THIS SATURDAY
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-7, 1-6 NSIC, 0-3 NSIC South) returns to road action on Saturday afternoon with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match up at No. 18/21 ranked Minnesota State University (6-2, 5-2 NSIC, 3-1 NSIC South). Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. 
•SMSU, which has lost its last six games since defeating Jamestown in week two, is coming off a 57-29 home loss to No. 5/10 Augustana last Saturday afternoon.  
•In the loss on Saturday, SMSU had its highest point total since scoring 47 versus Upper Iowa on Oct. 1, 2022. The Mustangs also recorded its first game with more than 400 yards of offense since Nov. 11, 2023.  
•SMSU ranks sixth in Division II in fewest penalty yards per game (36.8) and 47th in passing yards (235.5).  
•MSU, ranked No. 18 in this week's AFCA Top 25 poll and No. 21 in the D2Football.com Top 25 poll, is also one of 10 teams ranked in the first NCAA Super Region Three rankings released on Monday.
•The Mavericks are fourth in Division II in fewest penalty yards per game (35.8) and 19th in scoring defense (17.6).

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. MSU Series Notes
SMSU and MSU meet for the 22nd time with MSU leading 21-0 in a series that began on Sept. 4, 1971 ... MSU has been ranked in the Top 20 in eight of the last 11 meetings ... MSU is 12-0 all-time in games played in Mankato, including earning a 30-12 win during the 2023 season ... Saturday's game will be the 19th time the two schools have met as members of the same conference ... SMSU has been held to 17 or less points in 13 of the 21 games ... MSU has scored 30 or more points in the last 16 meetings.  
  
The Last Time - SMSU vs. MSU
MSU, ranked No. 13 nationally, used a strong rushing attack and strong defense in the red zone to earn a 30-12 victory over SMSU at Blakeslee Stadium on Oct. 28, 2023. SMSU closed the game with 353 yards of offense and 21 first downs with Marcus Martin completing 22 of 45 pass attempts for a season-high 277 yards. Eric Lira caught a career-high nine passes for 87 yards for the Mustangs with teammate Peter Osman closing with six receptions for a game-high 96 yards. Colin Maher caught three passes for a career-high 48 yards. SMSU had pair of great scoring chances in the opening half with first-and-goal on two occasions, however the Mustangs had to settle for a pair of field goals. The Mustangs ended the game 3 of 5 in the red-zone, while the Mavericks were a perfect 5 of 5 in the red-zone. MSU finished with 400 yards and 23 first downs with Shen Butler Lawson pacing the team with 115 yards rushing on 21 carries. He also caught a touchdown pass from Hayden Ekern, who completed 19 of 32 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. Josiah Hedensten led the Mustang defense with a game-high 11 tackles with Tate Gaul, Gideon Ervasti and Thomas Mergen each recording six tackles. Jalani Jefferson also had a strong game with four tackles and five pass break-ups.

SMSU vs. MSU Series Information
Overall:    MSU leads 21-0
In Marshall:    MSU leads 9-0
In Mankato:    MSU leads 12-0
Last SMSU win:    -
Last MSU win:    Oct. 28, 2023 (30-12)
Largest win for SMSU:    -
Largest win for MSU:    52 (52-0, 2021)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    -
Longest win streak for MSU:     21 (1971-present)
Current win streak:     MSU, 21
Underwood vs. Minnesota State:    4-7
Hoffner vs. SMSU:    13-0

