Bison Illustrated Fall 2026

FA L L 2 0 2 6

C O M P L I M E N TA RY

GET READY,

FBS!

THE BISON ARE COMING!

CONTENTS

FALL 2026

24

46

22 2026 Schedule 24 Head Coach Tim Polasek 30 Defensive Coordinator Grant Olson 34 Offensive Coordinator Dan Larson 39 The Quarterbacks 42 The Running Backs 46 The Wide Receivers 50 The Tight Ends and Fullbacks 55 The Offensive Lineman

56 63 66 70

A NEW ERA

72

RECURRING

The Linebackers The Defensive Lineman The Defensive Backs The Specialists

12 Editor’s Note 72 Swany Says 86 Team Makers

FIND US ONLINE

@bisonmag

facebook.com/bisonillustrated

bisonillustrated

bisonillustrated.com

info@spotlightmediafargo.com

brady@spotlightmediafargo.com

NDSU Has Earned

F FROM BRADY DRAKE

For years, the question surrounding North Dakota State football was not whether the Bison belonged at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. It was whether the opportunity would ever arrive.

supporters, leadership, and a culture that refuses to become comfortable. The Bison did not stumble into college football’s highest subdivision. They earned their way there, title by title and packed Saturday by packed Saturday.

Now it has.

NDSU’s move to the Mountain West is more than a change in classification. It is an acknowledgment of what the program has built through championship expectations, loyal

Still, this move should not be viewed as a victory lap. It is the beginning of a harder climb. FBS competition will demand more scholarships, stronger recruiting, greater financial support, and investment in facilities,

FROM THE EDITOR

Its Next Climb staffing, and the studentathlete experience. The name on the helmet will command respect, but past success will not guarantee future wins.

That is exactly why this moment is so exciting.

NDSU has never been defined simply by the level at which it competes. It has been defined by its willingness to set a standard, meet pressure, and turn ambition into results. The Mountain West offers larger stages, broader

television exposure, new opponents, and an opportunity to introduce Bison football to audiences that may know the trophies but not understand the program behind them.

The Bison are not leaving their identity behind. They are testing how far it can travel. For NDSU, Fargo, and the state of North Dakota, the move to FBS is not the end of a story.

There will be nostalgia for the FCS era, and rightly so. Those years transformed NDSU into a national brand and gave this region memories that will last for generations. Moving forward does not diminish that history. It honors it.

It is the next chapter.

FALL 2026

Publisher EDITORIAL Editorial Team Lead Art Director Editorial Graphic Designer Contributors INTERACTIVE Business Development Director of Creative Strategies Web Project Manager Senior Graphic Designer Director of Web Operations Director of Agency Social Media Senior Digital Advertising Specialist ADVERTISING VP of Business Development Sales Representative Digital Sales Representative

Mike Dragosavich Brady Drake Brady@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Kim Cowles Ty Betts Josh Swanson and Team Makers Kellen Feeney Megan Suedbeck Matthew Haire Sarah Cabler Sara Jentink Mhairi Christopherson Tammy Fogle Paul Hoefer Paul@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Al Anderson Al@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Abby Schauer Abby@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Business Development Representative

Spencer Hall Spencer@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Senior Digital Advertising Specialist

Matt Purpur Matt@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Director of New Market Sales & Expansion

Cooper Opheim Cooper@spotlightmediafargo.com

Client Relations Director of Client Success Marketing Admin Accounting Specialist DISTRIBUTION Delivery

ClientRelations@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Jessica Ventzke Tyler Duclos Missy Roberts John Stuber

Bison Illustrated is published by Spotlight, LLC. Copyright 2026 Bison Illustrated & bisonillustrated.com All rights reserved. No parts of this magazine may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Bison Illustrated. Bison Illustrated and Spotlight, LLC is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information.

Spotlight, LLC accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.

Spotlight, LLC 4609 33rd Ave S Suite #304 Fargo, ND 58104 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com ADVERTISING: 701-478-SPOT (7768)

a New Era by tyler duclos *Interviews Conducted August 7 Photos by NDSU Athletics

A new era of North Dakota State football is here. As the Bison step into their first full season at the FBS level, the familiar expectations remain—win at the line of scrimmage, play disciplined football, and compete for championships—but nearly everything around them has changed. A new conference, new opponents, and a national spotlight will test just how well NDSU’s championship formula translates to its biggest stage yet. Ahead of the season, we sat down with several of the players who will help define this transition to talk about the challenge ahead, the expectations inside the locker room, and what it means to be part of one of the most important seasons in program history.

20 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

21

Saturday, Aug. 29

JACKSONVILLE STATE AT NDSU

Saturday, Sept. 5

FORDHAM AT NDSU

Saturday, Sept. 12

NDSU AT AIR FORCE

Saturday, Sept. 19

NDSU AT SACRAMENTO STATE

Saturday, Oct. 3

WYOMING AT NDSU

Saturday, Oct. 10

NDSU AT UNLV

Saturday, Oct. 17

NEVADA AT NDSU

Saturday, Oct. 24

NDSU AT NEW MEXICO

Saturday, Oct. 31

UTEP AT NDSU=

Saturday, Nov. 14

NDSU AT HAWAII

Saturday, Nov. 21

NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT NDSU

Friday, Nov. 27

NDSU AT SAN JOSÉ STATE

22 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

2026 4:30 P.M.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK

2:30 P.M.

WDAY AND MW+

9 P.M.

FOX SPORTS 1

9:30 P.M.

ESPN

2:30 P.M.

THE CW

6 P.M.

THE CW

6 P.M.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK

9 P.M.

THE CW

2:30 P.M.

WDAY AND MW+

10 P.M.

THE CW

3 P.M.

THE CW

2:30 P.M.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK

23

24 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

Head Coach

TIM POLASEK ENTERS HIS THIRD SEASON AS NDSU’S HEAD COACH WITH A 26-3 RECORD, TWO MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE 2024 FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ALREADY ON HIS RÉSUMÉ. HE WAS RUNNER-UP FOR THE 2025 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD, PRESENTED TO THE FCS NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR. POLASEK HAS DEEP NDSU ROOTS, PREVIOUSLY SPENDING 10 SEASONS ON THE BISON STAFF, INCLUDING THREE AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR. HIS CAREER ALSO INCLUDES FBS STOPS AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS, IOWA AND WYOMING, WHERE HE SERVED AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND QUARTERBACKS COACH FROM 2021-23.

academically, kids who are great community members, good in society, good for society and prepared to go out into the real world and dominate.

