TODAY
Portland State at UND
When: 6:05 p.m.
Where: Alerus Center.
Records: UND 1-0, Portland 1-0.
ADVERTISEMENT
JUST THE FACTS
Team website: UND Sports.com.
On the radio: The Fox (96.1), Jack Michaels play-by-play; Mike Berg analyst; Paul Ralston, sideline.
TV: Midco Sports (Channel 27, GF); Dan Hammer play-by-play; Tony Stein, analyst; Danny Luetzen, sideline.
TV coaches show: UND Sports Extra, Tuesdays, 7 p.m., (Channel 27, GF).
Coaches radio show: The Fan (1440 AM), WDAY (970 AM), Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Ground Round.
SCHEDULE
UND
ADVERTISEMENT
UND 66.........................................................S.D. Mines 0
Today..........................................................Portland State, 6:05 p.m.
Sept. 15........................................................at San Diego State, 7:05 p.m.
Sept. 22........................................................at Sacramento State, 8:05 p.m.
Sept. 29........................................................Cal Poly, 6:05 p.m.
Oct. 6...........................................................at Eastern Washington, 7:05 p.m.
Oct. 13.........................................................Northern Arizona, 3:05 p.m.
Oct. 20.........................................................Montana, 2:40 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
Oct. 27.........................................................at Montana State, 3:05 p.m.
Nov. 3..........................................................Southern Utah, 1:05 p.m.
Nov. 17........................................................at Northern Colorado, 1:05 p.m.
Portland State
Portland 38.......................................................Carroll College 20
Today........................................................UND, 6:05 p.m.
Sept. 15.......................................................at Washington
Sept. 22.......................................................Southern Utah
Sept. 29.......................................................at Northern Arizona
Oct. 6..........................................................Idaho State
Oct. 20........................................................at Cal Poly
Oct. 27........................................................at UC Davis
Nov. 3.........................................................Northern Colorado
Nov. 10.......................................................at Montana State
Nov. 17......................................................Eastern Washington
BY THE NUMBERS
1
Ranking of Portland State in Big Sky Conference rushing the past two years. Last season, the Vikings averaged 247.8 rushing yards. PSU ranked eighth last season in FCS rushing yards.
41
Season-opening shutouts posted by UND's defense after last week's 66-0 win against South Dakota Mines.
653
Yards gained by UND's offense last week, a school record. Only Old Dominion had more yards (723) last week among FCS teams.
17-6
UND's home record under fifth-year coach Chris Mussman. In the 17 home wins, UND has averaged 37.8 points per game.
1981
The last year in which the two teams met. UND beat Portland State 17-10 in the Potato Bowl.
THE EDGE
OFFENSE (Check to UND, PSU)
Portland starts a true freshman (Kieran McDonagh) at quarterback while UND's Marcus Hendrickson will make his first start at quarterback. Neither team has a major advantage, based on who's under center.
DEFENSE (Check to UND)
UND's defense traditionally has defended the run well. Portland's strength, at least early in the season, appears to be its rushing game.
SPECIAL TEAMS (Check to UND)
UND gets the check because PSU All-American kicker Zach Brown may not play after suffering an injury last week.
CHECKING OUT THE BIG SKY
What to watch for this week in the Big Sky:
• The big game. No. 12 Montana -- a Big Sky power for years -- travels to Boone, N.C., where it will meet No. 11 Appalachian State, perhaps the biggest name in Division I FCS.
• Eastern Washington. The Eagles were one of four FCS programs to be FBS schools last week. Eastern Washington downed Idaho 20-2. Today, Eastern plays Washington State.
• Mike Kramer's chance to move up. Idaho State coach Mike Kramer has 79 career wins, which ranks fourth in Big Sky history. He can tie Bobby Hauck (now the UNLV coach) for third place with a win today against Black Hills State. Chris Ault, now at Nevada, is the league's all-time winningest coach.
• Another challenging week. Five Big Sky teams take on FBS programs today. Eastern Washington is at Washington State; Southern Utah is at Cal; Sacramento State is at Colorado; Weber State is at BYU; and UC Davis is at San Jose State.
• Montana State's game at Drake. MSU coach Rob Ash, who has led the Bobcats to national prominence, was the Drake coach from 1986-2006.
• UND's momentum. UND has won five straight games dating back to last season and eight of its last nine.
WAYNE'S CALL
UND 24, Portland State 20: Finally, the Big Sky era begins. After four tumultuous years, Marcus Hendrickson finally gets a chance to show what he can do.
NDSU 24, Colorado State 21: A signature win for the Bison? Nah, the program's signature win came earlier in the week.
Appalachian State 20, Montana 17: Should be a classic FCS game.
Jacksonville 28, Vikings 14: Watching the Twins on Sunday may be a better choice.
Last week: 4-0
Season: 4-0
