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THIS WEEK: The #1-ranked state of North Dakota (1-0) will host North Carolina A&T (0-1) of the Big South Conference this Saturday, September 10, in the 33rd Annual Trees Bowl game sponsored by the North Dakota Forest Service. Playtime is 2:30 PM at Gate City Bank Field in the Fargodome (6,700 PM).

TICKETS: Tickets for NDSU home games are available online at GoBison.com/tickets or by calling the Bison Ticket Office in the south lobby of the Sanford Health Athletic Complex at (701) 231-6378 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Match day ticket sales at the Fargodome begin 5 hours before kick-off.

TELEVISION: The statewide ABC network of WDAY (Fargo), WDAZ (Grand Forks), KBMY (Bismarck/Dickinson), and KMCY (Minot/Williston) will air live from 2:20 p.m. with Dom Izzo (play by play), Kyle Emanuel (analyst) and Logan Campbell (sideline). The broadcast is also available to ESPN+ subscribers on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

RADIO: Statewide coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. on the Pioneer Seeds Bison Radio Network, including Bison 1660 and 107.9 The Fox in Fargo with Rob Hipp (play by play), Phil Hansen (analyst) and Cole Jirik (sideline). The network broadcast includes 1-hour pregame shows and 30-minute postgame shows. Streaming is available at GoBison.com/allaccess and the NDSU Athletics mobile app.

THE SERIES: This is the first meeting between North Dakota State and North Carolina A&T. The Bison are 3-0 against the Big South Conference teams with a win over Charleston Southern in the 2016 FCS Kickoff game and two wins over Coastal Carolina in the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Quarterfinals.

TREES BOWL HISTORY: The state of North Dakota has a record of 28-3 in the Trees Bowl, and the Bison have 13 consecutive wins, including a 44-2 win over Indiana state last October. The Trees Bowl game, sponsored by the North Dakota Forest Service, has been played annually since 1990, with the exception of a 2001 game cancellation due to the 9/11 attacks.

SPECIAL TEAMS SPARK BISON: Touchdowns on a blocked field goal and a punt return saw North Dakota State win 56-14 over Drake in the season opener last week. Destin Talbert scored from 56 yards after Jake Kavac‘s blocked field goal, and Jayden Price scored on a 66-yard punt return after the ensuing Drake possession to give the Bison a 21-7 lead. The Bison also got their first defensive touchdown since 2018 on Shall Mostaert‘s 5-yard fumble back after Dawson Weberthe strip bag.

PRICE COMES SECOND: corner back Jayden Price moved into tie for all-time second place at NDSU with his third career punt return touchdown in the win over Drake. Price is tied with Ryan Smith (2010-13) and Keith Krebsbach (1972-73) behind Richard Lewis, who had four point return TDs in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Price is the active FCS leader with a career point return of 15.85, which ranks second in school history Travis White‘s 16.0 average from 2002 to 2006.

BIG PLAY BUSSEY: After making over 100 total attack attempts against Drake last week, Jalen Bussey currently ranks first in NDSU history with an average of 8.75 yards per game. Bussey had 61 yards touchdown runs against Youngstown State and a career 72 yards against Valparaiso last year. He also has a 50-yard kickoff to his name.

FIRST CAREER SCORES: Eight different players scored touchdowns for the state of North Dakota last week, including four players who each earned their first career TDs. In addition to Destin Talbert on a blocked field goal and Will Mostaert on a fumble recovery, NDSU wide receiver Zach Mathis scored his first TD on a 31-yard passing play from Cam Miller in the first quarter and decline Barika Kpeenu got his first TD on a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter.

MAUCH KNOWN: Left tackle Cody Maucho was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week for the first time in his career after playing 33 snaps against Drake with no sacks allowed, quarterback pressure, or tackles for loss. Mauch finished with 12 plus physical plays and helped the Bison rush for 274 yards and 7.4 yards per carry in the win.

BISON CHOSEN TO WIN: The state of North Dakota received 39 of 41 first-place votes to claim first place in a pre-season poll of the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s head coaches, media and sports information directors. South Dakota State had the remaining two votes in second place, followed by Missouri State third, Southern Illinois fourth, Northern Iowa fifth, South Dakota sixth and North Dakota seventh. Illinois State, Youngstown State, Indiana State and Western Illinois rounded out the poll in order of eighth through eleventh.

PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE: Twelve NDSU players were named to the Preseason All-MVFC Team, including four in the first team: fullback Hunter Luepkeleft tackle Cody Mauchodefensive tackle Eli Mostaert and safety Michael Tutsie. NDSU’s Eight Preseason Second Team Winners Walked Back Kobe Johnsontight ending Noah Gindorffleft guard Nash Jensendefensive end Spencer Waegelinebacker James Kaczorcorner back Destin Talbertsafety Dawson Weber and return specialist Jayden Price.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS: North Dakota State had nine players named to preseason All-America teams. fullback Hunter Luepketight ending Noah Gindorffleft tackle Cody Maucho and safety Michael Tutsieleft guard Nash Jensen and defensive tackle Eli Mostaert were recognized by HERO Sports. Luepke, Mauch, Tutsie, defensive end Spencer Waegelinebacker James Kaczor and point returner Jayden Price were recognized by Stats Perform.

SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST: fullback North Dakota State Hunter Luepketight ending Noah Gindorff and grab the left Cody Maucho were among the NFL’s preseason waiting list prospects for the Reese’s Senior Bowl, widely regarded as the best all-star game for college football. The Bison has selected 11 players, including a wide receiver Christian Watson last year.

AWARD WATCH LISTS: fullback Hunter Luepke was named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award presented to the FCS Offensive Player of the Year, and Defensive End Spencer Waegelinebacker James Kaczor and safety Michael Tutsie were named on the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award presented to the FCS Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, NDSUs Kaedin Steindorf was named to the FCS Punter of the Year watch list.

BISON HOME: The Bison has a record of 177-27 in the Fargodome, 31-5 at home against FCS Top 10 ranked teams, and winners of 75 of the last 77 home games over opponents who are not conference. The state of North Dakota has a record of 31-1 in the Fargodome during the NCAA playoffs since 2010 with the only loss to eventual National Champion James Madison in the 2016 semifinals. NDSU’s 32-game home winning streak in the Fargodome from September 2017 to April 2021 was the fourth longest in NCAA FCS history.

ON THE ROAD: North Dakota State has a record of 47-6 in real road races since 2011, and that record is 58-6, including 11 neutral games on location over the same period. NDSU’s 2-2 road record in the spring of 2020-21 marked the first time since 2010 that the bison have lost multiple road races.

BISON RETURN TO TWIN CITIES: North Dakota State will host Eastern Washington at US Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings, during the opening weekend of the 2023 season. NDSU drew a crowd of 34,544 fans to the 2019 season opener against Butler at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins.

#PROBISON: North Dakota State had 16 former players at NFL clubs this preseason. The list includes Broncos OL Billy Turner (9th year), Commanders QB Carson Wentz (7th), Steelers OL Joe Haeg (7th), Lions LBA Chris Board (5th), Chargers QB Easton Stick (4th), Broncos WR Darrius Shepherd (4th), Vikings TE Ben Ellefson (3rd), Steelers LBA Derrek Tuszka (3rd), Broncos OL Zack Johnson (3rd), 49ers QB Trey Lance (2nd), Titans OL Dillon Radunz (2nd), Cowboys LBA Jabril Cox (2nd), Packers WR Christian Watson (1st), Bengal OL Cordell Volson (1st), Panthers TE Josh Babicz (1st) and Rams LB brayden thomas (1st).

FIRST FBS GAME IN SIX YEARS: The State of North Dakota game in Arizona on September 17 will take place in Iowa six years after NDSU’s last FBS game in 2016. North Dakota State is 9-3 against FBS opponents and has won six in a row since 2010 with victories in Kansas (6-3), Minnesota (37-24), Colorado State (22-7), Kansas State (24-21 ), Iowa State (34-14), and 11th-ranked Iowa (23-21). NDSU’s first three FBS wins were against Ball State (2006), Central Michigan (2007) and Minnesota (2007). North Dakota State has future FBS games against Colorado (2024) and Oregon (2028).