Q: HOW DO YOU DEFINE A SUCCESSFUL FIRST FBS SEASON? TIM POLASEK: Quite frankly, that's a really good question, especially for where we're at in this process of entering a new league and a new level.

For us in-house, success has always been defined, as far as I'm concerned and getting back here to be the head coach, as: Do we reach our full potential?

I think for the fans, initially, what that means is we're not talking about wins and losses. We're talking about everybody competing, improving and being tough as hell each and every day. That's first and foremost.

Especially in the portal and NIL era, we're not talking about training guys anymore for four and five years. There's a lot more change.

Then, on top of that, it would be a Mountain West Conference Championship, most certainly.

Our players spoke very passionately about that.

Winning and losing is still a big part of our DNA. So, a successful season looks like: Do we reach our full potential? Are we running a great, first-class program? And then, a Mountain West Conference Championship and being in the conference championship game is critical for bigger and bigger moments in NDSU's storied history.

Then, on top of that, it's continuing to run a great program. Kids who are achieving at a high level

continued> 25

Q: WHEN YOU GUYS FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS LEAP, WERE YOU IN THE KNOW BEFORE IT WAS ANNOUNCED, AND HOW WERE YOU PREPARING FOR IT? POLASEK: For sure. Going all the way back to my interview process, that was maybe the one question.

It wasn't shocking. It didn't catch me off guard. I just didn't know what would come up in that setting.

But it was, "Okay, if we were to move up, what league would be ideal?"

I think North Dakota State has done such a tremendous job—the administration, the president's office, the school—in doing all the correct processes.

The research had been done, so I was very tied in that way.

Then, obviously, we got a little bit of word in November and December. With the early exit in the FCS tournament, we were able to get out and start to hit some major supporters to see if they'd be behind it. So, yes, there was an anticipation.

The cool thing—and it's going to be part of our story here—is Jill and I had made the decision to stay prior to knowing if we were going FBS. But I knew there was maybe a 1% to 5% chance, and those percentages just kept going up.

So, I most certainly was in the know, and I was very grateful for that in the process.

Q: ONCE YOU DID FIND OUT, DID ANYTHING CHANGE IN HOW YOU PREPARED FOR THE SEASON OR APPROACHED THE OFFSEASON, OR WAS IT MOSTLY BUSINESS AS USUAL WITH A STRONGER EMPHASIS ON EXECUTION? POLASEK: I think the timing of it is unique.

In football, we don't have the luxury of making excuses or having excuses. It's all about production and producing.

But it was very interesting how it was going to impact recruiting. The 2026 class had already been wrapped up. The 2027 recruiting board was already off and running. I would say at least 50% to 66% of it was developed already, so there was a lot of change that needed to happen with recruiting. Offers needed to be reevaluated. Can guys play at this level? Can they not?

We don't want to change our recruiting footprint too much, but the level of skill kid is most certainly going to go up. That was a big change in attacking recruiting, for sure.

Then, football opponents are football opponents.

Whether it's January and you're going into a new league or the same league, you have your nonconference opponents that you're starting to learn about.

So, we started to take a deep dive into all these different universities that we're going to be playing on a regular basis and who are potential rivals.

"Change"—or probably "adjusting" is a little bit better. We have to get familiarized with our new opponents and coaches.

Q: THE ROAD SCHEDULE INCLUDES A LOT OF DIFFERENT STATES AND SOME SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL. HAVE YOU CHANGED ANYTHING REGARDING TRAVEL, SLEEP, RECOVERY, OR PREPARATION BECAUSE OF THAT? POLASEK: All of it. Yes. I really appreciate the job Trish Shannon, our athletic trainer who's responsible for the health of our guys, has done. It goes far beyond just rehab and this, that and the other thing. Our strength and conditioning staff, too. I challenged them immediately with some of the nuances of the new calendar.

continued> 26 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

But here's the deal: When you travel west, it's not going to have that big of an impact on how you perform. But traveling back is going to have a huge, huge impact on development and on preparation for your next opponent.

I'll give you an example. We've got two games this year where we're going to be getting back in the 6 a.m. range. As a coaching staff, I'm going to ask them to giddy up and go right into work. Obviously, the day will be a little bit shorter time-wise than what it used to be, but we've got to get some sleep.

a row? How do you handle stumbling in Week 6, knowing that you're not out of it and you've got to stay on the gas?

Those things—the little bit of unknown about how exactly we match up, how exactly, week to week, our depth is going to compare to those other teams that have been FBS for a while—the travel is going to be a challenge.

But I do think the excitement lies in the potential within this program, these kids and our coaching staff, and how good we can be.

For the players, treatment and rehab will be pushed back a little bit, as will their ability to get in and maybe watch some tape on their own, because that's technically our off day.

It's obvious, right? We have work to do as far as still raising some money because we do have to get new meeting rooms. We have to get our offices revamped and those kinds of things.

Honestly, traveling east across multiple time zones, in my opinion, is a little bit harder for that specific game. But preparation-wise, it's going to be a bear.

It's going to be a monster on the coaching staff.

But the unknown and the excitement level of our potential is really good. Potential is also a scary word in sports. It's about production.

We'll have to do a good job with how we handle ourselves on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday nights.

Q: LAST QUESTION: WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THIS LEAP, AND WHAT SHOULD NDSU FANS EXPECT? POLASEK: What excites me the most is the potential in this program.

We have some successes to fall back on. We've been in FBS games and have done well. I think we've won nine out of 14.

The unknown is: How do we handle the travel?

How do we handle back-to-back FBS opponents now? How do you handle three tough games in

28 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

So, we need to be attacking this thing, and we need to lead this conference in physicality.

Defensive Coordinator

GRANT OLSON HAS EXPERIENCED NDSU’S CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE SIDELINE. A FORMER ALL-AMERICAN BISON LINEBACKER, OLSON WON THREE FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AS A PLAYER AND HAS BEEN PART OF FOUR MORE AS A COACH. HE RETURNED TO NDSU AS LINEBACKERS COACH IN 2019 AND WAS PROMOTED TO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IN 2024. DURING HIS PLAYING CAREER, OLSON SET AN NDSU SINGLE-GAME RECORD WITH 29 TACKLES AGAINST WOFFORD IN THE 2012 PLAYOFFS AND EARNED ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-AMERICA HONORS IN 2013. HIS COACHING RÉSUMÉ ALSO INCLUDES STOPS AT WYOMING AND INDIANA STATE.

