favorite on a neutral field.

So @ ISU-R the predictor says NDSU is a 3 TD favorite (18.75 points).

Edit: updated sagarin predictor numbers

Sagarin says Illinois State is #20 in the FCS, and that there are 104 teams between NDSU and Illinois State in D1.

For further context, Sagarin says USD is #22 in the FCS, and that on a neutral field USD is actually a half point favorite over Illinois State.

If the october 25th game of Illinois State @ South Dakota was tomorrow, Sagarin says USD by a field goal.

[Professor Chaos]

According to Illinois St's schedule page this game is a "white out" - so I'm guessing they'll be wearing the beatdown whites at home. Ironically enough we can thank the creators of the beatdown whites Missouri St for having to play at Illinois St two years in a row since I think this was supposed to be a road game for NDSU at Missouri St but the conference had to redo the conference schedule this year with the Bears' departure to the FBS (that's also the reason we get UNI at home 2 years in a row).

At least Illinois St had the good sense not to make NDSU their homecoming game like they did last year (that'll be in 2 weeks for them against Youngstown St). I do get a little nervous that last year's game in Normal was such a domination that it couldn't happen 2 years in a row...

[Professor Chaos]

It might be a blessing that this game is a 6PM CT kickoff. Forecast high for Normal, IL on Saturday is 88 so an evening game should moderate the temperature and make it a lot more tolerable for the players especially once the sun goes down.

Ironic that the game in Normal, IL in early October will turn out to be a much warmer day than the late August game in Charleston, SC was (I think it barely got to 70 that day in Charleston).

It looks like this is also the "MVFC Game of the Week" this week so no WDAY broadcast - it'll be exclusively ESPN+ with the MVFC conference TV crew calling it I'm guessing.

[NI4NI]

It might be a blessing that this game is a 6PM CT kickoff. Forecast high for Normal, IL on Saturday is 88 so an evening game should moderate the temperature and make it a lot more tolerable for the players especially once the sun goes down.

Ironic that the game in Normal, IL in early October will turn out to be a much warmer day than the late August game in Charleston, SC was (I think it barely got to 70 that day in Charleston).

It looks like this is also the "MVFC Game of the Week" this week so no WDAY broadcast - it'll be exclusively ESPN+ with the MVFC conference TV crew calling it I'm guessing.

This is the only remaining game that we would need ESPN+ for, and I don't foresee it being a close one so I just might not have to subscribe to plus this season.

S.N.A.F.U.
Situation
Normal (IL)
Another
Fooking
Underling

[BisManBison]

Best NDSU has faced this year? Yes!

Quality? No.

Sagarin has NDSU as a 21.75 point favorite on a neutral field.

So @ ISU-R the predictor says NDSU is a 3 TD favorite (18.75 points).

Edit: updated sagarin predictor numbers

Sagarin says Illinois State is #20 in the FCS, and that there are 104 teams between NDSU and Illinois State in D1.

For further context, Sagarin says USD is #22 in the FCS, and that on a neutral field USD is actually a half point favorite over Illinois State.

If the october 25th game of Illinois State @ South Dakota was tomorrow, Sagarin says USD by a field goal.

Their secondary appears to be a weak spot for them. Perhaps helps inflate their run D stats?

[Mr Pep Band]

I predict Cole Payton throwing a bit more than usual with 6 deep bombs to Raja and Bryce for long gains, but not TD's. Run game will likely be steady, but not explosive.

Score Prediction.

Bison - 35
Redbirds - 7

[roadwarrior]

Tickets are $12 and that includes the fee.