No. 4 Ranked NDSU vs. South Dakota State Preview

It has been a year of transition for the University of South Dakota’s football program. In their first full season in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Coyotes have experienced some growing pains. USD is currently 0-3 in their first three conference match-ups (1-5 overall), with the most recent loss coming by the hands of fellow bottom dweller Missouri State.

At the time, a winless Bears team looked poised to become the first team to fall against USD in the Valley, until the final six minutes of the game. The Bears stormed back from a 14-point deficit to win on a game-winning field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter. USD dropped their fourth game in a row and learned an important lesson last Saturday in doing so-- it’s not easy to win in the Valley.

The Bison football team is coming off their first loss of the season as they look to get back on track with a trip to Sioux Falls Saturday to meet the Coyotes.

The number four ranked Bison are coming off a three point loss of their own, dropping their first game of the season last week to Indiana State. The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Bison, which was second longest in the nation.

“It’s importance for us to bounce back,” head coach Craig Bohl said during his press conference Monday. “Many times you can learn from those things, and we have.”

One of those lessons the Bison learned Saturday was they are a much better team when on the winning side of the turnover battle. In last week’s loss to the Sycamores, the Bison turned the ball over three times and the defense was shutout in the takeaway department. On the season, the Bison are well on the plus side of the turnover battle, creating thirteen and committing only six.

Ball security will be preached widely at the Bison practices as they will get set to face an old foe.

Saturday will mark the 79th time the Bison and the Coyotes have squared off against one another. The Bison hold a strong 49-25-3 lead in the series that dates back all the way to 1900.

The Bison should be able to play to the strength of the program that has always been their ability to move the ball efficiently with the run game. The Coyotes have given up just over 200 yards per game on the ground leaving John Crockett and Sam Ojuri licking their lips to do what they do best: run the rock.

The “Gold Rush” will continue on the road for the Bison where they have been smoking hot over the past two seasons, compiling a record of 8-0, and 10-7 all-time in the Valley. That streak will look to continue Saturday as they get introduced to the Coyotes as Valley opponents for the first time ever.