Quote:
Originally Posted by VitaMan
Title game tomorrow.
NDSU has won the title 8 out of the last 10 years. A dynasty not discussed often enough in the sports pages.
|
ndsu got thumped. rare territory for them indeed
McFeely: Sky's not falling, but more questions than usual for Bison
NDSU has several positions on which to keep an eye heading to spring ball, including quarterback
https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison...sual-for-bison
FARGO — The Football Championship Subdivision world waited a decade for Sunday and when it happened there was celebration, from fans to players to (oddly) media. The mighty North Dakota State Bison were humbled, finally, after running roughshod over the subdivision since 2011.
Most everybody in FCS outside of the NDSU sphere hates the Bison and anything to do with them, often with a passion, and Sunday was their day. Not only did the Bison lose, they got whipped.
South Dakota State thumped the Bison 45-21 in the FCS title game, exerting a dominance NDSU hadn't been subjected to for perhaps two decades. That the Bison lost wasn't surprising. It was the manner in which they lost.
Which, for those who've closely documented the Bison's dynasty beginning with the 2011 season, was the real story. Yes, NDSU lost in Frisco, Texas, for the first time in 10 tries. But it wasn't a three-point contest with the the game decided by a play here or there, the teams looking evenly matched.
No, it wasn't that at all.
The Jacks had a big enough margin to take their paws off the gas in the fourth quarter. Against the Bison. Never happens.
The Jacks utterly controlled the line of scrimmage for four quarters. Against the Bison. Never happens.
The Jacks were better at almost every position group. Against the Bison. Never happens.
This much was made obvious: NDSU has multiple substantial questions heading into spring ball for the first time in a long time.
Defensive tackle. Defensive end. Linebacker. Safety. Receiver. Tight end. Quarterback.
No, the sky's not falling. To remind those stomping on the Bison's grave and those in Fargo freaking out: NDSU lost in the championship game. Not the first round or second round of the playoffs. In Frisco.
It wasn't pretty, but it was in Frisco. That seems relevant.
Yes, NDSU had a million injuries and lost several contributing players to the transfer portal. But would Hunter Luepke and Marques Sigle have changed the outcome of that game? No way. Give credit to the Jacks.
A popular question among the Bison fan base going into the game: Where was NDSU better than SDSU?
Answer: Not many places.
The secondary, particularly safety. Maybe the offensive line, but the Jacks might protest. Every other advantage belonged to the Jackrabbits.
NDSU needs to be better up front defensively, which was a recurring theme from the season opener against Drake. Tackle Eli Mostaert's injury didn't help, but the Bison were young and undersized in the interior of the defensive line.
Other than end Spencer Waege, there was no defensive end that popped. There's no Brayden Thomas waiting to emerge after Waege.
The Bison struggled to find the right combination at linebacker, particularly in the middle. They need an alpha middle linebacker after trying Luke Weerts, Nick Kubitz and Logan Kopp in that position.
With the graduation of sixth-year seniors Michael Tutsie and Dawson Weber, the strength of the Bison defense is gone.
It didn't help that two contributing receivers transferred midseason, but that position was viewed as a weakness since the beginning of the year and it never changed. NDSU didn't have a deep threat in the mode of Darrius Shepherd or Christian Watson.
When senior Noah Gindorff stepped aside to get his ankle right, Joe Stoffel took over at tight end and played admirably. But the Bison lack a Gindorff, Josh Babicz or Ben Ellefson at that position. There was no depth behind Stoffel.
And quarterback. What to do at quarterback?
Cam Miller won a national championship last year, was above-average until the playoff semifinals this year and was fine against the Jacks until the game got out of hand. He's not Carson Wentz, Easton Stick or Trey Lance — or, critically, Mark Gronowski — but he's a top-half quarterback in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He can throw some and he can run some. Is that good enough for NDSU?
That will be the most-watched spot when the Bison have spring practice. Will Miller be the undisputed starter or will highly touted Cole Payton get a chance to win the job? Is Payton good enough to take the job? That remains unknown, given the little we've seen of him in games.
No, the sky is not falling on NDSU football. The Bison will enter the 2023 season as the solid No. 2 team in FCS. The foundation of the program is solid. The possibility strongly exists the Bison will go 10-1 in the regular season next year.
If the Bison tighten up a few things, they'll have every chance to return to the title game next season. Perhaps against SDSU again.
We've entered the most interesting offseason since the Bison dynasty started. If fans were bored with the status quo, they've got something on which to chew now.
NDSU Bison...another FCS title ?
