THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (0-1, 0-1 NSIC) hits the road for the first time this season with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game versus nationally ranked Bemidji State University (1-1, 0-1 NSIC) at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, Minn., with kickoff slated for 2 p.m. BSU is ranked No. 23 in this week's D2Football.com Top 25 poll and is receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 poll.
•SMSU is looking to rebound following a 42-9 loss at home to Minot State to open the season last Saturday night. MSU scored four defensive touchdowns in the game, tying an NCAA single-game record.  
•BSU, which has advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs the last three seasons, suffered a last-second 31-29 loss at No. 13/8 Minnesota State last Saturday night.
•A preview of BSU is located on page 4.

BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 12th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

SMSU vs. BSU Series Notes
SMSU and BSU meet for the 50th time on Saturday with BSU leading the series 27-21-1 ... the teams first met on Oct. 17, 1970, in Marshall ... BSU has won 18 of the last 19 games since 1998 ... SMSU had won nine of 10 in the series (1988-97) prior to BSU's current streak ... SMSU's lone win in the last 19 games came on Sept. 12, 2015, in Marshall ... BSU leads 14-8-1 in games played in Bemidji with SMSU's last victory in Bemidji occurring on Sept. 27, 1997 ... BSU won last season in Marshall, 34-14.

SMSU vs. BSU Series Information
Overall:    BSU leads 27-21-1
In Marshall:     tied 12-12
In Bemidji:     BSU leads 13-9-1
Neutral Record:   tied 1-1
Last SMSU win:     Sept. 12, 2015 (34-30)
Last BSU win: .    Sept. 9, 2023 (34-14)
Largest win for SMSU: .    49 (49-0, 1990)
Largest win for BSU:     38, 2x (52-14, 2001; 47-9, 2005)
Longest win streak for SMSU:     8 (1990-97)
Longest win streak for BSU:     13 (1998-13)
Current win streak: .    BSU, 5
Underwood vs. Bemidji State:    5-9
Bolte vs. SMSU:.    5-0

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-30 all-time versus Division II Top 25 teams, including 0-3 in 2023.
•SMSU's lone victory versus a ranked team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his third season as SMSU head coach with a record of 6-17. 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. SMSU's four victories in 2022 was its highest victory total since 2018.
•Underwood compiled an overall record of 86-61 in 12 seasons as head coach at St. Cloud State (2008-19) and is now 93-78 in 15 seasons as a head coach.
•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 18.

TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2024
•Four players serve as team captains for the 2024 season with senior Thomas Mergen and juniors Avery Johnson, Colin Maher and Tyler Nebelung selected by the Mustang players.

SMSU LAST TIME OUT
•Minot State forced six turnovers and tied an NCAA record with four defensive touchdowns to spoil Southwest Minnesota State's season opener earning a 42-9 victory last Saturday night in Marshall.
•MSU scored its first defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery early in the first quarter and then returned three interceptions for touchdowns, including two in the second half to seal the victory.
•SMSU finished the game with 360 yards of offense, including 241 yards rushing, but closed the game converting just 1 on 9 on third-down.
•Jacob Honstetter rushed for a game-high 94 yards on 13 carries for the Mustangs, while teammate Zander Wolf added 65 yards on nine carries.
•Wyatt Oak started at quarterback for SMSU and closed the game completing 5 of 13 for 88 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.
•Kendon Krogman entered the game late in the third quarter and complete 5 of 8 pass attempts for 31 yards with two interceptions.
•SMSU's lone touchdown came on a 55-yard pass from Oak to Colin Maher in the second quarter.
•Nathan Stearns also booted a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter.
•Jake Anderson and Erik Vedoy each had two receptions for the Mustangs.
•Gideon Ervasti racked up a game-high 11 tackles, while Thomas Mergen added 10 tackles.

OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•A pair of newcomers led SMSU in rushing in week one with junior college transfer Jacob Honstetter rushing for a game-high 94 yards on 13 carries, while redshirt freshman Zander Wolf amassed 65 yards on nine attempts.
•Colin Maher recorded his first career touchdown with a 55-yard reception versus Minot State.  
•Redshirt freshman safety Parker Knutson made his first career start last Saturday and finished with four tackles, including one for loss.
•Last Saturday marked the sixth straight season SMSU had a new quarterback starting week one. Blake Gimbel was the last Mustang to start back-to-back season openers in 2017 and 2018. Steven Nava started week one in 2019, with Andrew Haidet in 2021, followed by Justus McComb in 2022, Marcus Martin in 2023 and Wyatt Oak last Saturday.
•For the second straight season, 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.

THE 2024 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Sept. 10) features 10 seniors, 24 juniors, 10 sophomores, 25 redshirt freshmen and 35 freshmen.

