THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-1, 1-1 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this Saturday with a road match-up versus  Wayne State College (1-1, 1-1 NSIC) with kickoff set for 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Wayne, Neb.  
•Both teams are coming off losses to nationally ranked team to event their records at 1-1 overall. SMSU lost at home to No. 11 Bemidji State, 34-14, while WSC suffered a 31-14 road loss to No. 9 Minnesota State.
•WSC, which defeated SMSU 20-14 last season in Wayne, is coming off a 9-3 season and an NCAA playoff appearance in 2022.
•A preview of WSC is located on page 4.

BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 11th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•SMSU failed to force a turnover in last week's game versus Bemidji State. It was the first time since week 3 of the 2021 season that SMSU did not force a turnover, snapping a streak of 20 straight games.
•Sophomore quarterback Marcus Martin finished with career-highs in both completions (27) and attempts (42) in last week's loss to Bemidji State.
•Sophomore cornerback Jalani Jefferson racked up a career-high 11 tackles versus BSU.
•Senior linebacker Jordan Ellis recorded a career-high seven tackles versus BSU.
•Sophomore linebacker Gideon Ervasti finished with a career-high seven tackles versus BSU.
•Junior running back Donald Austin recorded his third career 100-yard rushing game in week one at Minot State.
•For the first time since 2007, the NSIC will not have a divisional format in football. Each team will play 10 NSIC games with five at home and five on the road.
 
SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his second season as SMSU head coach with a record of 5-8. He was named the program's 11th head coach on Jan. 7, 2022.
•Underwood was the first SMSU head coach in team history (11 head coaches) to begin his SMSU coaching career with a 4-1 record.
•Underwood compiled an overall record of 86-61 in 12 seasons as head coach at St. Cloud State (2008-19).
•SCSU recorded 10 winning seasons with three NCAA playoff appearances during his tenure. SCSU won seven or more games seven times, including a school record 12 victories in 2013.
•SCSU made NCAA playoff appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and won a share of both the NSIC North Division and NSIC overall championship in 2011.
•He was also an assistant coach at SCSU (2001-07), North Dakota (1997-2000), Sioux Falls (1993-96) and Augustana (1988-92).
•A complete bio on Underwood can be found on page 19.

SMSU LAST TIME OUT
•No. 11 ranked Bemidji State jumped out to an early 14-0 advantage and held off several SMSU rally attempts to secure a 34-14 victory last Saturday night at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event.
•BSU finished the night with 391 yards of offense on 73 plays, while SMSU closed with 332 yards on 69 plays.
•The Beavers rushed for 154 yards on 37 attempts
•SMSU's Marcus Martin completed 27 of 42 pass attempts for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Martin's top target was Peter Osman, who caught a game-high nine passes for a season-high 96 yards, while Eric Lira had five receptions for 39 yards.
•Donald Austin led the SMSU rushing attack with 36 yards on 12 carries, while also catching three passes for 34 yards and one touchdown.
•Jalani Jefferson racked up a career-high 11 tackles with Thomas Mergen chipped in nine stops.

BOHANNON EARNS NSIC WEEKLY HONOR
•Junior safety Hunter Bohannon was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 following his performance in SMSU's 28-23 victory at Minot State on Aug. 31.
•Bohannon forced two fumbles, recovering one, recorded three solo tackles and one pass break-up in the Mustangs' come-from-behind win.
•It's the second time Bohannon has earned the award in his career. He also earned the award on Sept. 27, 2021.  

MUSTANGS WITH FIRST NON-LEAGUE GAME SINCE
•With the departure of Upper Iowa University to the Great Lakes Valley Conference, SMSU will have its first regular season non-conference game since the 2011 season when SMSU plays at FCS foe Valparaiso on Sept. 30.  
•This will be SMSU's first game versus an FCS opponent since losing at Northern Iowa in the final game of the 1999 season. SMSU also played at Illinois State in 1992 and twice at Weber State in 1983 and 1989.
•SMSU's last non-conference game was the 2013 Mineral Water Bowl versus Pittsburg State, while the last regular season non-conference game occurred in the 2011 season opener at Northern State.

THE 2023 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Sept. 11) features eight seniors, 19 juniors, 28 sophomores, 11 redshirt freshmen and 42 freshmen.

TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2023
•Four players serve as team captains for the 2023 season with seniors Cam Irvin and Peter Osman and junior Donald Austin and Thomas Mergen selected by the Mustang players.

SMSU / WSC IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and WSC rank in the latest NCAA statistics.
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 17-18.
         (163 teams ranked)     SMSU     WSC
             Scoring Offense    96th     89th
             Rushing Offense    109th      81st
             Passing Offense    49th     79th
             Total Offense    73rd     86th
             Scoring Defense    103rd     92nd
             Rushing Defense    109th     63rd
             Pass Defense    96th     154th
             Pass Efficiency Defense    77th     122nd
             Total Defense    107th     138th
             Net Punting     102nd     98th
             Punt Returns     5th     122nd
             Kickoff Returns     102nd     106th
             Turnover Margin     107th     65th
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     66th     16th   
             Time of Possession     17th     132nd
             3rd Down Conversions     60th    95th
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    145th     144th

TURNOVER MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'minus-2' in turnover margin this season after finishing the 2022 season 'minus-1' in turnover margin.
•SMSU forced at least one turnover in each game in 2022 and two or more in six games.

