Saturday's North Dakota State game at the Fargodome may have the most at-stake during the regular season since the Bison championship dynasty began in 2011.

That final regular season home game in 2011, NDSU was matched up with Youngstown State and had a chance to clinch its first Missouri Valley Football Conference title. The Bison raced out to a 21-10 second quarter lead, only to see the Penguins rally and win the game 27-24, denying NDSU a chance to clinch the conference at home.

NDSU had to wait a week and win the league in Macomb, Illinois the following week. The Bison don't want to put off a win this week as they welcome in Southern Illinois for a monumental football game.

Each team enters with a 6-3 record and 3-3 mark in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The winner will get to the elusive 7-win plateau and likely cinch up a playoff berth. If the Bison were to lose, they would have to win a road game at Northern Iowa next week to be considered for the 24-team playoff.

SIU has had an up and down season much like the Bison. SIU started 3-0, which included an FBS win over Northern Illinois, and a road win against Southeast Missouri State. They have a bumpy road in conference play, which included a 31-3 blasting by Youngstown State and home losses to South Dakota State and South Dakota.

The Salukis were held to just 17 combined points in losses to SDSU and USD.

Nick Hill's team has never won in Fargo, losing all six games, including a 38-7 playoff defeat in the second round in 2021.

The Forum's Jeff Kolpack and WDAY's Dom Izzo preview the game and the implications surrounding it. They also discuss Senior Day and the players that could potentially return next season.