Q: GOING INTO YOUR THIRD SEASON AS THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR HERE FOR THE NDSU BISON, WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST FUEL TO KEEP SHOWING UP EVERY DAY AND GIVING THEM ALL YOU’VE GOT? GRANT OLSON: Right now, it’s just the young men. I love these young men. They’re such phenomenal people. I’m willing to work really hard and continue to pour into them, especially because of how hard they work and how they treat people. I love those guys to death. If they keep doing that, I’ll keep pouring into them.

Q: WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THE MOVE TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST, AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU THINK IT WILL GIVE THE GUYS? OLSON: Number one, just the increased competition level. We’ve played some great teams, and I’m not knocking FCS football in any capacity,

but week in and week out, it’s going to be a tougher challenge. We’re going to be going against some different teams, and it’ll be fun to see new schemes, defend different things, travel to different places and experience a different competition level overall.

That’s the number one thing I’m excited for.

Q: I THINK THAT’S WHAT A LOT OF FANS ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT AS WELL. I WAS TALKING WITH HEAD COACH TIM POLASEK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT TRAVEL YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE DOING AND THE CHALLENGES THAT’S GOING TO PROVIDE WITH NIGHT GAMES, REST AND RECOVERY TIME, AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. HE BROUGHT UP A FEW THINGS YOU GUYS PLAN TO IMPLEMENT, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BE DOING FOR YOUR GUYS TO HELP EASE INTO THIS TRANSITION? OLSON: That’s a great question. I think it’s continuing to educate them about having a good routine, going to sleep and understanding how we get back into a routine.

continued> 30 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

31

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

I watch my wife do it a lot through professional golf.

If you get back late, you’ve got to get back into your rhythm as fast as possible. Those are some things I’m hoping I can help with, and I’ve got to do a good job myself. We’re all in this together. I’ve got to get my sleep when I have the opportunity to.

Q: ROUTINES ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAWAII, TOO. THAT’S GOING TO BE FUN TO WATCH. IS THERE A PARTICULAR OPPONENT YOU’RE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS YEAR? OLSON: Not particularly. I say that because right now I couldn’t even tell you who our seventh game of the year is. I have no idea.

I’ve got one team that I’m worried about, and honestly, it’s ours. It’s about getting better. We’ll start worrying about Jacksonville State here in a little bit, but during fall camp, I could care less about any other team in the country. It’s about improvement.

I’ve learned that through many years, especially taking it one game at a time and not looking ahead.

I can promise you right now, I honestly don’t know what the end of our schedule looks like. That’s not my job. My job is to pour into these guys, coach them and get ready for Jacksonville State.

what our players do well. What they do well is a little bit different based on the individual, but then from there, it’s about figuring out how we’re going to tailor our scheme and our plays this year to make sure we highlight what they do really well.

That’s what’s been a little bit different this year compared to last year, when I had a little bit more veteran of a group and we had more guys with some Bison experience.

Q: I’VE BEEN TALKING TO SOME OF THE GUYS ABOUT THE NERVES THEY MIGHT BE FEELING WHEN THEY FACE JACKSONVILLE STATE IN THE FARGODOME. WHAT’S YOUR JOB AS A COACH IN HELPING KEEP THOSE NERVES DOWN, GROUNDING YOUR GUYS AND MAKING SURE THEY’RE READY TO GO OUT AND COMPETE? OLSON: I think it’s just reminding them that it’s still football. It’s still 11-on-11, still 100 yards, the end zones are the same size and everything is still the same. It’s just another football game, and that’s how we’re going to approach every single game.

You can’t go and win a conference championship in your first week, but you can go out, fly around in the first quarter and play hard. You can prepare really hard in August. Let’s focus on the controllables, and we’ll let the results handle themselves.

Q: FOR THIS OFFSEASON IN PARTICULAR AND THIS FALL CAMP, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’VE BEEN CHANGING WITH THE REGIMEN BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED COMPETITION, OR ARE YOU KEEPING THE SAME FUNDAMENTALS, MAYBE JUST WITH A BIGGER CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER?

Q: LAST QUESTION: WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE TO NDSU FANS WHO ARE ANTICIPATING THIS UPCOMING SEASON?

OLSON: I think overall, every year you’re probably adjusting your schemes a little bit. What do we do well? What didn’t we do well?

This is going to be a great opportunity for us to go out and compete and have an amazing, amazing season.

Right now, we’ve got so many new faces that we’ve really tried to keep things simple early and find out

32 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

OLSON: Be excited. We are excited. Show up.

Support these guys. Come be a part of something special.

34 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

Offensive Coordinator

DAN LARSON JOINED NDSU IN 2019 AND HAS BEEN PART OF THREE MVFC AND FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS WITH THE BISON. AFTER COACHING RUNNING BACKS AND LATER THE OFFENSIVE LINE, LARSON WAS PROMOTED TO OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR IN 2025 AND NOW ALSO OVERSEES THE TIGHT ENDS AND FULLBACKS. HIS FIRST NDSU SEASON FEATURED A SCHOOL-RECORD 4,601 RUSHING YARDS DURING THE BISON’S 16-0 CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN. LARSON PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A HEAD COACH AT WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE AND AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AT MACALESTER AND MINNESOTA DULUTH. HIS RÉSUMÉ ALSO INCLUDES COACHING STOPS AT COLGATE, WISCONSIN-STOUT AND MARIETTA COLLEGE.

Q: THIS IS YOUR SECOND YEAR AS THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOR THE NDSU BISON. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WILL BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE GOING FROM FCS TO FBS? DAN LARSON: The biggest challenge is, certainly, you’re going up against competition where everything is on the same playing field now.

Everybody has the same amount of scholarships.

Everybody’s got an indoor facility, training tables, all that.

I think, from our standpoint, the biggest challenge is going to be 12 straight weeks of really good competition. We’re going to see really good coaches—coaches who have been seasoned in the college football game and some guys who have NFL experience and are coming back to it.

From our standpoint, it’s just continuing to elevate and chase a really high standard that we’ve set for ourselves and that the program has set for a long time, and seeing if we can meet the challenges that are going to come with playing a really tough 12game schedule.

Q: OF ALL THE IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS FROM 2025, WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK REFLECTS SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IS MOST SUSTAINABLE AT THE FBS LEVEL? LARSON: I think we can continue to play clean, tough football and have high expectations to be one of the top teams in the FBS from a turnover standpoint.

