THIS SATURDAY
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-4, 1-4 NSIC, 0-1 NSIC South) returns to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division action on Saturday facing the University of Sioux Falls (3-3, 2-3 NSIC, 0-2 NSIC South) for homecoming with kickoff slated for 5 p.m. at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center.
•SMSU is looking to snap a three-game losing skid and earn its first home win since defeating USF in the final game of the 2023 season. SMSU has lost its last eight home games. 
•USF won its first three games of the season, including two on the road, before suffering three straight losses to teams with a combined record of 17-1. The Cougars rank fourth in the country in first downs (146), third in time of possession and 31st in rushing offense. 

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. USF Series Notes
SMSU and USF meet for the 17th time with USF leading 12-4 ... the two teams first met on Sept. 21, 1968, in Marshall ... the first game between the two schools was also the first-ever game in SMSU history with USF earning a 13-6 victory at Legion Field in Marshall ... SMSU defeated USF 36-12 in 1969 in Sioux Falls and also won in both 1978 and 1979 ... SMSU's victory in 2023 snapped a 10-game USF winning streak since joining the NSIC in 2012 ... USF has scored 34 or more points in 10 of the 12 meetings since joining the NSIC ... USF leads 6-2 in games played in Marshall ... USF won last season, 41-14, in Sioux Falls on Nov. 16.     

SMSU vs. USF Series Information
Overall:    USF leads 12-4
In Marshall:    USF leads 6-2
In Sioux Falls:    USF leads 6-2
Last SMSU win:    Nov. 11, 2023 (28-10)
Last USF win:    Nov. 16, 2024 (41-14)
Largest win for SMSU:    24 (36-12, 1969)
Largest win for USF:    44 (51-7, 2019)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    3 (1969-79)
Longest win streak for USF:    10 (2012-22)
Current win streak:    USF, 1
Underwood vs. USF:    2-5
Glogowski vs. SMSU:    1-1

SMSU ON HOMECOMING
•SMSU has a record of 25-30 all-time on homecoming and has lost four of the last five.  
•SMSU is 5-5 in homecoming games since 2014, but is 8-16 since 2000.
SMSU homecoming games since 2010
2010    Wayne State  L, 20-38
2011     Augustana  L, 24-37
2012    Wayne State  W, 40-24
2013    Sioux Falls  L, 48-55
2014    Upper Iowa  W, 28-25
2015    MSU Moorhead  W, 48-9
2016    Upper Iowa  W, 59-41
2017    Sioux Falls  L, 10-24
2018    Minnesota Crookston  W,55-6
2019    Bemidji State L, 24-25
2021    Sioux Falls  L, 7-35
2022    Upper Iowa W, 47-7
2023    Northern State L, 17-24
2024    Wayne Sate L, 7-41

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his fourth season as head coach with a record of 7-31. 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 93-82 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). 
•A complete bio on Underwood can be found on page 19. 

