SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (7-2, 4-1) AT NORTH DAKOTA (5-4, 2-3)
WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alerus Center
TV: Midco Sports Network
RADIO: WNAX-AM 570; Jackrabbit radio affiliates
RECORD LAST YEAR: SDSU 15-0 (FCS champions); UND 7-5
SERIES: UND leads 47-37-5
LAST TIME: SDSU won 42-21 in Brookings last year
LAST WEEK: SDSU beat Murray State 52-6; UND lost 35-31 to Indiana State
RANKINGS: SDSU is ranked No. 3 in FCS; UND is ranked 23rd
COACHES: SDSU - Jimmy Rogers (2nd year, 22-2); UND - Bubba Schweigert (11th year, 66-54)
WHAT TO KNOW: With consecutive losses to second-rate teams, the Fighting Hawks look more like wounded Hawks, but before you write them off, remember this - UND is and pretty much always has been a different team at home. Just this year, UND is 5-0 at home and 0-4 on the road. They are 115-30 all-time in the Alerus Center, and since joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference they're 16-2 in the venue in conference play.
So it would be a mistake to assume the Jackrabbits are going to roll, especially considering that even with the recent defeats to Indiana State and Youngstown State, the Hawks are still alive for a playoff berth.
These are two similarly productive offenses - SDSU averages 35.0 points, 244 rushing yards and 189 passing yards, while UND averages 34.9 points, 205 rushing yards and 182 passing yards.
The difference is on defense, where the Jacks limit foes to 13.7 points and 286 yards per game; UND has surrendered 28.4 points and 361 yards per contest.
The Hawks leaders are running back Isaiah Smith (562 yards, seven TDs), quarterback Simon Rofo (1,612 yards, 14 TDs, six interceptions) and receiver Bo Belquist (48 receptions, 754 yards, 9 TDs).
Malachi McNeal and Wyatt Pedigo (55 tackles and two sacks each) are the top defenders for UND.
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