The 2016 North Dakota State Bison football team represented North Dakota State University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Chris Klieman. The team played their 24th season in the Fargodome, entering the season as the five-time defending national champions and five-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Champions. The Bison have been members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference since the 2008 season.
They were one of very few FCS teams who ever beat a highly ranked FBS team (in this case, No. 13 Iowa). After that win, for four weeks they received votes in the AP's poll of the best football teams in the country (including FBS teams). Their 74 votes in week 3 (barely missing out on a Top 25 ranking) were the most votes ever earned by an FCS program in the AP Poll.
The Bison went 12âÂÂ2 on the season and won their sixth straight conference title with their lone loss coming on a last-second touchdown versus rival SDSU. The Bison received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs where they defeated San Diego and South Dakota State in the second round and quarterfinals before losing to James Madison in the semifinals, ending their five-year championship run.
Schedule
Roster
Recruiting class
Coaching staff
Game summaries
Polls are based on the FCS STATS Poll
Charleston Southern
- (Q2, 9:44) CSU â Jacob Smoak 46 yard field goal â CSU 3âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 0:00) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 52 yard field goal â TIED 3âÂÂ3
- (Q3, 13:07) CSU â Mike Holloway 47 yard run (Tyler Tekac kick) â CSU 10âÂÂ3
- (Q3, 10:02) NDSU â #20 Darrius Shepherd 23 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â TIED 10âÂÂ10
- (Q4, 10:34) NDSU â #16 RJ Urzendowski 47 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 17âÂÂ10
- (Q4, 2:59) CSU â Mike Holloway 6 yard run (Tyler Tekac kick) â TIED 17âÂÂ17
- (OT) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 25 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 24âÂÂ17
Eastern Washington
- (Q1, 6:19) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 8 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 12:54) EWU â Cooper Kupp 20 yard pass from Gage Gubrud (Roldan Alcobendas kick) â TIED 7âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 11:01) NDSU â #12 Easton Stick 1 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 14âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 6:12) NDSU â #86 Jeff Illies 33 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 5:05) EWU â Cooper Kupp 8 yard pass from Gage Gubrud (Roldan Alcobendas kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ14
- (Q3, 10:58) EWU â Roldan Alcobendas 37 yard field goal â NDSU 21âÂÂ17
- (Q3, 7:05) NDSU â #20 Darrius Shepherd 37 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 28âÂÂ17
- (Q3, 4:06) EWU â Gage Gubrud 13 yard run (Roldan Alcobendas kick) â NDSU 28âÂÂ24
- (Q4, 14:53) NDSU â #10 Lance Dunn 41 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 35âÂÂ24
- (Q4, 12:05) EWU â Nsimba Webster 35 yard pass from Gage Gubrud (Roldan Alcobendas kick) â NDSU 35âÂÂ31
- (Q4, 9:29) NDSU â #49 Nick DeLuca 40 yard interception return â NDSU 41âÂÂ31
- (Q4, 7:49) EWU â Stu Stiles 34 yard pass from Gage Gubrud â NDSU 41âÂÂ37
- (Q3, 4:32) EWU â Tamarick Pierce 1 yard run (Roldan Alcobendas kick) â EWU 44âÂÂ41
- (Q4, 0:42) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 28 yard field goal â TIED 44âÂÂ44
- (OT) NDSU â #10 Lance Dunn 25 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 50âÂÂ44
At Iowa
- (Q1, 2:26) NDSU â #41 MJ Stumpf 21 yard interception return (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 13:03) IOWA â Riley McCarron 30 yard pass from C. J. Beathard (Keith Duncan kick) â TIED 7âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 8:05) IOWA â Matt VandeBerg 14 yard pass from C.J. Beathard (Keith Duncan kick) â IOWA 14âÂÂ7
- (Q3, 8:06) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 1 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â TIED 14âÂÂ14
- (Q3, 2:12) IOWA â Matt VandeBerg 9 yard pass from C.J. Beathard (Keith Duncan kick) â IOWA 21âÂÂ14
- (Q4, 3:41) NDSU â #25 Chase Morlock 7 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick â IOWA 21âÂÂ20
