THIS SATURDAY
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-5, 1-5 NSIC, 0-2 NSIC South) returns to road action this Saturday, Oct. 18, with a non-conference match-up versus Northern State University (4-2, 4-2 NSIC, 2-1 NSIC North) in Aberdeen, S.D. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. at Dacotah Bank Stadium 
•Saturday's game is the only one involving Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams this week. Neither SMSU or NSU played a 'week zero' non-conference game in August. Both SMSU and NSU had this week open on its schedule and elected to fill its lone non-conference game versus each other. This will be the third time all-time SMSU and NSU have played a non-conference game versus each other. 
•SMSU has dropped four straight games, including last week's 35-14 home loss to Sioux Falls. 
•NSU is coming off a 34-31 home victory over previously unbeaten and No. 10 ranked Minnesota Duluth last Saturday night. 

BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 13th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik. 
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

SMSU vs. NSU Series Notes
SMSU and NSU meet for the 40th time with NSU leading 26-11-2 in a series that started on Sept. 20, 1980 ... this will be the third non-conference game in the series  with the other two in 2010 and 2011 ... NSU leads, 15-3-1, in games played in Aberdeen, including last season, 41-7 ... SMSU's last win in Aberdeen came on Sept. 8, 2012 ... NSU has won the last three meetings and five of the last six overall since 2014 ... NSU won 16 straight games in the series from 1992 to 2007, and holds a 6-5 advantage since the 2008 season.     
  
The Last Time - SMSU vs. NSU
Northern State used a dominate first half in building a 31-0 halftime advantage in earning a 41-7 victory over SMSU on Oct. 19, 2024, in Aberdeen, S.D. NSU quarterback Daniel Britt rushed for a game-high 71 yards and one touchdown, including a 68-yard scoring run. He also completed 11 of 18 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown. NSU closed the game with 457 yards of offense, including 277 on the ground, while collecting 20 first downs. SMSU recorded 11 first downs and finished with 238 yards of offense with 143 on the ground. Wyatt Oak started at quarterback for SMSU and completed 8 of 17 passes for 86 yards before leaving with an injury late in the third quarter. SMSU was able to break the shutout bid early in the final quarter as Avery Johnson recorded a strip-sack with Gideon Ervasti recovering the ball and setting up the SMSU offense at the NSU 3-yard line. Just two plays later, DaNari Connors plowed across for a 2-yard touchdown. Josiah Hedensten racked-up a team-high 10 tackles for the Mustangs, while Tate Gaul, Maliek Igiehon and Ervasti each added five tackles.

SMSU vs. NSU Series Information
Overall:    NSU leads 26-11-2
In Marshall:    NSU leads 9-8-1
In Aberdeen:    NSU leads 15-3-1
Neutral Record:    NSU lead 2-0
Last SMSU win:    Oct. 20, 2018 (35-7)
Last NSU win:    Oct. 19, 2024 (41-7)
Largest win for SMSU:    37 (49-12, 1991)
Largest win for NSU:    39 (56-17, 2000)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    3 (1989-91 & 2008-10)
Longest win streak for NSU:    16 (1992-2007)
Current win streak:    NSU, 3
Underwood vs. NSU:    6-8
Schmidt vs. SMSU:     3-0

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his fourth season as head coach with a record of 7-32. 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 a record of 86-51 in 12 seasons as head coach at St. Cloud State (2008-19) and is now 93-83 overall in his 16th season 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). 

