Bison Illustrated Podcast

North Dakota State prevailed in a gutsy 17-7 win against Youngstown State, improving to 9-0 overall and clinching a share of their eighth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference title. Swany and Nolan are joined by Bison Illustrated newbie Ross Uglem, the ultimate Bison analyst, to discuss the how's and why's of NDSU's wire-to-wire dominance this season. Position by position, the trifecta of Swany, Nolan, and Ross talk about how the Bison have positioned themselves for a championship run when the playoffs start later this month. Speaking of playoffs, who could NDSU see this postseason? We've got that covered, and preview the matchup with Missouri State. Because just like the Bison Football team, we're all about excellence, each and every week, on the Bison Illustrated podcast!

Another week, another statement win by North Dakota State. That seems to be the top story in the FCS this year. The Bison road-runner'ed the South Dakota Coyotes in a 59-14 thrashing where the game was over before the horn sounded on the first quarter. Swany and Nolan say the 2018 Bison are putting together a special run, and are the most dominating FCS teams in recent memory (well, going back to 2013, anyway). The guys also say it's darn time that Walter Payton voters stop being lazy and pay attention to NDSU quarterback Easton Stick. Stick is the best QB in the FCS, and leads the country in the most important statistic there is -- winning. If you could choose one QB to lead your team, wouldn't every coach in the FCS go with Stick? We think so. With the playoffs drawing ever closer, there's one big question on everyone's mind. Can anybody in the FCS catch the Bison. It's all tricks and some treats, this week, on the Bison Illustrated podcast!

North Dakota State dominated another nationally ranked opponent, Illinois State, to take firm control of the Missouri Valley Football Conference race with only four games left in the regular season. With other Top 10 teams stumbling each week, the Bison have emerged as a favorite for one of the top two playoff seeds on the road to Frisco. But Swany and Nolan say, not so fast. Three of the next four MVFC teams on NDSU's radar are on the playoff bubble and would love to solidify their spot in the field with a win over the mighty Bison. That starts with South Dakota in Vermillion this Saturday, and the guys talk about how NDSU matches up against the 'Yotes. Swany also shares a story about a group of Illinois State fans that stopped by the Six Flags tailgater to learn how tailgating is really done!

Rejoice, rejoice, the Bison are back at Dome! North Dakota State returns to the best atmosphere in college football this Saturday with another Top 10 FCS matchup against the No. 8 nationally-ranked and mustache-less Illinois State Redbirds. Swany and Nolan talk about Vegas continually making the Herd double digit favorites, even on the road or against Top 10 teams. The Bison defense is tougher to crack than Alcatraz as Code Green's dominance ran roughshod over Western Illinois to the tune of 5 takeaways, a defensive TD, and only yielding 9 yards rushing! NDSU can take command of the conference race with a decisive blow against Illinois State, but will have to contend with the Redbirds James Robinson, one of the best backs in the FCS. Get ready for Dome Sweet Dome, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!

In the FCS Spelling Bee, the word of the week is "juggernaut." Can you use it in a sentence? The Bison offensive juggernaut is one of biggest stories in the FCS. What's its origin? Fargo, North Dakota. Juggernaut, B-I-S-O-N, juggernaut! Swany and Nolan dissect NDSU's 28-point fourth quarter explosion against Northern Iowa at the UNI-Dome as the undisputed heavyweights of the FCS move to 2-0 in the MVFC and 5-0 overall. Things don't get any easier this week as the Herd roams to Macomb, Illinois, for a second consecutive road grinder against a tough Leathernecks squad. The guys discuss who deserves the No. 2 national ranking after James Madison was KO'd by Elon, and tell you why voters need to start paying attention to Easton Stick for the Walter Payton award. Stick has 16 total TDs in 5 games compared to Samford's Devlin Hodges, who has 20 total TDs in 6 games. The big difference? Stick's Bison are 5-0 with several quality wins. Hodges' Bulldogs are 2-4, and looked blah in a 24-10 loss to Kennesaw State. The more you know, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!