Limiting turnovers and playing really good complementary team football—if we play tough, clean football, limit penalties and continue to take care of the football like we have done and pride

continued> 35

ourselves on doing, we’re going to put ourselves in a position to hopefully win some games.

Q: WHEN BUILDING AROUND NATHAN HAYES, WHICH OF HIS NATURAL STRENGTHS DO YOU WANT TO EMPHASIZE RATHER THAN ASKING HIM TO IMITATE COLE PAYTON OR CAM MILLER? LARSON: I think that’s a critical thing. We can’t ask him to be anybody but who he is.

Nate’s got a very strong and capable arm. He’s a better athlete than maybe people realize or understand. So, we want to take advantage of the concepts in the passing game that he does well. He’s got the arm talent to make a lot of throws, and then we’ll find some pieces in the offense where we can utilize his running talents as well.

Q: HAYES HAS TALKED ABOUT IMPROVING HIS UNDERSTANDING OF PROTECTIONS, PRESSURE ANSWERS AND WHERE TO TAKE THE BALL WHEN THE DEFENSE BRINGS MORE RUSHERS. WHAT PROGRESS HAVE YOU SEEN FROM HIM IN THAT AREA, AND WHAT SITUATIONS ARE YOU STILL USING TO TEST HIM? LARSON: Practice every single day is testing him.

Our defense does a great job of showing different looks and having some tough pressures, so every day in practice he’s getting an opportunity to work through that.

It does look like he is continuing to understand where to push protections, and that comes from practicing against a really great defense.

36 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

Q: WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING ABOUT MAKING THIS LEAP, AND WHAT SHOULD NDSU FANS EXPECT? LARSON: We’re going to play tough, clean football.

Every year is a little bit different. There’s a wrinkle to the offense that we need to add in order to hopefully maximize the talents and skill level of the players who are on this year’s roster, and all we have is 2026.

We’re excited about the challenge. Anytime NDSU has been asked to meet a challenge, more often than not, the Bison have risen to the top. I don’t expect anything different this year.

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

continued> 39

Sophomore,

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

West Chicago, ILL

40 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

the Quarterbacks

• 2024 MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.

• MVFC Honor Roll in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

• Threw three touchdown passes without an interception in 2024.

Q: YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT CHANGING YOUR NUMBER FROM 12 TO 2 BECAUSE YOU WANT TO RESPECT WHAT EASTON STICK DID IN NO. 12, WHILE ALSO CREATING YOUR OWN IDENTITY. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO ASSOCIATE WITH NATHAN HAYES’ OFFENSE?

NATHAN HAYES: Just

continuing the legacy. We made that move to the Mountain West, and we want to continue to prove that we’re the same old Bison—that we’re going to continue to win and continue to win championships.

No matter what the offense has to look like to be able to do that, we’re going to run the ball, we’re going to throw the ball. Whatever we need to do to continue to win and continue the Bison legacy, that’s what we’re going to do.

Q: GIVEN THE MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, HAS THAT CHANGED YOUR PREPARATION GOING INTO THIS SEASON IN ANY WAY, OR ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE SAME NATHAN HAYES WITH AN EXTRA CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER?

HAYES: I’m just going to be the

same old Nathan Hayes, the same old Bison.

When we found out that we were going to the Mountain West, obviously there was a lot of excitement. But we just put our

• Produced a career-high 141 passing yards and two touchdowns at Murray State in 2024.

• Scored on a 51-yard run against Tennessee State in 2024.

heads down and got to work, and that’s what we know. It’s been the same since I got here, and the same for all the championships we won before I got here.

Q: I WAS TALKING WITH HEAD COACH TIM POLASEK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT PLACES YOU’LL BE TRAVELING AND THE STRAIN THAT CAN PUT ON RECOVERY. HOW DO

We just work, no matter who our opponent is. We try to outwork our opponent, and we do that better than anyone.

YOU MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY

So this offseason, instead of watching SDSU, USD, and UND, we had to gear up for some different opponents. But it’s the same old work, just with some new faces. That’s the Bison way.

HAYES: We’ve had some different

Q: SPEAKING OF OPPONENTS, IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR ONE YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING THE MOST?

HAYES: I just think it’s really

tough for opponents to come into the Dome, and vice versa. There are a lot of really cool environments in this conference that we get to travel to.

Going on the road, we’re going to deal with different time changes, heat, elevation, and away crowds. It’s about going on the road and proving ourselves each and every week.

I don’t think there’s one specific opponent. We get to travel to some of the best teams in the conference, walk into their place and try to win those games. If we can do that, we can really show people who we are.

PREPARE FOR ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT TRAVEL SITUATIONS?

travel situations in the FCS, but we haven’t had to deal with as much of a time difference or the length of flights that we’re going to have to deal with.

So, I have a little bit of an idea, but every week we’re going to keep improving and tweaking the process.

We’re going to learn as we go. Once we find out what works best, we’re just going to hammer that.

We’re kind of the guinea pigs for this whole process. We have a really good training staff and a really good strength staff, so they’re going to find out what’s best for us, give us ideas, and we’re going to go from there.

Q: NDSU OPENS AGAINST JACKSONVILLE STATE IN THE PROGRAM’S FIRST GAME AS AN FBS MEMBER. WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO DO DURING THAT FIRST POSSESSION TO SETTLE YOURSELF AND THE OFFENSE?

HAYES: Get that first completion, whatever it may be. Once you get that first completion, the game just kind of rolls on.

There’s always a lot of nerves going into the game.

41

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios 42 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

continued>

Junior,

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

Oviedo, FL

44 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

The Running Backs

• 2025 MVFC All-Newcomer Team.

• Named to the 2026 Maxwell Award watch list.

• Became the first NDSU player selected for the Maxwell Award watch list.

Q: YOU WENT FROM A LIMITED ROLE AT KENNESAW STATE TO 95 CARRIES AND ALL-NEWCOMER RECOGNITION AT NDSU. WHAT DID THIS PROGRAM HELP UNLOCK IN YOU?

DJ SCOTT: Just the confidence in myself. They got me out of the portal, and they believed in me and what I can do, so I just felt like I had to pour back into them.

Q: AT 215 POUNDS, DO YOU VIEW YOURSELF PRIMARILY AS A PHYSICAL RUNNER WHO ALSO HAS EXPLOSIVENESS, OR AN EXPLOSIVE RUNNER WHO CAN FINISH THROUGH CONTACT?

SCOTT: A physical runner who has explosiveness, 100%.

