THIS SATURDAY
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-2, 1-2 NSIC, 0-0 NSIC South) opens Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division play this Saturday, Sept. 27, traveling to Wayne, Neb., taking on Wayne State College (2-2, 2-1 NSIC, 0-0 NSIC South) with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. at Cunningham Field at Memorial Stadium. 
•SMSU, which snapped a 12-game losing streak on Sept. 13 with a 12-7 road victory over the University of Jamestown, is coming off a 40-9 home loss to UMary last Saturday, in which the Marauders scored 26 unanswered points in the second half to pull away for the victory.
•WSC, which earned a road victory over MSU Moorhead last Saturday, has victories over UMary and MSU Moorhead, while losing to Nebraska-Kearney and Northern State. 

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. WSC Series Notes
Southwest Minnesota State and Wayne State meet for the 36th time with WSC leading 27-8 in a series that started on Nov. 1, 1969 ... WSC has won the last eight meetings and nine of the last 10, including 41-7 last season in Marshall ... WSC has won 17 of the last 22 meetings since 2002 ... WSC is 13-4 all-time in games played in Wayne, including winning the last four ... SMSU's last victory in the series came on Oct. 20, 2015, in Wayne, 61-3 ... SMSU scored 39 or more points in five straight games from 2012-16, but has been held to 16 or less points in the last seven games.   

The Last Time - SMSU vs. WSC
Wayne State used a big second half to pull away from a seven-point halftime advantage to earn a 41-7 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Oct. 12, 2024, in Marshall. The Mustangs finished the night with 158 yards of offense and 10 first downs. WSC closed the game with 408 yards of offense and 19 first downs.
Nick Bohn threw for four touchdowns and ran for a score to pace the Wildcats. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 218 yards and ran for 45 yards on seven carries. Jadon Johnson caught a game-high seven passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns, while Kendrick Watkins-Hogue had five receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown. SMSU quarterback Kendon Krogman completed 12 of 17 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown. Zander Wolf, Tryg Auten, Omar Abdi, Jake Anderson and Colin Maher each had two receptions. WSC finished the game converting 8 of 13 on third-down, while SMSU was limited to 1 of 11 on third-down conversions. The WSC defense forced the only turnover in the game and racked up seven sacks. Josiah Hedensten recorded a team-high nine tackles with one sack to pace the Mustang defense. 

SMSU vs. WSC Series Information
Overall:    WSC leads 27-8
In Marshall:    WSC leads 14-4
In Wayne:    WSC leads 13-4
Last SMSU win:    Oct. 10, 2015 (61-3)
Last WSC win:    Oct. 12, 2024 (41-7)
Largest win for SMSU:    58 (61-3, 2015)
Largest win for WSC:    49 (49-0, 1969)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    2 (1990-91, 2012-13)
Longest win streak for WSC:    7 (2005-11)
Current win streak:    WSC, 8
Underwood vs. WSC:    4-5
Masters vs. SMSU:    3-0

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his fourth season as head coach with a record of 7-29. 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 93-80 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
•Colin Maher recorded his first career 100-yard receiving games in last week's loss to UMary. He caught a career-high eight passes for a career-high 107 yards. He is the first SMSU player to reach 100 yards receiving since the 2022 season. 
•SMSU has recorded a safety the past two games. 
•Aiden Planer finished with a career-high four tackles, including two for loss in last week's setback to UMary. 
•Parker Knutson has five interceptions this season ranking first in Division II, while ranking third in passes defended. He has 10 career interceptions ranking tied for sixth in team history. 
•Mason Carver begins the week ranked 27th in punting with a 41.3 yard average. 
•Josiah Hedensten ranks tied for eighth in team history with 156 solo tackles and is 14th all-time with 270 total tackles. 
•Tariq Parker rushed for a team-high 85 yards on 23 carries in the win over Jamestown two weeks ago. 
•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 UMARY
• The University of Mary used a big third quarter, scoring three touchdowns, including a punt return for a score, while recording a pair of interceptions, to pull away and defeat SMSU, 40-9, last Saturday in Marshall. 
•The Marauders defense forced the Mustangs into three turnovers in the second half in scoring 26 unanswered points. UMary finished the game with 365 yards of offense and 21 first downs, while SMSU closed the game with 256 yards on offense with 15 first downs.
•SMSU's Macloud Crowton finished the game completing 17 of 32 pass attempts for 198 yards with three interception, while being sacked three times. Crowton added 22 yards rushing on 12 attempts with teammate Tariq Parker adding 22 yards on five carries. 
•Jacob Honstetter rushed eight times for 13 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. •Colin Maher caught a game-high eight passes for 107 yards for the Mustangs. It is his first career 100-yard receiving game and the first by a Mustang since the 2022 season.
•Josiah Hendensten paced the SMSU defense with seven tackles with 1.5 for loss with Gideon Ervasti adding six tackles. Aiden Planer finished with four stops, including two for loss. 
•Parker Knutson closed with four tackles and recorded his fifth interception of the season and 10th of his career.