The FCS picture got a little clearer last week. North Dakota State and South Dakota State both answered big questions, although it was the Bison cementing their status as the best team in the country in a 21-17 win. How far should the Jacks fall after the loss? Not far according to Swany, Nolan, and Sam Herder. Herder writes for HERO Sports, one of the premier FCS sites in the country along with Stats FCS. The guys agree that the Bison and James Madison are top of the class, but the Jacks and Eastern Washington aren't far behind, and teams like UC Davis may sneak up on the pack. NDSU has another big Missouri Valley Football rivalry game this weekend at Northern Iowa that the guys expect to be a defensive slugfest. To round out the discussion, Swany asks whether Bo Pelini is on the hot seat at Youngstown State as the Penguins flirt with the brink of playoff elimination in early October. Sit back and throw on the fall sweater with one of the most popular FCS Podcasts in all the land - the Bison Illustrated Podcast!

It's rivalry week, and the FCS Game of the Week in Fargo. The Bison Illustrated Podcast tees things up right out of the gate. The No. 1-ranked Bison clash with No. 3 South Dakota State in the annual Battle for the Dakota Marker. From Herd & Horns to Chubs, local hotspots are stocking up on the Joose in anticipation of John Stiegelmeier's Jacks coming to town. Swany and Nolan discuss the key matchups, how the battle in the trenches will play a key role, and what North Dakota State will cook up to contain dual threat SDSU QB Taryn Christion. Swany also takes a stroll down memory lane and tells you the Genesis story of the Dakota Marker. The Dakota Marker was born at 901 College Street, Swany's college house, the brainchild of then-NDSU student Adam Jones. Kick-up your feet, tip back a Joose, and settle in for Dakota Marker week with the Bison Illustrated Podcast!

Rumors swirl like the Autumn Winds as speculation soars that ESPN's College GameDay may return for one helluva party in Fargo next weekend. What are the odds that ESPN's landmark show showcases North Dakota State's football dynasty and the Dakota Marker Battle, the best rivalry game in the FCS. Swany and Nolan tell you why the fine folks at the World Wide Leader could have an unforgettable scene on their hands in downtown Fargo if they pay us a visit for the Dakota Marker Battle. Oh, and like Wayne and Garth said, "Hi, we're in Delaware." Or, more like Delaware is here with the traditional CAA powerhouse Blue Hens, a/k/a, the Fighting Joe Bidens, coming to town for a marquee matchup. Kickoff NDSU Homecoming Week the only truly righteous way besides a trip to the Turf, Chubs, or Herd & Horns, with the Bison Illustrated Podcast!

This is a can't miss podcast. North Dakota Tough. The open prairie. Beautiful, but desolate. Homesteaders and survivors, yet, surprisingly cosmopolitan. Jon Gruden famously labeled Carson Wentz, the pride of this great state, "North Dakota Tough." But what does it mean? Jeff Kolpack is the dean of North Dakota sports writers. Nobody has more knowledge or depth covering NDSU athletics, and its relation to the state of North Dakota, than Kolpack. Kolpack's new book, "North Dakota Tough: Unknown and Forgotten Stories from a Rural State," is a pioneering work that encapsulates what it means to be North Dakota Tough. North Dakota has always been tough. From Cando, ND, and Dave Osborn, the Minnesota Vikings great, riding his horse to school in bone-chilling weather, to Devils Lake's Steve Blehm, one of the most prolific scorers in high school basketball history playing for the state's School for the Deaf, Gruden was right about North Dakota Tough. But it started long before Wentz, and continues through the Peace Garden State's most famous son. Kolpack's story is the story of North Dakota Tough.

Preseason polls aren't worth a hill of beans. North Dakota State's most difficult opponent in the nonconference slate was supposed to be Delaware. With the Blue Hens stumbling out of the gate, it's upstart North Alabama that comes to Fargo with a 2-0 record, including an impressive win over last year's defending Big Sky champ Southern Utah under its belt. Swany and Nolan dive into the Lions and their dual threat QB, Christian Lopez, who Bison head coach Chris Klieman described as an elusive player that can beat you with his arm and legs. How do the Bison contain Lopez, and will the Herd's rushing attack be just as dominate this week as it was in the opener two weeks ago. Here's a hint: YES. The firm of Anderson Dunn and Partners will have another big, big week! Happy days are here again, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!