GET IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 2 of 4 inside the 'red zone' this season with two touchdowns.
•SMSU opponents are 10 of 11 inside the 'red zone' with seven touchdowns and three field goals.
•The following is SMSU in the 'red zone' since the 2010 season.
    Year    Red-Zone    TD    FG
    2010    22 of 30 (73.3)    22    0
    2011    35 of 41 (85.4)    29    6
    2012    30 of 37 (81.1)    25    5
    2013    49 of 57 (86.0)    40    9
    2014    35 of 43 (81.4)    26    8
    2015    39 of 50 (78.0)    36    3
    2016    38 of 45 (84.4)    37    1
    2017    24 of 37 (64.9)    18    6
    2018    28 of 37 (75.7)    23    5
    2019     22 of 29 (75.9)    19    3
    2021    20 of 29 (69.0)    16    4
    2022    20 of 33 (60.6)    17    3
    2023    2 of 4 (50.0)    2    0

BIG PLAY MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 10 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards in 2023 with eight coming from the offense (1 run, 7 pass).
•Marcus Martin's 44-yard touchdown pass to Rashaan Palmer versus Minot State is the longest play from scrimmage this season.
•Donald Austin's 37-yard touchdown run versus Minot State is the longest rush from scrimmage this season.
•The following are SMSU's 'long plays' since 2010.
'Long' plays (20 yards or more) since 2010
    Year    No.    TD    Run    Pass    KR    PR    IR    FR
    2010    61    14    10    32    18    0    0    1
    2011    60    8    13    22    23    1    1    0
    2012    66    20    18    28    19    1    0    0
    2013    125    30    28    51    41    1    2    2
    2014    71    12    15    27    21    3    5    0
    2015    78    18    13    39    18    5    3    0
    2016    93    21    15    40    33    1    3    1
    2017    68    10    12    28    25    1    1    1
    2018    70    15    8    51    7    2    2    0
    2019    56    12    4    37    12    1    2    0
    2021    42    6    8    18    10    1    2    3
    2022    51    14    14    23    13    0    1    0
    2023    10    5    1    7    1    1    0    0

2022 RUSHING ONE OF THE BEST IN TEAM HISTORY
•SMSU finished the 2022 season rushing for 1,901 yards ranking fourth in team single-season history.
•SMSU's 172.8 rushing yards per game also ranked fourth in team single-season history.

2023 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish ninth overall in the annual 13-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Senior wide receiver Peter Osman and junior linebacker Thomas Mergen were named 'Players to Watch'.

MUSTANGS AT HOME
•The 2023 season marks the 15th year that Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center has served as the home for SMSU football.
•SMSU is 31-48 all-time at the stadium, including 0-1 in 2023.
•New turf was installed at the stadium in the summer of 2022.
•SMSU lost 12 straight home games from late in the 2018 season through 2021. SMSU was winless at home in both 2019 and 2021 (2020 season was canceled).  
•The $16 million facility opened in the fall of 2008 with the first college football game played on Aug. 30 versus Minnesota Crookston.  

MUSTANGS ON THE ROAD
•After recording its last winning road record in a season in 2015 (5-1), SMSU is 10-24 in road games since the 2016 season, including 1-0 this season.

WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 5-8 all-time in overtime games since the NCAA added overtime in 1998, including 1-0 last season after defeating Minot State, 27-20, on Sept. 24.
•SMSU is 1-3 in multi-overtime contests.
•SMSU's previous overtime home win came on Nov. 2, 2015, versus Winona State.
•The program's last multi-overtime game was a 34-31 double overtime loss at Minnesota State on Oct. 13, 2012.

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-28 versus Division II Top 25 teams all-time, including 0-1 this season following a week two home loss to No. 10/11 Bemidji State.
•SMSU's lone victory versus a ranked team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is 23-31 all-time in season openers after beginning the 2023 season with a victory at Minot State on Aug. 31. The win snapped a five-game losing skid in season opening games.

MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2023 season is the 55th year of college football at SMSU (including the 2020 season that was canceled) dating to 1968.
•SMSU owns an all-time record of 208-350-5, including 146-256-5 in conference play.
•SMSU has recorded 10 winning seasons, two NAIA playoff appearances (1987 and 1991) and one Mineral Water Bowl appearance (2013).
•The program earned its lone conference championship in 1990.

SCOUTING WAYNE STATE
•Logan Masters is in his second season as head coach after leading the Wildcats to a 9-3 record and an NCAA playoff appearance in 2022. He was an assistant coach at WSC (2010-16, 20-21) and was also an assistant coach at Chadron State (2017-19).   
•WSC is coming off 31-14 road loss to No. 9 Minnesota State on Saturday night. The Wildcats were limited to 10 first downs with the Mavericks closing the game with 518 yards of offense, including 230 rushing yards.
•Junior quarterback Nick Bohn completed 11 of 22 passes for 149 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss. In two games, he has completed 32 of 51 passes for 413 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
•Redshirt freshman running back Latravious Boyd rushed for 99 yards last week, which included a 63-yard run. He leads the Wildcats in rushing at 151 yards with one touchdown on 20 carries.  
•Junior wide receiver Ashten Schmaderer and redshirt freshman Kendrick Watkins-Hogue each have nine receptions on the season with Schmaderer collecting two touchdown receptions.
•Senior defensive lineman Rex Becker has racked up a team-high 14 tackles with one for loss.
•Junior defensive back Dexter Larsen has recorded 12 tackles and one sack.