SMSU OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•Parker Knutson has six interceptions this season ranking first (1.0) in Division II and is second in passes defended (1.8). He has 11 career interceptions ranking tied for fifth in team history. Carl Douglas (1988-90) and Blaine Schnaible (1986-88) hold the school record with 13 career interceptions. 
•Josiah Hedensten ranks fourth in team history with 172 solo tackles and eighth all-time with 294 total tackles. In this week's NCAA statistics, Hedensten ranks 57th in Division II in solo tackles (4.6) and 10th in the NSIC in total tackles (7.0). He recorded a career-high 16 tackles with two for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass break-up in last week's setback to Sioux Falls. 
•Gideon Ervasti ranks tied for fifth in the NSIC and 79th in Division II in total tackles (7.7). 
•Colin Maher ranks 54th nationally in receptions per game (4.6) and 63rd in receiving yards per game (66.5). Maher recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season last week versus Sioux Falls finishing with a career-high 124 yards on six receptions. Earlier this season he became the first SMSU player to reach 100 yards receiving in a single-game since the 2022 season. 
•Mason Carver ranks 71st nationally in punting with a 38.1-yard average, while 
•Jacob Honstetter's 75-yard touchdown rush at Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 4 was SMSU's first 75-yard-plus run since Max Simmons scored on a 75-yard touchdown run during the 2018 season.  
•SMSU finished the loss to UMD two weeks ago recording a season-high in points (28), total offense (383), rushing yards (93) and passing yards (290). 
•SMSU started a new quarterback in week one for the seventh straight season. 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 in 2024. 

RECAPPING SIOUX FALLS
•The University of Sioux Falls opened a 21-6 halftime lead with a pair of third quarter touchdowns to pull away and earn a 35-14 victory over SMSU last Saturday night in Marshall.
•The Cougars closed the game with 618 yards of offense on 82 plays and finished with a 40-20 time of possession advantage. 
•SMSU was limited to 245 yards, including minus-7 yards rushing, and 12 first downs. The USF defense limited SMSU to 1 for 13 on third-down conversion attempts.
•Macloud Crowton, who was sacked four times, completed 18 of 37 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
•Colin Maher had a strong game for the Mustangs catching six passes for a career-high 124 yards and two touchdowns, while Tryg Auten added four receptions for 38 yards.
•SMSU linebacker Josiah Hedensten racked up a career-high 16 tackles with two for loss, while adding a forced fumble and one pass break-up. Gideon Ervasti closed with 10 tackles, while teammate Cam Enright added six tackles.

SMSU / NSU IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and NSU ranks in the latest NCAA Division statistics. 
             (157 teams ranked)     SMSU     NSU
             Scoring Offense    150th     41st
             Rushing Offense    157th      20th
             Passing Offense    86th     60th 
             Total Offense    151st     24th 
             Scoring Defense    147th     48th
             Rushing Defense    84th     76th
             Pass Defense    154th     80th 
             Pass Efficiency Defense    150th     96th 
             Total Defense    149th     71st 
             Net Punting     74th     88th 
             Punt Returns     150th     106th 
             Kickoff Returns     128th     56th
             Turnover Margin     125th     43rd 
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     16th     62nd   
             Time of Possession     144th     118th 
             3rd Down Conversions     156th    13th
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    123rd     122nd

THE 2025 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Oct. 14) features 18 seniors, 15 juniors, 20 sophomores, 25 redshirt freshmen and 32 freshmen. 

TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2025
•The SMSU football leadership council and team members will select four game captains each week for the 2025 season.

TURNOVER MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'minus-5' in turnover margin through six games.
•SMSU was 'plus-4' in the win at Jamestown on Sept. 13. It was the first time SMSU was 'plus' in turnover margin since the final game of the 2023 season when the team finished 'plus-4' in a victory over Sioux Falls.
•SMSU is 'minus' in four of its five losses this season. 
•SMSU finished 'minus-16' in turnover margin last season and was not 'plus' in turnover margin in any game.  

LOOKING FOR TIME IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 7 of 9 (77.7) in the red zone this season with two field goals and five touchdowns. SMSU has two red zone trips stopped with an interception and end of half. 
•SMSU finished 7 of 14 (50.0) in the red zone last season with five touchdowns and two field goals. 
•SMSU opponents are 17 of 22 (77.2) in the red zone this season with 16 touchdowns and one field goal. The SMSU defense has stopped three red zone drives with an interception, two fumbles and two missed field goals. 
•SMSU opponents finished last season 40 of 48 in the red zone with 29 touchdowns and 11 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    17 of 30 (56.6)    14    3
    2024    7 of 14 (50.0)    5    2
    2025    7 of 9 (77.7)    5    2