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his fourth season as head coach with a record of 7-34. 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 93-85 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 seven interceptions this season ranking first (0.88) in Division II, while ranking third in passes defended (1.63). He has 12 career interceptions in 22 games which is tied for third in team history. He is one shy of the team record of 13 interceptions held by Carl Douglas (1988-90) and Blaine Schnaible (1986-88). 
•Josiah Hedensten ranks third in team history with 186 solo tackles and sixth all-time with 318 total tackles. In this week's NCAA statistics, Hedensten ranks 21st in solo tackles (5.2) and 55th in total tackles (8.3). In NSIC stats, he ranks sixth in total tackles (7.6). He has recorded double digit tackles in each of the past three games. 
•SMSU closed last week's game versus Augustana racking up a season-high 464 yards on offense with Macloud Crowton passing for 453 yards and three touchdowns. He is the first Mustang since Blake Gimbel in 2018 to pass for more than 400 yards in a game. Macloud begins the week ranked 33rd in Division II in passing yards (1,813). 
•Wide receiver Colin Maher caught six passes for a career-high 159 yards and one touchdown last week versus Augustana for  his third 100-yard receiving game of the season. He is the first SMSU player with more than 150 yards receiving in a game since Daniel Davis in 2019. Maher ranks 40th nationally in receiving yards per game (72.8) and 61st in receptions per game (4.5). He ranks sixth in the NSIC in receiving yards per game (79.7). 
•Wide receiver Jake Anderson had six catches for 70 yards and his first career touchdown in the loss to Augustana. 
•Wide receiver Tryg Auten closed last week's game with four receptions for a career-high 99 yards and one touchdown.
•True freshman kicker Landon Hubbard booted his first career field, a 28-yard attempt, in last week's game. 
•Senior linebacker Logan Booth (7), redshirt freshman Kaden Lunsford (6) and sophomore linebacker Aiden Planer (5) each recorded career-highs in tackles last week versus Augustana. 
•Linebacker Gideon Ervasti ranks eighth in the NSIC in total tackles (7.3). 
•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 AUGUSTANA
•Augustana held a 14-9 lead early in the second quarter before scoring three straight touchdowns in building a 35-9 halftime advantage and went on to earn a 57-29 victory over SMSU in Marshall last Saturday.  
•SMSU put together a solid second half and closed the game with 464 yards of offense and 22 first downs. 
•SMSU quarterback Macloud Crowton completed 27 of 53 pass attempts for 453 yards and three touchdowns. •Colin Maher was Crowton's top target catching six passes for a career-high 159 yards and one touchdown. •Augustana finished the day with 450 yards on offense with 208 on the ground. 

SMSU / MSU IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and MSU ranks in the latest NCAA Division statistics. 
             (157 teams ranked)     SMSU     MSU
             Scoring Offense    143rd     26th
             Rushing Offense    157th      27th
             Passing Offense    47th     74th 
             Total Offense    150th     45th 
             Scoring Defense    153rd     19th
             Rushing Defense    114th     133rd
             Pass Defense    154th     17th 
             Pass Efficiency Defense    154th     20th 
             Total Defense    153rd     73rd 
             Net Punting     97th     26th 
             Punt Returns     152nd     55th 
             Kickoff Returns     128th     96th
             Turnover Margin     136th     16th 
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     6th     4th   
             Time of Possession     126th     112th 
             3rd Down Conversions     155th    33rd
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    153rd     101st

THE 2025 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Oct. 28) 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-7' in turnover margin this season.
•The SMSU defense has forced a least one turnover in each game this season.
•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 five of its seven 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 15 of 18 (83.3) in the red zone this season with 11 touchdowns and four field goals. SMSU has three red zone trips stopped with an interception, a fumble and end of half. 
•SMSU opponents are 26 of 32 (81.2) in the red zone this season with 25 touchdowns and one field goal. The SMSU defense has stopped six red zone drives with an interception, two fumbles, two missed field goals and downs. 
•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    15 of 18 (83.3)    11    4

LONG PLAYS FOR THE MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 44 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards this season with 20 coming from the offense (2 run, 25 pass).
•Macloud Crowton's 65-yard pass to Tryg Auten versus Augustana is the longest pass play of the season.
•Jacob Honstetter's 75-yard touchdown run at Minnesota Duluth is the longest rush from scrimmage. 
•Auten's 37-yard return at Northern State is 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    44    5    2    25    17    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 32-61 all-time at the stadium, including 0-4 this season. SMSU finished 0-6 last season. SMSU's last home victory came during the final game of the 2023 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 11-37 in road games, including 1-3 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 1-33 all-time versus Division II Top 25 teams, including 0-2 this season after losing at Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 4 and at home to Augustana on Oct. 25. 
•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 210-376-5, including 148-276-5 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 MINNESOTA STATE
•Todd Hoffner is in his 15th season as head coach and has a record of 148-39 with seven league titles and 10 NCAA tournament appearances. MSU has made the NCAA playoffs in each of the past three seasons. 
•The Mavericks are 6-2 overall, 5-2 NSIC, after suffering a 35-20 road loss to Wayne State last Saturday.
•Sophomore Sam Backer leads the Maverick rushing attack with 566 yards and 12 touchdowns, while sophomore Carter Henderson has tallied 343 yards and a touchdown.
•Sophomore Mitchell Thompson has thrown for 803 yards and 10 touchdowns.
•Senior TreShawn Watson has tallied 732 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while senior Grant Guyett has notched 466 yards and a touchdown.