Q: DO YOU PREFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN UP THE GUT AND SEE IF THAT HOLE OPENS UP, OR DO YOU LIKE GETTING TO THE EDGE AND USING YOUR SPEED?

SCOTT: Definitely up the gut.

• One 100-yard rushing game in his first NDSU season.

• Six rushing touchdowns in 95 attempts during 2025.

Q: WHAT DIFFERENCES DO YOU

Q: RUNNING BACK BLOCKING

EXPECT TO SEE IN THE SPEED AND

CAN SOMETIMES GET

DISCIPLINE OF THE MOUNTAIN

OVERLOOKED, BUT IT’S A HUGE

WEST COMPARED TO WHERE YOU

PART OF OPENING UP PLAYS.

WERE LAST YEAR?

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT

SCOTT: Definitely bigger guys, faster guys and, probably more physical guys, 100%.

Q: HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR

RESPONSIBILITY TO YOU?

SCOTT: If we miss a block, that could cause us a loss. So, 100%, we’ve got to get those blocks done.

APPROACH AT ALL FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR WITH THE

Q: GOING INTO THE MOUNTAIN

NEW COMPETITION, OR ARE YOU

WEST, IS THERE A SPECIFIC TEAM

TREATING IT LIKE ANY OTHER

YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO

SEASON WITH A LITTLE BIGGER

PLAYING THE MOST?

CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER?

SCOTT: Definitely. I put on 10 pounds and got a little faster than I was last year, so 100%.

SCOTT: Definitely Hawaii. Just going there. I haven’t been there before.

Q: AS FAR AS OFFSEASON

Q: THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR

PREPARATION, HAVE YOU BEEN

SECOND YEAR HERE. WHAT CAN

DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?

FANS EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU THIS SEASON?

SCOTT: Just explosive plays.

SCOTT: Just going day by day, working on my craft and getting better each day.

Q: WHEN YOU’RE NOT GETTING THE BALL, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU HELP THE OFFENSE SUCCEED?

SCOTT: Definitely blocking. Just making sure the play gets started.

45

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios 46 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

continued>

Junior,

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

Omaha, NE

48 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

The Wide Receivers

• 2026 Preseason Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year.

• 2026 Preseason All-Mountain West at both kickoff returner and punt returner.

• 2026 HERO Sports G6 Preseason All-America Second Team.

• 2026 Paul Hornung Award watch list.

• 2025 Phil Steele FCS All-America Second Team as a punt returner.

• 2024 and 2025 All-MVFC Second Team as a return specialist.

• 2024 FCS Football Central Freshman All-America Team.

• 2024 Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America First Team at both kickoff returner and punt returner.

• 2024 MVFC All-Newcomer Team.

• Three-time MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

• 2025 CSC Academic All-District Team.

• 2025 MVFC Scholar-Athlete honorable mention.

Q: YOU CONTRIBUTE BOTH

CATCHES, OR BLOCKING

AS A RECEIVER AND RETURN

CONSISTENTLY?

SPECIALIST. RETURNS ARE OFTEN Q: YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR THIRD YEAR WITH NDSU AND YOUR FIRST SEASON MAKING THE LEAP TO THE FBS LEVEL. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING ABOUT THAT FOR YOU?

JACKSON WILLIAMS: I think

it’s just the excitement level around the program. It’s awesome. It’s huge.

Everyone here is working so hard, and all the guys are getting into it.

We’ve got a lot of new guys and new faces, so getting everyone together and getting everybody into the program is the most exciting thing about it for me.

Q: HAVE YOU APPROACHED THE OFFSEASON ANY DIFFERENTLY SINCE HEARING THE NEWS, OR IS IT THE SAME CHALLENGE AS ANY OTHER YEAR?

WILLIAMS: We’ve got new faces

and new opponents, but it’s the same hard work and the same familiar workouts we’ve been doing.

We’re pushing it in the weight room, pushing it on the field, and getting work in off the field as well. So, it’s all the same.

DESCRIBED AS INSTINCTIVE, BUT HOW MUCH OF A GREAT RETURN IS ACTUALLY CREATED THROUGH FILM PREPARATION AND UNDERSTANDING AN OPPONENT’S COVERAGE RULES?

WILLIAMS: There’s a lot that goes into a return that people don’t know about. Like you said, there’s the film that we watch. Some kickers have a different way they kick the ball, and teams have different coverages.

WILLIAMS: I think all four of

those are big pieces of it. What I need to work on very consistently is blocking and releasing.

I play in the slot and outside, so it’s a little bit easier to release on the inside where there’s not as much press coverage. But when you get outside and it’s press coverage and man coverage, and they’re very close, you’ve got to be able to defeat the hands, stack on top of the man, and find your way to get open.

Some guys cross. Some teams have gunners on the outside or gunners on the inside. So, a lot goes into the preparation—who we’re blocking, where we’re getting the ball, where they’re kicking it, and the kick location.

Q: HOW ARE YOU AND NATHAN

It’s the same with punts. Punters have different legs. There are Aussie punters who kick little knuckleballs out there and left-footed kickers as well. There’s a lot that goes into preparation and film study.

WILLIAMS: We’ve been

Q: AS YOUR RECEIVING ROLE GROWS, WHICH PART OF PLAYING WIDE RECEIVER REQUIRES THE GREATEST DEVELOPMENT FOR

HAYES DEVELOPING THE TIMING REQUIRED FOR DEEPER ROUTES AND THROWS THAT NEED TO BE RELEASED BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR BREAK?

developing it since 2024, I’d say. I’ve been catching a lot of passes from Nathan Hayes over the years.

Those deep routes and short routes are things we’ve been connecting on for a long time. I think it’s been really good to get all those reps together throughout the years and now be able to put it in the spotlight.

YOU? IS IT DEFEATING PRESS COVERAGE, EXPANDING THE ROUTE TREE, MAKING CONTESTED

49

50 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

continued> 51

Sophomore,

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

Fargo, ND

52 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

The Tight Ends and Fullbacks

• 2025 FCS Football Central Freshman All-America Team.

• 2025 Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America Second Team.

• 2025 MVFC All-Newcomer Team.

• 2024 MVFC Honor Roll.

• Established NDSU’s freshman tight-end record with 335 receiving yards.

• Recorded the most receiving yards by any NDSU tight end since 2008.

• Averaged more than 22 yards per reception as a freshman.

game I’m most looking forward to. It’s going to be exciting.

Q: HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING FUN THIS SUMMER TO TAKE YOUR MIND OFF FOOTBALL A LITTLE BIT?