- (Q4, 0:00) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 37 yard field goal â NDSU 23âÂÂ21
Illinois State
- (Q1, 8:12) ILST â Sean Slattery 23 yard field goal â ILST 3âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 1:14) NDSU â #20 Darrius Shepherd 31 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ3
- (Q2, 13:06) ILST â Anthony Fowler 18 yard pass from Jake Kolbe (Sean Slattery kick) â ILST 10âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 12:48) NDSU â #16 RJ Urzendowski 65 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 14âÂÂ10
- (Q2, 8:43) NDSU â #10 Lance Dunn 38 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ10
- (Q2, 0:27) NDSU â #85 Nate Jenson 35 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 28âÂÂ10
- (Q3, 0:39) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 47 yard field goal â NDSU 31âÂÂ10
At Missouri State
- (Q1, 9:43) MOST â Zach Drake 50 yard field goal â MOST 3âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 8:14) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 38 yard field goal â TIED 3âÂÂ3
- (Q2, 5:45) NDSU â #20 Darrius Shepherd 21 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 10âÂÂ3
- (Q2, 0:27) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 21 yard field goal â NDSU 13âÂÂ3
- (Q4, 13:08) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 22 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 20âÂÂ3
- (Q4, 4:51) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 4 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 27âÂÂ3
South Dakota State
- (Q2, 13:49) NDSU â #12 Easton Stick 1 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 2:13) SDSU â Chase Vinatieri 38 yard field goal â NDSU 7âÂÂ3
- (Q2, 0:00) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 49 yard field goal â NDSU 10âÂÂ3
- (Q3, 10:16) NDSU â #12 Easton Stick 26 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 17âÂÂ3
- (Q3, 5:26) SDSU â Dallas Goedert 12 yard pass from Taryn Christion (Chase Vinatieri kick) â NDSU 17âÂÂ10
- (Q4, 11:04) SDSU â Chase Vinatieri 42 yard field goal â NDSU 17âÂÂ13
- (Q4, 0:01) SDSU â Jake Wieneke 2 yard pass from Taryn Christion â SDSU 19âÂÂ17
At Western Illinois
- (Q1, 10:00) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 3 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 0:19) WIU â Nathan Knuffman 29 yard field goal â NDSU 7âÂÂ3
- (Q2, 11:16) WIU â Nathan Knuffman 28 yard field goal â NDSU 7âÂÂ6
- (Q2, 3:25) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 1 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 14âÂÂ6
- (Q2, 0:45) NDSU â #86 Jeff Illies 17 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ6
- (Q3, 8:56) WIU â Jamie Gilmore 3 yard run (Nathan Knuffman kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ13
At Northern Iowa
- (Q1, 4:42) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 1 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 13:12) UNI â Austin Errthum 30 yard field goal â NDSU 7âÂÂ3
- (Q2, 1:22) NDSU â #86 Jeff Illies 31 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 14âÂÂ3
- (Q2, 0:00) UNI â Austin Errthum 25 yard field goal â NDSU 14âÂÂ6
- (Q3, 7:19) NDSU â #25 Chase Morlock 8 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ6
- (Q3, 2:52) UNI â Jaylin James 17 yard pass from Eli Dunne (Austin Errthum kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ13
- (Q4, 14:53) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 25 yard field goal â NDSU 24âÂÂ13
- (Q4, 12:10) UNI â Briley Moore 4 yard pass from Eli Dunne (Austin Errthum kick) â NDSU 24âÂÂ20
Youngstown State
- (Q1, 7:34) NDSU â #25 Chase Morlock 71 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 3:54) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 36 yard field goal â NDSU 10âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 1:51) NDSU â #86 Jeff Illies 15 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 17âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 8:28) YSU â Zak Kennedy 32 yard field goal â NDSU 17âÂÂ3
- (Q4, 12:39) NDSU â #10 Lance Dunn 7 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 24âÂÂ3
Indiana State
