It was the best of times, it was the worst of times! Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that dramatic as North Dakota State exploded for several offensive records en route to a 72-7 thrashing of Mississippi Valley State in the season opener at the Fargodome. Swany and Joe recap the Week 1 action, which was headlined by the punishing Bison ground attack, an efficient big-play passing game, smothering defense, and, unfortunately, more season-ending injuries for NDSU. The guys are joined by regular guest and great FCS mind, Sam Herder, the content strategist for Spotlight Media and Hero Sports columnist. The trifecta previews this week’s Top 10 showdown against perennial FCS contender Eastern Washington and discuss the year’s inaugural edition of Herder’s Power 8 FCS rankings, which features a bevy of Missouri Valley Football Conference teams. It’s all here, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.

Grab your favorite yellow Bison shirt, crank up the Thunderstruck, fire up the grills, and buy plenty of ice for the coolers because the kickoff to the 2017 North Dakota State football season is finally here! The perfect audio to start your tailgater this Saturday morning, the guys preview NDSU’s season opener against Mississippi Valley State with Brian Shawn, the play-by-play announcer for the North Dakota NBC Network, the television home of Bison Football. An award-winning sports journalist, Shawn joined Midco Sports Network in 2016, and has been calling Bison football and basketball games since 2012. The guys take an in-depth look at NDSU's non-conference schedule, the two-deep depth chart, players expected to make a big impact this fall, and how the offense will look under first year offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham. A native of Bloomington, MN, Shawn takes listeners inside the broadcast booth atop the Fargodome and around the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and shares a few stories of what it’s like to call games for the most successful program in the FCS.

The guys kick things off with their FCS Football Preview. Who is the favorite to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which five MVFC teams will make the playoffs, and will North Dakota State make a return trip to Frisco, Texas to reclaim its championship belt? With only days remaining until the start of a brand new college football season, an amped up Swany is joined by guest host and brilliant FCS mind Sam Herder to discuss the cornucopia of goodness that awaits. Herder, the Content Strategist for Spotlight Media and writer for HERO Sports, has covered NDSU, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and FCS for The Spectrum, HERO Sports, and Bison Illustrated. The guys preview the season, the Missouri Valley vs. Big Sky Football Challenge, early season matchups to keep an eye on, and what teams have a legitimate shot to finish the year next January at Toyota Stadium. Everyone up for the kickoff, the podcast is on!

Former All-American strong safety and Bison great Colten Heagle joins Swany and Joe for a freewheeling conversation on everything from winning four national championships, what it's like to deal with a season-ending knee injury, and the role strong leadership plays within North Dakota State's high-performing culture.

With Bison defensive end and All-American Greg Menard going down over the weekend with a season-ending knee injury, Heagle provides a unique perspective on how the Bison deal with injuries and what "next man up" really means.

The Appleton, Wisconsin native, who now works at Choice Financial in Fargo, also offers a "hot take" on UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen's recent claim that it's impossible to be a serious student and a college athlete at the same time, and offers his thoughts on the best Bison defense of all-time.

Colten and the guys round out their discussion by talking about the Bison Football Players Association and the cool things former NDSU football players are doing to stay connected.

Bison Football is in the air with North Dakota State opening fall camp this week. Swany & Joe discuss the key themes heading into Bison fall camp and the 2017 season, including a new offensive coordinator, a defense that's absolutely loaded, and how NDSU has the pieces in place for another championship run. The guys also dive into the August issue of Bison Illustrated magazine, which features Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and former Bison Carson Wentz. The magazine includes a guest column by long-time NFL contributor to ESPN, Sal Paolantonio, where he interviewed Super Bowl winning head coach Dick Vermeil, and ESPN's quarterback guru, Ron Jaworski, and got their take on one of the best young stars in the game. Fire up the grills, fill the coolers, and get ready, because football season is upon us!

ESPN play-by-play commentator Anish Shroff has covered North Dakota State football games in the FCS playoffs since 2013. Shroff, who also covers basketball, baseball, and lacrosse, has enjoyed a front row seat for the Bison's dominance of the FCS and joins Swany and Joe for an in-depth discussion on NDSU football and the unique Bison culture. The guys talk about NDSU's place in the college football landscape and how they were able to achieve a historic five straight national championships. Shroff also discusses his trips to Fargo, his insight on the community, and how sports can be a tool to bring people together. A 2004 graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School, Shroff was in Fargo speaking at a TEDx Conference and shares a message that goes beyond sports.

Follow and ask Swany and Joe your questions on social media:

Swany - twitter.com/swany8

Joe - twitter.com/joebisonmag

Swany and Joe are joined by Taylor Braun, the former Bison hoops standout and 2014 Summit League Player of the Year. Braun helped lead NDSU to the NCAA Tournament and an unforgettable win over the University of Oklahoma in March Madness. Braun concluded his NDSU career ranked among the school's all-time top 10 in nine different statistical categories. After spending the first three years of his professional career in Belgium and Germany, Braun discusses where he might end up next, the international game, playing overseas, the Bison culture, and what Saul Phillips is really like behind closed doors.

Follow and ask Swany and Joe your questions on social media:

Swany - twitter.com/swany8

Joe - twitter.com/joebisonmag

As the football season draws near, Swany and Joe discuss some of the most frequently asked questions from Bison fans, including whether the program will make the leap from the Division I FCS level to the FBS. The guys go through the numbers of how NDSU's athletic budget compares to programs like Boise State, Wyoming, James Madison, Minnesota, and Kansas State, and finish with a detailed conversation on how NDSU's success on the athletic field benefits the university, community, and entire region.

Fresh off one of the best recruiting weeks in North Dakota State history, Tyler Roehl, the tight ends and fullback coach for North Dakota State, and director of NDSU Football Camps, joins the guys to talk all things Bison. Roehl takes listeners up close to what it's like at football camp, what the Bison look for in recruiting prospective members of the Herd, and how NDSU has built and sustained its championship culture. Roehl is a product of West Fargo High School and one of the standout running backs in Bison history.

Bison Game Day is recognized as one of the best atmospheres in college athletics. Justin Swanson, NDSU's Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Fan Engagement, joins the podcast to talk about what goes into producing the event. The guys also debate who are the best running backs and quarterbacks of the Division I era. Brent Tehven from Herd & Horns stops by to talk about a big-time Bison event coming up this fall.