Q: YOU’RE TAKING THE LEAP TO THE FBS LEVEL WITH THE REST OF THE TEAM. WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THAT?

KESSEL: I feel like it’s been long overdue to go up to the FBS level and the Mountain West. The whole team is ecstatic.

We kind of have a chip on our shoulder from last season, and we’re all so ready. We’re just chomping at the bit to go out and play.

Q: IS THERE A PARTICULAR TEAM YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING THE MOST?

KESSEL: I’d say the top dogs.

Right now, UNLV. I’m excited to go down to Allegiant and take on those guys and see what we can do against them. I think that’s the

Q: HAVE YOU APPROACHED THIS OFFSEASON ANY DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THE MOVE TO THE FBS LEVEL, OR HAS IT MOSTLY BEEN BUSINESS AS USUAL?

KESSEL: We just try to keep it the same as every other year, obviously with it in the back of our minds that we’re going to the FBS.

KESSEL: Besides being here for summer workouts and stuff, I’ve done a lot of golfing and fishing and went out to the lake.

Q: WHAT LAKE?

KESSEL: Lake Crystal.

Q: WHAT SHOULD NDSU FANS EXPECT FROM YOU THIS SEASON?

Maybe we’re pushing it just a little bit more and a little bit harder, but we don’t want to put too much pressure on ourselves.

We’re treating it like every other year, and if we go out there and execute the way we know we can, it’s going to go well for us.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO BRING TO THE TABLE WITH ANOTHER YEAR UNDER YOUR BELT?

KESSEL: I’d say just being an all-around tight end. I’m going to go out there, put my hand on the ground and do my best to be a great blocker.

Then, just like last season, I’m going to go out and make plays with the ball in my hands and catch balls.

53

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios 55

56 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

continued> 57

Junior,

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

Frisco, TX

58 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

the Linebackers

• 2025 All-MVFC Second Team.

• 2025 MVFC Defensive Player of the Week following the North Dakota game.

• 2024 MVFC Honor Roll.

• Led NDSU in tackles, interceptions and pass breakups in his first season as a starter.

Q: DO YOU TAKE MORE PRIDE IN A TACKLE AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, AN INTERCEPTION, OR FORCING THE QUARTERBACK OFF HIS FIRST READ, EVEN WHEN THE PLAY DOESN’T SHOW UP IN YOUR STATISTICS?

DONOVAN WOOLEN: I think I take the most pride in an interception.

All three are very important, but definitely an interception.

Q: AN INTERCEPTION CAN CHANGE THE GAME AT ANY TIME. ANYTIME YOU CHANGE POSSESSION, THAT’S HUGE. HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR LENGTH HELPS YOU WHEN MATCHING UP WITH TIGHT ENDS, RUNNING BACKS, AND OTHER PLAYERS IN COVERAGE?

WOOLEN: Being able to get off blocks is definitely how my length has

• Recorded the program’s highest single-game tackle total in a decade with 18 against North Dakota.

• Scored his first defensive touchdown on a 34-yard interception return.

helped me. Being able to get full extension and rip off blocks has definitely helped.

Q: WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL HAVE TO IMPROVE ON THE MOST WHEN GOING UP AGAINST THE BIGGER ATHLETES OF THE MOUNTAIN WEST?

WOOLEN: I definitely think everybody on this team is physically able to compete against those guys. I think we all need to improve in the film room, studying a little bit more and being able to have a prediction of what they might do pre-snap.

Q: WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT MAKING THE LEAP TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST?

WOOLEN:: What excites me the most is obviously the better competition and being able to play a great team every single week.

continued>

the Linebackers

I also love the idea of being able to travel to a lot of places, like Hawaii, Las Vegas, and others. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

and playing fast. We’re going to have a lot of fun if we play fast, and we’re going to have a great day.

Q: IS THERE A PARTICULAR

Q: WHAT HAVE YOU PUT THE

OPPONENT YOU’RE LOOKING

BIGGEST EMPHASIS ON THIS

FORWARD TO PLAYING THE MOST?

OFFSEASON, NOT JUST WITH THE

Q: WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE TO

MOVE TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST,

NDSU FANS TO CAP IT OFF?

WOOLEN: I’m excited for all of them. I would say UNLV, playing in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium, is going to be pretty fun.

Q: WHEN YOU OPEN AGAINST JACKSONVILLE STATE IN WEEK 1, HOW WILL YOU HELP KEEP YOUR TEAMMATES GROUNDED WITH ALL THE EXCITEMENT? THE FARGODOME IS GOING TO BE LOUD. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP KEEP THE TEAM IN THE MOMENT?

WOOLEN: Definitely just keep letting them know that we’re all built for this moment. We’re all here for a reason.

Just tell them to fall back on their training and trust themselves.

We’re all going to be ready to go on August 29.

We’re going to have nerves.

Everybody is going to have nerves. It’s just about going out

60 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

BUT IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL GROWTH AS AN ATHLETE?

WOOLEN: Like I said earlier, I would definitely say the film room. I’ve made a big improvement there, just learning different offensive schemes, route concepts, whatever it might be.

That’s probably one of the biggest improvements I’ve made so far.

Then, definitely just continuing to get stronger, leaner, and whatever else it might be.

Q: WITH THIS MOVE BEING SUCH AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR THE PROGRAM, WHAT CAN NDSU FANS EXPECT FROM THE TEAM AND FROM YOU PERSONALLY?

WOOLEN: They can expect the same old NDSU team.

Specifically with Code Green, we’re going to be out there

playing fast, playing hard, and playing together. We’re going to be a top-notch physical team—the most physical team in America. That’s what they can expect.

WOOLEN:: The Bison defense loves playing with 12. On August 29, we’re excited to play with 12, and we’re excited to play under a packed Dome.

We can’t wait for it, and we can’t wait to go out and show what we can do.

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

continued> 63

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

Junior, Eagan, MN

64 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

The Defensive Lineman

• 2026 Preseason All-Mountain West.

• 2026 HERO Sports G6 Preseason All-America Third Team.

• 2025 FCS Football Central All-America Second Team.

• 2025 Phil Steele FCS All-America Third Team.

• 2025 Associated Press FCS All-America honorable mention.

• 2025 All-MVFC First Team.

• 2024 MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.

• 2023 MVFC Honor Roll.

• Member of NDSU’s 2024 FCS national championship team.

YOU DETERMINE WHETHER YOU’RE

find a way to come out on top.