- (Q1, 12:03) NDSU â #20 Darrius Shepherd 84 yard punt return (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 6:42) NDSU â #12 Easton Stick 16 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 14âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 2:04) NDSU â #12 Easton Stick 42 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 8:23) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 29 yard field goal â NDSU 24âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 5:09) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 2 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 31âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 1:47) ISU â Kelvin Cook 2 yard run (Jerry Nunez kick) â NDSU 31âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 0:00) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 45 yard field goal â NDSU 34âÂÂ7
- (Q3, 11:07) NDSU â #10 Lance Dunn 14 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 41âÂÂ7
- (Q4, 12:43) ISU â Jerry Nunez 41 yard field goal â NDSU 41âÂÂ10
- (Q4, 4:52) ISU â Roland Genesy 2 yard run (Jerry Nunez kick) â NDSU 41âÂÂ17
At South Dakota
- (Q1, 7:29) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 1 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 3:58) SD â Tacari Carpenter 36 yard pass from Chris Streveler (Miles Bergner kick) â TIED 7âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 8:42) NDSU â #20 Darrius Shepherd 40 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 14âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 4:01) SD â Chris Streveler 1 yard run (Miles Bergner kick) â TIED 14âÂÂ14
- (Q2, 1:01) NDSU â #86 Jeff Illies 13 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ14
- (Q3, 11:30) NDSU â #87 Connor Wentz 6 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 28âÂÂ14
- (Q4, 9:30) SD â Alonge Brooks 12 yard pass from Chris Streveler (Miles Bergner kick) â NDSU 28âÂÂ21
FCS Playoffs
Second RoundâÂÂSan Diego
- (Q1, 10:49) NDSU â #41 MJ Stumpf 40 yard interception return (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 7:11) NDSU â #25 Chase Morlock 16 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 14âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 0:39) NDSU â #16 RJ Urzendowski 11 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ0
- (Q3, 6:56) USD â Ross Dwelley 1 yard pass from Anthony Lawrence (Patrick Murray kick) â NDSU 21âÂÂ7
- (Q3, 4:48) NDSU â #25 Chase Morlock 49 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 28âÂÂ7
- (Q4, 10:13) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 31 yard field goal â NDSU 31âÂÂ7
- (Q4, 11:30) NDSU â #10 Lance Dunn 56 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 38âÂÂ7
- (Q4, 9:30) NDSU â #8 Bruce Anderson 61 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 45âÂÂ7
QuarterfinalsâÂÂSouth Dakota State
- (Q1, 11:16) SDSU â Brady Mengarelli 5 yard run (Chase Vinatieri kick) â SDSU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 4:33) SDSU â Chase Vinatieri 34 yard field goal â SDSU 10âÂÂ0
- (Q1, 1:29) NDSU â #10 Lance Dunn 49 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â SDSU 10âÂÂ7
- (Q2, 1:48) NDSU â #12 Easton Stick 3 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 14âÂÂ10
- (Q3, 9:13) NDSU â #90 Grant Morgan Safety â NDSU 16âÂÂ10
- (Q3, 5:27) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 35 yard field goal â NDSU 19âÂÂ10
- (Q3, 1:29) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 45 yard field goal â NDSU 22âÂÂ10
- (Q4, 9:57) NDSU â #12 Easton Stick 14 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 29âÂÂ10
- (Q4, 7:14) NDSU â #20 Darrius Shepherd 67 yard pass from #12 Easton Stick (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â NDSU 36âÂÂ10
SemifinalsâÂÂJames Madison
- (Q1, 1:18) JMU â Jonathan Kloosterman 14 yard pass from Bryan Schor (Tyler Gray kick) â JMU 7âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 11:59) JMU â Tyler Gray 23 yard field goal â JMU 10âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 6:51) JMU â Khalid Abdullah 10 yard pass from Bryan Schor (Tyler Gray kick) â JMU 17âÂÂ0
- (Q2, 1:36) NDSU â #25 Chase Morlock 3 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â JMU 17âÂÂ7
- (Q3, 11:24) NDSU â #36 Cam Pedersen 45 yard field goal â JMU 17âÂÂ10
- (Q3, 5:53) NDSU â #22 King Frazier 16 yard run (#36 Cam Pedersen kick) â TIED 17âÂÂ17
- (Q4, 11:46) JMU â Tyler Gray 45 yard field goal â JMU 20âÂÂ17
- (Q4, 6:59) JMU â John Miller 25 yard pass from Bryan Schor (Tyler Gray kick) â JMU 27âÂÂ17
Ranking movements
References