SMSU / WSC IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and WSC 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     WSC
             Scoring Offense    154th     93rd
             Rushing Offense    154th      37th
             Passing Offense    103rd     132nd 
             Total Offense    150th     93rd 
             Scoring Defense    127th     38th
             Rushing Defense    53rd     42nd
             Pass Defense    152nd     124th 
             Pass Efficiency Defense    141st     37th 
             Total Defense    132nd     86th 
             Net Punting     53rd     17th 
             Punt Returns     132nd     114th 
             Kickoff Returns     101st     79th
             Turnover Margin     64th     27th 
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     33rd     73rd   
             Time of Possession     99th     68th 
             3rd Down Conversions     117th    113th
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    135th     66th

THE 2025 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Sept. 22) 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 'plus-1' in turnover margin following three games in 2025.
•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 finished 'minus-16' in turnover margin last season and was not 'plus' in turnover margin in any game during the 2024 season. 

LOOKING FOR TIME IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 3 of 5 (60.0) in the red zone this season with two field goals and one touchdown. 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 failed to score seven times in the red zone registering two interceptions, three fumbles, a missed field goal and a turnover on downs. 
•SMSU opponents are 7 of 10 (70.0) in the red zone this season with six 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    3 of 5 (60.0)    1    2

LONG PLAYS FOR THE MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 16 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards this season with eight coming from the offense (0 run, 8 pass).
•Macloud Crowton's 42-yard pass to Colin Maher vs. UMary is the longest pass play of the season.
•Jacob Honstetter's 19-yard touchdown run versus UMary is the longest rush from scrimmage. 
•Tryg Auten's 30-yard return versus MSU Moorhead 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    16    1    0    8    8    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 11-34 in road games, including 1-0 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 1-31 all-time versus Division II Top 25 teams, including 0-1 last season after losing at Bemidji State. 
•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 210-371-5, including 148-272-5 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 WAYNE STATE
•Logan Masters is in his fourth season as head coach with a record of 26-12. He was an assistant coach at WSC (2010-16, 20-21) and was also an assistant coach at Chadron State (2017-19).   
•WSC is coming off an impressive 27-17 road win over MSU Moorhead last Saturday. Junior running back Dawson Forgy ran for 223 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries, while the WSC defense recorded seven sacks and held MSUM All-American quarterback Jack Strand to 284 yards passing. 
•Forgy's 223  yards is the highest total by a WSC player since the 2014 season. He was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his efforts.
•Junior placekicker Boston Hensley was named the NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after booting two field goals and three PATs in the road victory.
•Sophomore quarterback Bennett Dannenbring has completed 60 of 109 passes for 562 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. 
•Forgy has a team-high 508 yards and five touchdowns on 87 carries.
•Junior tight end Dane Petersen leads the receiving corps with 15 receptions for 166 yards and four touchdowns.
•Sophomore linebacker Jes Krcil has amassed 37 tackles with 5.5 for loss to pace the Wildcat defense.