THIS SATURDAY
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-8, 1-7 NSIC, 0-4 NSIC South) concludes its home season on Saturday afternoon with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference battle versus Concordia University-St. Paul (1-8, 1-7 NSIC, 0-4 NSIC South) with kickoff set for 1 p.m. at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center.
•SMSU, which has lost its last seven games since defeating Jamestown in week two, most recently suffered a 48-7 road loss to nationally ranked Minnesota State last Saturday. MSU held a 13-7 halftime lead before scoring five touchdowns in the second half.   
•SMSU is looking to snap a 10-game home losing streak on Saturday. SMSU's last home victory occurred on the final game of the 2023 season versus Sioux Falls. 
•SMSU enters this week's game ranked second in Division II in fewest penalty yards per game (33.3) and 45th in passing yards (240.2).  
•CSP has lost six straight games since earning its lone victory of the season on Sept. 13 at Minot State. 
•The Golden Bears are 13th in Division II in fewest penalty yards per game (42.6) and 76th in passing defense (205.2).

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.

SENIOR DAY ON SATURDAY
•Saturday will be 'Senior Day' as the SMSU program will honor 18 seniors in a pregame ceremony. The seniors recognized will be: Jake Anderson, Lincoln Benson, Logan Booth, Julius Brown, Macloud Crowton, Gideon Ervasti, Eddie Garcia, Josiah Hedensten, Jacob Honstetter, Treverran Mack, Colin Maher, Diego Maldonado, Tyler Nebelung, Roman Ordoñez, Jojo Parham, Jonathan Wamsley, Brock Ward and Maison Wright. 

SMSU vs. CSP Series Notes
SMSU and CSP meet for the 27th time with CSP leading 14-12 in a series that started on Sept. 15, 1979 ... CSP is 14-10 since joining the NSIC in 1999 ... CSP leads 7-6 in games played in Marshall, including 5-3 at The Schwan Regional Event Center ... SMSU leads 6-5 since 2012, but CSP won last season in Marshall, 27-17 ... SMSU won the first three meetings in the series before CSP won six straight from 2000-05 ... SMSU leads 9-8 since the 2006 season ... SMSU has scored 20 or less points in five of the last six games.    
  
The Last Time - SMSU vs. CSP
CSP used a strong second to pull away from a four-point halftime advantage to earn a 27-17 victory over SMSU on Sept. 21, 2024, in Marshall. CSP, held to 107 yards of offense in the first half, used a strong rushing attack and solid defense to pull away and earn its first road victory since the 2019 season. Jaylin Richardson, limited to 13 yards rushing on six carries in the opening half, closed the game with 108 yards on 22 attempts and one touchdown. CSP finished the game with 288 yards of offense and 16 first downs, while SMSU closed the game with 292 yards and 17 first downs. SMSU quarterback, Kendon Krogman, making his first career start, completed 19 of 28 pass attempts for 186 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for a team-high 52 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. Tryg Auten and Colin Maher each finished with four receptions to pace the Mustangs. The CSP defense was outstanding in the second half, limiting the SMSU offense to a pair of first downs and 33 yards for much of the second half until the Mustangs scored a late touchdown to close a 75-yard drive with just over a minute remaining. Diego Maldonado and Josiah Hedensten, who both finished with seven tackles, led the SMSU defense, which forced one turnover.

SMSU vs. CSP Series Information
Overall:    CSP leads 14-12
In Marshall:    CSP leads 7-6
In St. Paul:    SMSU leads 5-4
Neutral:    CSP leads 3-1
Last SMSU win:    Sept. 10, 2022 (14-6)
Last CSP win:    Sept. 21, 2024 (27-17)
Largest win for SMSU:    44 (44-0, 1999)
Largest win for CSP:    42 (63-21, 2004)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    3 (1979-1999 & 2006-08)
Longest win streak for CSP:    6 (2000-05)
Current win streak:    CSP, 1
Underwood vs. CSP:    7-1
Currier vs. SMSU:     8-3

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his fourth season as head coach with a record of 7-35. 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 93-86 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. 

PARKER TIES A PAIR OF SCHOOL INTERCEPTION RECORDS
•Sophomore Parker Knutson tied the school single-season and career interception record during last Saturday's game at Minnesota State. Knutson recorded his Division II leading eighth interception of the season tying the school single-season mark established by Carl Douglas in 1988. 
•The interception was also the 13th of his career tying the program career record set by Douglas and Blaine Schnaible (1986-88). 
•In this week's NCAA stats, Knutson ranks first in interceptions (0.89) and fourth in passes defended (1.56). 