SMSU / BSU IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and BSU rank in the latest NCAA Division II statistics.
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 16-17.
             (159 teams ranked)     SMSU     BSU
             Scoring Offense    132nd     72nd
             Rushing Offense    19th      22nd
             Passing Offense    126th     95th
             Total Offense    64th     18th
             Scoring Defense    137th     76th
             Rushing Defense    134th     31st
             Pass Defense    2nd     132nd
             Pass Efficiency Defense    33rd     98th
             Total Defense    24th     93rd
             Net Punting     110th     73rd
             Punt Returns     39th     16th
             Kickoff Returns     50th     121st
             Turnover Margin     159th     104th
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     90th     59th   
             Time of Possession     43rd     20th
             3rd Down Conversions     153rd    21st
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    68th     55th

TURNOVERS MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'minus-6' in turnover margin following week one this season.
•SMSU finished 'minus-10' in turnover margin last season and was 'minus' in turnover margin in nine of 11 games.
•SMSU forced a turnover in five of 11 games in 2023 and twice (vs. MSU Moorhead and Sioux Falls) forced four turnovers.  

STAY IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 1 of 2 (50.0) in the red zone this season with one field goal.
•SMSU finished 17 of 30 inside the 'red zone' last season with 14 touchdowns and three field goals.
•SMSU opponents are 1 of 2 in the red zone this season with one touchdown.
•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    17 of 30 (56.6)    14    3
    2024    1 of 2 (50.0)    0    1

BIG PLAY MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded five offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards with three coming from the offense (2 run, 1 pass).
•Wyatt Oak's 55-yard touchdown pass to Colin Maher  versus Minot State is the longest pass play this season.
•Jacob Honstetter's 55-yard 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    50    9    8    29    11    1    1    0
    2024    5    1    2    1    2    0    0    0

MUSTANGS WITH FIRST NON-LEAGUE HOME GAME
•With the departure of Upper Iowa University to the Great Lakes Valley Conference following the 2022 season, SMSU will play a non-conference game for the second straight season and will host its first non-league game since 2010.  
•SMSU will host Nebraska-Kearney, a member of the MIAA, on Oct. 5. It will be SMSU's first home non-conference game since facing Northern State in 2010.
•In last season's lone non-league game, SMSU suffered a 16-15 road loss to FCS foe, Valparaiso.

2024 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 11th overall in the annual 13-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Junior offensive tackle Tyler Nebelung and junior linebacker Josiah Hedensten were named 'Players to Watch'.

MUSTANGS AT HOME
•The 2024 season marks the 16th year that Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center has served as the home for SMSU football.
•SMSU is 32-52 all-time at the stadium, including 0-1 this season.
•New turf was installed at the stadium in the summer of 2022.
•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 10-29 in road games since 2016 and finished 1-5 last season.

WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 5-8 all-time in overtime games since the NCAA added overtime in 1998.
•SMSU's last overtime game occurred on Sept. 24, 2022, with a 27-20 home victory over Minot State.
•SMSU is 1-3 in multi-overtime contests.
•The program's last multi-overtime game was a 34-31 double overtime loss at Minnesota State on Oct. 13, 2012.

SEASON & HOME OPENER INFORMATION
•SMSU is 23-32 all-time in season openers after losing at home to Minot State this season. SMSU is now 1-6 in its last seven home openers with the lone victory coming over Concordia-St. Paul in 2022.

MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2024 season is the 56th year of college football at SMSU (including the 2020 season that was canceled) dating to 1968.
•SMSU owns an all-time record of 209-359-5, including 147-261-5 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 BEMIDJI STATE
•Brent Bolte, the 2021 NSIC Coach of the Year, is in his ninth season as head coach after taking over the position as interim head coach in 2016. He has a career
record of 62-23. The victory total ranks second in team history. He has been on the BSU staff for 24 seasons.
•BSU opened the season at home on Aug. 29 defeating Michigan Tech in overtime (19-13) before suffering a last-second loss (31-29) at Minnesota State on Saturday night.
•BSU racked up 303 rushing yards in the setback to MSU with senior quarterback Sam McGath rushing for 128 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries. McGath also completed 15 of 23 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns. McGath leads the team in rushing through two games with 157 yards and has completed 35 of 59 pass attempts for 344 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.
•Sophomore running back Jayden Washington rushed for 84 yards on 10 carries in the loss and has amassed 153 yards in two games.
•Senior wide receiver Brice Peters has caught a team-high 12 passes for 180 yards and five touchdowns. Peters had seven receptions for 108 yards and three touchdowns versus MSU last week.
•Junior linebacker Colton Hinrichs leads the team with 18 tackles with one sack.  
•Senior defensive end Stephen Hoffman has registered 10 tackles with a team-leading 2.5 for loss.