STILL AFFECTING THE GAME EVEN

Q: YOU MOVED FROM A ROTATIONAL ROLE IN 2024 TO BECOMING AN ALL-AMERICAN IN 2025. WHAT TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENT WAS MOST

WHEN YOU DON’T MAKE THE

Q: WHEN PREPARING FOR A GAME

TACKLE?

LIKE UNLV, WHAT ARE SOME OF

WILSON: When my teammates

are doing their jobs and making plays. It makes me happy to see them succeed. That’s how I know.

RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT JUMP?

KENNAN WILSON: Probably

just taking advantage of the opportunities that arose. Once I got into that starting role, I knew I had to do something with it.

It was just trusting God and trusting my teammates that I’m going to do my job and they’re going to do theirs.

Then, the plays arise.

Q: YOU’VE BEEN AT NDSU FOR THREE YEARS, AND NOW YOU’RE ENTERING SOME UNCHARTED TERRITORY WITH THE MOVE TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST. WHAT DIFFERENCES DO YOU EXPECT FROM MOUNTAIN WEST OFFENSIVE LINEMEN IN TERMS OF SIZE, HAND USAGE, RECOVERY ABILITY, AND DEPTH?

Q: YOU FINISHED WITH 37 TACKLES, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTION FOR AN INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN. WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO REMAIN

WILSON: Probably just different

schemes and stuff. Not so much the size. There are some pretty big guys in the FCS.

FROM YOU?

I’m not afraid of going against anybody. I don’t care how big you are.

I think it’ll be more about the schemes and really locking into the details.

WILSON: I think it’s just my effort.

Q: ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR

INVOLVED IN PLAYS EVEN AFTER THE BALL STARTS MOVING AWAY

I run to the ball as much as I can.

Whoever has the ball, if the whistle hasn’t blown, you’re going down.

That’s just how it is. That’s how I play.

Q: AS OPPONENTS DEVOTE MORE DOUBLE TEAMS AND PROTECTION ATTENTION TO YOU, HOW DO

OPPONENTS YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS YEAR?

WILSON: Probably UNLV, just

because they’re the top dog. They’re known as one of the top dogs in the Mountain West.

Those are the games where you’ve really got to lock into your details and

THE THINGS YOU WANT TO HONE IN ON THE MOST?

WILSON: Probably looking at the

offensive line’s stances, their eyes, and things like that. You’re trying to find those little details that can give you an edge in the game and give you a little advantage in knowing what’s coming next.

Q: ARE YOU GOING TO BREAK OUT ANY NEW SACK CELEBRATIONS THIS YEAR?

WILSON: We’ll see. The crowd will have to see.

We’ve just got to do our job. Like I said, the sacks will come my way.

Q: WITH THE MOVE TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST, WHAT CAN NDSU FANS EXPECT FROM THIS TEAM AND FROM YOU SPECIFICALLY?

WILSON: Just playmaking.

Fans spend all week working their butts off just to buy a ticket and get up in the stands. It doesn’t matter where they’re sitting—they come to watch us play.

So it’s my job to get them on their feet and give them an exciting game to watch.

65

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

66 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

continued> 67

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios

Senior,

Champlin, MN

68 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

The Defensive Backs

• 2026 Preseason All-Mountain West.

• 2025 All-MVFC Second Team.

• 2023 MVFC Honor Roll.

• Has started 28 games across the past two seasons.

• Started all 16 games during NDSU’s 2024 national championship season.

• Has recorded two interceptions in each of the past two seasons.

• Led NDSU in special-teams tackles in 2023 before becoming a fulltime defensive starter.

able to build off of it, I think we’re ready for anything.

DOES HAVING SOMEONE WHO IS SO GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES AFFECT YOUR POSITIONING AND

Q: WHAT COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITY BECOMES MOST IMPORTANT WHEN AN OPPONENT USES MOTION, TEMPO OR UNUSUAL FORMATIONS TO CREATE CONFUSION BEFORE THE SNAP?

DARIUS GIVANCE: I would say

a lot of nonverbals. We play in a lot of loud environments, and just being able to have everyone be visual, see what we’re trying to do and communicate at a high level helps create a lot of success on defense.

Q: SPEAKING OF LOUD E N V I RO N M E N T S , YO U ’ R E P RO B A B LY G O I N G I N T O SOME OF THE LOUDEST E N V I RO N M E N T S YO U G U Y S H AV E E X P E R I E N C E D. H AV E YO U TA L K E D A B O U T H O W T O P R E PA R E F O R T H AT, E S P E C I A L LY W I T H P L AC E S L I K E U N LV A N D SOME OF THE BIGGER SCHOOLS YO U ’ R E G O I N G T O ?

DARIUS: We play in the

Fargodome, so we won’t really have too much of a difference there. Bison Nation shows up every day. We really feel like they give us that edge on Saturdays at the Dome.

Especially being on defense on those third downs, you probably won’t even be able to hear yourself think. Having that experience already and being

Q: WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE TO

FREEDOM WITHIN THE DEFENSE?

THE FANS WHO COME TO THE FARGODOME ON SATURDAYS, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE NEW OPPONENTS COMING IN?

DARIUS: I would just say thank

you to the fans. We’re really appreciative of the support our fans give us. There are people who wake up and drive about six hours just to get to a tailgate or get to a game, and that really means a lot to us.

It gives us another edge and something else to play for on Saturdays.

Q: GOING INTO YOUR LAST YEAR AS AN NDSU BISON, WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT YOUR FINAL SEASON COINCIDING WITH THIS LEAP TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST?

DARIUS: I think it’s a new era

of Bison football, and being one of the leaders, I feel like it’s a big responsibility for us to get the guys rolling and bring everybody along with us.

At NDSU, we talk about that nextman-up mentality. It’s about getting the young guys up to speed and getting ready for what’s at hand. I just can’t wait.

Q: YOU GET TO PLAY BEHIND DONOVAN WOOLEN. HOW

DARIUS: I think all over the field,

we just have dogs on the Code Green defense. At any position, I trust that the guys are going to do their job on the field.

I feel like anybody could get put on the field at any time. Like we said, it’s that next-man-up mentality. They’ll play to the best of their ability and with full confidence.

I’m super appreciative of not only the players, but the coaches as well, for having us prepared for those moments and allowing us to play at such a high level.

Q: IS THERE A SPECIFIC MOUNTAIN WEST OPPONENT YOU’RE MOST EXCITED TO SEE THIS YEAR, OR ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONFERENCE AS A WHOLE?

