On Monday, we learned that the (likely) No. 1 vs No. 2 Dakota Marker showdown between top-ranked North Dakota State and South Dakota will take shape under the lights in Brookings with a 7 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 25, a week from this Saturday. While the Bison look mighty ready for primetime — having beaten back-to-back Top 10 opponents by a combined 78-35 — the Jacks seem, well, not as ready after a first half defensive disaster at No. 24 (now unranked) Youngstown State and five-drive offensive lull in the middle of their Hobo Day win over unranked, rebuilding Northern Iowa. Another major Monday development — SDSU coach Dan Jackson announced on Happy Hour that the Jacks' top receiver Lofton O'Groske will return to action this Saturday at Murray State after a two week injury absence. This was part of Jackson's weekly one-on-one chat with Happy Hour host John Gaskins. Other topics include:

• The defensive lockdown in the 31-3 win over Northern Iowa
• The offense's mid-game slumber and late-game awakening
• Chase Mason's chemistry with his receivers
• Defensive coordinator Brian Bergstrom's leadership
• Struggles on third down (and first down)
• Excitement and challenge of trip to Murray State

Jackson also gave his overall midseason assessment of the 6-0 Jackrabbits, as did Monday's other guest, HERO Sports senior FCS analyst Sam Herder.

Herder, like Gaskins, sees a distinct gap at the moment between SDSU's body of work and NDSU's own 6-0 start. The Bison are winning games by an average score of 45-10, while the Jacks are posting an average of 34-15. It isn't a mammouth difference, but Herder describes what has made the defending national champions so stout and almost unbeatable so far.

Herder also digs into the performances of both teams' new dual threat quarterbacks. While Cole Payton appears to be a strong (if not front runner) Walter Payton Award candidate, Chase Mason has taken "a couple steps back" from that discussion the last couple weeks despite being overall impressive. Of course, all that can change under the lights on Oct. 25, especially now that Mason has his top target O'Groske back. Herder also evaluates:

• USD's 4-3 start & why the preseason Top 5 Coyotes are slower to flourish with a new head coach than the Jacks
• UND thrusting into the Top 10 and what makes the Fighting Hawks dangerous
• Which teams beyond the Dakotas and Montana schools appear to be serious national championship contenders

Other major topics covered in Gaskins' opening "John-o-logue" —

• Augie & USF freshman QB's lighting it up
• John Stiegelmeier coaching tree disciples' big days on Saturday: Lujan, Wilde, Jimmy Rogers
• Nebraska coach Matt Rhule reacting to being a speculated leading candidate for the Penn State opening
• College football, in general, is drunk