LONG PLAYS FOR THE MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 31 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards this season with 18 coming from the offense (1 run, 17 pass).
•Macloud Crowton's 42-yard pass to Colin Maher versus UMary is the longest pass play of the season.
•Jacob Honstetter's 75-yard touchdown run at Minnesota Duluth is the longest rush from scrimmage. 
•Tryg Auten's 30-yard return versus MSU Moorhead and Greg Schafer's 30-yard return at UMD are the team's longest kick return 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    48    6    7    15    18    1    6    1
    2025    31    4    1    17    13    0    0    0

ALL-NSIC HONOREES RETURN IN 2025
•SMSU had a pair of players earn All-NSIC honors in 2024 and both return this fall. 
•Sophomore safety Parker Knutson was named All-NSIC first team in 2024. Knutson started all 11 games and finished the season with a team-high five interceptions, a team-leading 13 pass break-ups and recovered one fumble. He ranked fifth on the squad with 39 tackles including 2.5 for loss. 
•In the final 2024 NSIC statistics (10 league games only), Knutson led the NSIC in passes defended (15) and tied for first in interceptions (5). 
•Senior linebacker Josiah Hedensten earned All-NSIC second team honors for the second straight season. He started all 11 games and led the team in tackles for the second straight season with 83, while ranking first in tackles for loss (10) and finishing second in sacks (3).
•In the final NSIC statistics, Hedensten ranked fifth in total tackles (76) and tied for sixth in tackles for loss (9.5).

MUSTANGS AT HOME
•The 2025 season marks the 17th year that Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center has served as the home for SMSU football. 
•SMSU is 32-60 all-time at the stadium, including 0-3 this season. SMSU finished 0-6 last 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
•Since the 2016 season, SMSU is 11-36 in road games, including 1-2 this season.
•SMSU's last season with a winning road record occurred in 2015 (5-1). 

2025 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 13th overall and seventh in the NSIC South Division in the annual 14-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
•Senior offensive tackle Tyler Nebelung and sophomore safety Parker Knutson were tabbed a 'Player to Watch' in the NSIC for the Mustangs.

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-32 all-time versus Division II Top 25 teams, including 0-1 this season after losing at Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 4. 
•SMSU's lone victory versus a ranked team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

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 22-35 all-time in season openers after losing at home to MSU Moorhead this season. 
•SMSU is now 1-7 in its last eight home openers with the lone victory coming over Concordia-St. Paul in 2022. 

MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2025 season is the 58th year of college football at SMSU and 57th season of competition (2020 was canceled) dating to 1968.
•SMSU owns an all-time record of 210-374-5, including 148-275-5 in conference play. 
•SMSU has recorded 10 winning seasons with two NAIA playoff appearances (1987 and 1991) and one Mineral Water Bowl appearance (2013). 
•The program earned its lone conference championship in 1990.

SCOUTING NORTHERN STATE
•Mike Schmidt is in his sixth season as head coach (2020 canceled) and has a record of 28-22. He has a career record of 55-35 as a head coach after spending four seasons at Wisconsin-LaCrosse with a record of 27-13.
•The Wolves are 4-2 overall, 4-2 NSIC, rushed for 257 yards in the win over Minnesota Duluth last Saturday.
•Senior running back Wyatt Block amassed 156 yards on 24 carries and also caught four passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. 
•Junior linebacker Jack Adams was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday recording 17 tackles, including five solo stops versus UMD. 
•NSU has played two quarterbacks this season with senior Brock Bagozzi completing 75 of 113 passes for 891 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior Daniel Britt has completed 33 of 55 passes for 430 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. 
•Block has rushed for 610 yards (16th in Division II) and three touchdowns on 98 attempts. He also has a team-high 15 receptions for 116 yards. 
•Senior tight end Zach Kraft leads the Wolves with 12 receptions for 205 yards and three touchdowns. 
•Adams leads the squad with 80 tackles, ranking first in the NSIC and Division II with 13.3 per game.