DARIUS: I’m just excited to be a

part of the Mountain West. It’s a very tough conference, and even from a geographical standpoint, you’ve got Colorado Springs up in the mountains and Wyoming up in the mountains. You’ve got the heat in New Mexico and California, and then you go out to the islands in Hawaii.

I think that’s what makes the Mountain West so special. Just being able to be a part of all these games, I think we’re very excited to get our stuff done.

69

70 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

by Gavin Fernholz, Dynamic Studios 71

Bison fans should enjoy the inaugural year of FBS and keep dreaming big things for NDSU!

September 28, 2002, the mighty Augustana Vikings of the North Central Conference made the short drive up I-29 from Sioux Falls to the Fargodome and did something they hadn’t done since John F. Kennedy was President. When the final horn sounded at 9:35 p.m., they had beaten the Bison, handing North Dakota State their lunch, 23 – 6, before an announced crowd of 10,260 fans in NDSU’s NCC home opener. I sat in the first or second row of the student section for that one. It was ugly. The game had all the excitement of the then-popular and omnipresent Nokia cell phones that boasted five ringtones and the ability to store over 100 numbers. Good thing Chubs and the Turf were still serving up tall ones after what was, interestingly enough, an inflection point in Bison football history.

72 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

Walking away from the Dome that night, nobody— even this green and gold glasses-wearing homer— could’ve predicted that 24 short years later, the Bison would be the toast of college football, playing their inaugural season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, better known as the FBS. The same FBS that’s home to Notre Dame, Ohio State, Miami, Southern California, Alabama, and, well, you get the point. That’s what winning 10 FCS Championships in a 13-year span, hosting ESPN’s iconic College GameDay twice, playing on national television dozens of times, beating the likes of Kansas State and Iowa on the road, having SportsCenter visit campus a couple more times, and churning out a bevy of NFL Draft Picks, including five straight quarterbacks being drafted, will do for you.

Next up. Finish as the highest ranked Group of Six team, commonly called the “G6” in reference to the six FBS leagues consisting of the Mountain West, American Athletic Conference (AAC), Conference USA (CUSA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), Pac-12 Conference (reconstituted with new member schools) and Sun Belt Conference, and NDSU will find itself in the 12-team College Football Playoff field with the aforementioned likes of the Fighting Irish, Buckeyes, and Crimson Tide. Think that’s far-fetched? To paraphrase the iconic mascot head-wearing Lee Corso of GameDay fame, the guy who marched a live baby Bison out of the Fargo Theater on national television a few years back: Not So Fast, My Friend! Last year, James Madison, the same JMU that NDSU beat twice in the FCS Championship games in January 2018 and 2020, was one of the 12 teams in the CFP, falling to Oregon in the First Round, despite scoring 34 points.

The head coach of the James Madison team the Bison bested 28 – 20 for the 2019 FCS Championship? Some guy named Curt Cignetti. Google him.

The expectations, however, couldn’t be any more different this go-round for the moonshot move to the Mountain West and FBS compared to when NDSU announced its departure from the NCC to what was then called Division I-AA in 2002 and later the Great West Football Conference in 2004. “New era, lower expectations” was the headline of an August 26, 2003 column in The Forum. For kicks and giggles, I was curious what informed and educated folks had to say about the Bison stepping up to FCS when it happened.

Though The Forum’s online archives are a bit murky, it looks like Mike McFeely penned this column about the “new era” back in August 2003, in real time, when Craig Bohl and Gene Taylor forever changed the trajectory of North Dakota State with the single biggest decision in school history. To be clear, this isn’t snark or casting shade. As I said, leaving the Dome after that Augustana game in September 2002, anybody talking about NDSU jumping to FBS in the near future, and having an opportunity to play in a 12-team playoff with household names like Texas, Georgia, and, yes, Notre Dame and Ohio State, would’ve been laughed out of the room. No, this column aptly summarized a widely held belief at that time.

Joshua earned his law degree magna cum laude from Creighton University School of Law and undergraduate degrees with honors from North Dakota State University. Joshua presents on energy law, has published three law review articles, teaches oil and gas law at UND, and hosts a Bison football radio show that earned an Eric Sevareid Award.

73

Here’s how that 2003 column explained expectations for NDSU’s move to FCS: “For the first time since Darrell Mudra took over an 0-10 program in 1963, there are no expectations on the Bison coach. Well, almost none. Bohl must avoid complete incompetence, steer clear of scandal and win, oh, five or six games. If he does that, this season should be considered a success. … Combine the current state of affairs with NDSU’s impending move to Division I-AA and Bohl’s job through the first several years of his tenure becomes one of marking progress more than measuring success strictly by wins and losses. The Bison will not be allowed to go 2-9, for sure, but if the signs of building are there—along with some victories -- Bohl will be excused. Expectations, frankly, will be a little more normal. Or at least a little less abnormal. Die-hard Bison fans will find this hard to swallow, but in a perverse way last season [2002, where the Bison finished 2 – 8] might have been a good thing. Finally, all the unrealistic expectations can be buried. The current Bison coaches and players won’t have to live every day with what happened in the 1980s.”

Is there a lesson to learn from our recent history in moving divisions? You bet there is. Embrace the unrealistic expectations, hug them dearly, cheer like hell every Saturday at the Fargodome, and do what you do, Bison Nation.“

So much for burying unrealistic expectations. After all, it was another South Dakota team, the University of South Dakota, whose head coach, Dave Triplett, had prophetic words following NDSU beating his Coyotes 27 – 7 for the 1986 NCAA Division II National Championship, the third national title for the Bison in a four-year span. “I wish to hell they would get out of Division II,” said Triplett after the game. “They can go wherever they want.”

Is there a lesson to learn from our recent history in moving divisions? You bet there is. Embrace the unrealistic expectations, hug them dearly, cheer like hell every Saturday at the Fargodome, and do what you do, Bison Nation. Leading up to the first-ever FBS game at the Dome against Jacksonville State, Bison head coach Tim Polasek harkened back to doing what NDSU has always done to be successful in the course of winning 18 national championships and 35 conference titles in FCS and Division-II since 1964. “I hope our players hear me on this; there is no added pressure,” Polasek said.

“The expectations have always been very high here. Good, clean, tough football is going to win out,” adding, “We’re not going to need some out-of-body experience to have a really successful year.”

Amen, coach. Amen! Everybody up for the kickoff.

The March Is On!

74 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

You can read the full, original InForum article here!

78 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026

79

(CONTINUED)

80 BISON ILLUSTRATED FALL 2026