SMSU OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•Jacob Honstetter's 75-yard touchdown rush last week at Minnesota Duluth 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 recording a season-high in points (28), total offense (383), rushing yards (93) and passing yards (290). 
•Josiah Hedensten ranks tied for seventh in team history with 161 solo tackles and 11th all-time with 278 total tackles. 
•Tryg Auten caught a career-high five passes for a career-high 76 yards in the loss at UMD.
•Shaun Walrath caught a career-high three passes for a career-best 75 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown reception. It's his second career touchdown reception 
•Gideon Ervasti recorded a season-high 10 tackles in last week's loss at UMD. He currently ranks tied for eighth in the NSIC in tackles per game (7.2). 
•Cam Enright finished the UMD loss recording a career-high seven tackles and added one pass break-up. 
•Eniedi Isuk picked-up his first career interception in last week's loss at UMD. 
•Quarterback Drew Kluender missed last week's game due to injury.
•Parker Knutson has five interceptions this season ranking first (1.0) in Division II and is second in passes defended (1.8). He has 10 career interceptions ranking tied for sixth in team history. 
•Mason Carver ranks 69th nationally in punting with a 38.2-yard average, while Colin Maher ranks 74th nationally in receptions per game (4.4). 
•Colin Maher recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game three weeks ago versus UMary finishing with a career-high eight passes for 107 yards. He was the first SMSU player to reach 100 yards receiving since the 2022 season. 
•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 MINNESOTA DULUTH
•Nationally ranked Minnesota Duluth remained undefeated with a 63-28 victory over SMSU last Saturday in Duluth.
•SMSU closed the game scoring a season-high 28 points, the most allowed by UMD this season and finished with a season-high 383 yards of offense.
•Macloud Crowton completed 19 of 37 pass attempts for 290 yards and two touchdowns for the Mustangs, but was also intercepted three times and sacked four times. He also had a rushing touchdown. 
•Tryg Auten finished the game with a career-high five receptions for a career-high 76 yards, while Shaun Walrath added three receptions for 75 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown reception.
•SMSU started the game in a big way with Jacob Honstetter taking a handoff on the second play of the game and sprinting 75 yards for a touchdown. The 70-yard plus run was the first by a Mustang player since the 2018 season.
•SMSU, which was 0 for 16 on third-down conversions at Wayne State on Sept. 27 converted 3 of 11 on third-down versus UMD and was 1 of 2 on fourth-down.
•The SMSU defense was led by Gideon Ervasti, who amassed 10 tackles, including one for loss. Cam Enright, SaMaury Alexander and Josiah Hedensten each finished with seven tackles.
•UMD finished the game with 24 first downs and 512 yards of offense.

SMSU / USF IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and USF ranks in the latest NCAA Division statistics. 
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 16-17. 
             (157 teams ranked)     SMSU     USF
             Scoring Offense    152nd     52nd
             Rushing Offense    157th      31st
             Passing Offense    100th     45th 
             Total Offense    153rd     22nd 
             Scoring Defense    149th     98th
             Rushing Defense    65th     69th
             Pass Defense    152nd     94th 
             Pass Efficiency Defense    150th     89th 
             Total Defense    137th     75th 
             Net Punting     87th     149th 
             Punt Returns     145th     149th 
             Kickoff Returns     115th     19th
             Turnover Margin     143rd     77th 
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     14th     7th   
             Time of Possession     118th     3rd 
             3rd Down Conversions     151st    10th
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    113th     129th

THE 2025 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Oct. 7) features 18 seniors, 16 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 following five 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 each of its four 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 6 of 8 (75.0) in the red zone this season with two field goals and four 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 16 of 19 (84.2) in the red zone this season with 15 touchdowns and one field goal. The SMSU defense has stopped three red zone drives with an interception, a fumble and missed field goal. 
•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    6 of 8 (75.0)    4    2

LONG PLAYS FOR THE MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 26 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards this season with 14 coming from the offense (1 run, 13 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    26    3    1    13    12    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. 
•Knutson's five interceptions is the most by a Mustang player since the 2010 season and ties for the fifth highest in program single-season history.
•In the final 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 32-59 all-time at the stadium, including 0-2 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). 

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 210-373-5, including 148-274-5 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 SIOUX FALLS
•Jim Glogowski is in his third season as head coach with a record of 14-14. He came to USF after seven seasons as an assistant coach at Minnesota State. He was also head coach at Simpson College (Iowa) from 2008-15. 
•USF suffered its third straight loss last week with a final-minute, 29-28, home loss to Augustana. The Vikings scored the final 19 points of the game, including the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter.
•USF finished the game with 499 yards of offense with 280 on the ground and racked up 29 first downs. Augustana was held to 14 first downs and 333 yards on offense. USF held a 38-22 advantage in time of possession. 
•Senior quarterback Camden Dean leads the Cougars completing 108 of 164 pass attempts for 1,313 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also rushed for 309 yards and four touchdowns on 83 carries.
•Sophomore quarterback Bennett Brueck has played in five games and has completed 4 of 7 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. 
•Sophomore running back Bubba Tann III has rushed for 416 yards and five touchdowns on 94 attempts. 
•Sophomore wide receiver Hank Brown has caught 50 passes for 601 yards and one touchdown. He ranks first in the NSIC (conference games only) with 42 receptions for 523 yards.
•Junior safety Garret Hoffman has amassed a team-leading 27 tackles with two interceptions. 
•Sophomore linebacker Landon Kolb has six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.