SMSU OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•Josiah Hedensten ranks third in team history with 198 solo tackles and fifth with 336 total tackles. In this week's NCAA statistics, Hedensten ranks sixth in solo tackles (6.0) and 25th in total tackles (9.3). In NSIC stats, he ranks third in tackles per game (8.9). He has recorded double digit tackles in each of the past four games, including a career-high 18 tackles last week at Minnesota State. 
•Redshirt freshman Kaden Lunsford recorded a career-high 14 tackles last week versus Minnesota State. 
•Sophomore wide receiver David Ola-Kazeem caught a career-high four passes last week at Minnesota State. 
•Linebacker Gideon Ervasti ranks eighth in the NSIC in tackles per game (7.1). 
•Both Hedensten and offensive tackle Tyler Nebelung will be making their 43rd straight start on Saturday, with both having started every game of their four-year careers. 
•Two weeks ago versus Augustana, SMSU finished 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 two weeks ago 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). 
•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 STATE
• Minnesota State, ranked No. 18/21 nationally, opened a 13-7 halftime lead with 35 second half points with the MSU defense recording three interceptions, to earn a 48-7 victory over SMSU in Mankato last Saturday.
•The MSU offense scored three touchdowns on plays of 46 or more yards in the first three quarters and also added an interception return for a touchdown to pull away in the second half.
•SMSU ended the game with 286 yards of offense with 15 first downs.
•SMSU's Macloud Crowton completed 28 of 39 passes for 278 yards but was intercepted three times and sacked three times. Crowton scored SMSU's lone touchdown on a 12-yard run. 
•Colin Maher, David Ola-Kazeem and Jacob Honstetter each finished with four receptions with Maher closing with a game-high 86 yards receiving.

SMSU / CSP IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and CSP ranks in the latest NCAA Division statistics. 
             (157 teams ranked)     SMSU     CSP
             Scoring Offense    145th     151st
             Rushing Offense    157th      133rd
             Passing Offense    45th     112th 
             Total Offense    137th     135th 
             Scoring Defense    154th     144th
             Rushing Defense    132nd     143rd
             Pass Defense    154th     76th 
             Pass Efficiency Defense    154th     127th 
             Total Defense    152nd     133rd 
             Net Punting     87th     36th 
             Punt Returns     142nd     129th 
             Kickoff Returns     130th     155th
             Turnover Margin     141st     88th 
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     2nd     13th   
             Time of Possession     125th     90th 
             3rd Down Conversions     155th    143rd
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    153rd     156th

THE 2025 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Nov. 4) 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-9' 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 six of its eight losses this season. 
•SMSU finished 'minus-16' in turnover margin last season and was not 'plus' in turnover margin in any game.  

LOOKING TO SCORE IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 16 of 19 (84.2) in the red zone this season with 12 touchdowns and four field goals. SMSU has three red zone trips stopped with an interception, a fumble and end of half. 
•SMSU opponents are 30 of 36 (83.3) in the red zone this season with 27 touchdowns and three field goals. 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    16 of 19 (84.2)    12    4

LONG PLAYS FOR THE MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 48 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards this season with 30 coming from the offense (2 run, 28 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    48    5    2    28    18    0    0    0

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 11-38 in road games, including 1-4 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 1-34 all-time versus Division II Top 25 teams, including 0-3 this season after losing at Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 4 at home to Augustana on Oct. 25 and at Minnesota State on Nov. 1. 
•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 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 210-377-5, including 148-277-5 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 CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL
•Shannon Currier is in his second stint and 14th season overall (ninth season was canceled) as head coach at CSP with a record of 55-86. The program's all-time leader in victories, Currier was head coach at CSP from 2000-03, before returning in 2016. He has a career record of 75-121 in his 19th season as a head coach including five seasons at Truman State (Mo.).
•CSP earned its lone victory on Sept. 13 earning a 27-21 victory at Minot State. The Golden Bears are currently on a six-game losing streak. 
•CSP has used numerous quarterbacks this season with five players having attempted 15 or more passes.
•Senior quarterback Zachary Yeager started last week's loss to Wayne State and completed 10 of 25 passes for 63 yards. He started week one, but was injured in the game and has played in only three games on the season.  
•Senior running back Daniel Hornacek has rushed for a team-high 478 yards on 92 carries. 
•Senior wide receiver Troy Ellison has 19 receptions for 339 yards and two touchdowns.
•Redshirt freshman linebacker Mike King has 64 tackles and five tackles for loss to pace the Golden Bears defense.
•Sophomore defensive lineman Isaiah Wray has 57 tackles with a team-leading seven for loss.