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North Dakota State and head coach Tim Polasek have agreed on a contract extension, athletic director Matt Larsen announced Tuesday. The deal is for seven years, which will carry it through the 2033 season, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel. It also includes a significant raise, additional staff money and more program resources, a move that sources said was pushed for by Larsen. It comes as Polasek had been pursued by multiple Football Bowl Subdivision schools. "After several productive conversations with coach Polasek, we have affirmed our commitment to both him and the long-term success of NDSU football," said Larsen, who did not divulge details about the length or value of the extension.

North Dakota State is 12-0 this year, won its record 10th Football Championship Subdivision title in 2024 in Polasek's first year and is the No. 1 overall seed in the current FCS playoffs. "Coach Polasek's impact on the football program over 12 seasons, and especially the past two seasons as our head coach has been remarkable," Larsen said in his statement. Polasek was an assistant for the Bison's first two titles in Frisco, Texas, at the end of the 2011 and 2012 seasons and had two different spells with the team as an assistant before being hired as head coach. - ESPN College Football

(DS#33 OLB) So/2028

OLB Donovan Woolen, North Dakota State
News Source: ESPN College Football
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11/22/25 - Barika Kpeenu, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 5-10, 213 (DS#19 RB) + More +

Barika Kpeenu rushed for two scores and caught his first touchdown pass of the season as undefeated and FCS top-ranked North Dakota State beat St. Thomas-Minnesota 62-7 in a regular-season finale on Saturday. Kpeenu had a career-long 74-yard touchdown run plus a 4-yarder and was standing alone in the end zone when he took in a 47-yard pass in the Bison's 28-point first quarter. Kpeenu has 20 touchdowns this season. It was 45-0 at halftime and Mikhale Ford's 64-yard punt return made it 52-0 in the third quarter.

The Bison (12-0) rolled up 665 yards offense while holding the Tommies (7-5) to 229. Cole Payton had touchdown throws of 81 and 47 yards to Bryce Lance plus his score to Kpeenu and finished 9 of 12 for 279 yards. Nathan Hayes came on to throw two more TD passes and was 8 of 11 for 118 yards. Lance had 106 yards receiving and DJ Scott rushed for 101. North Dakota State had already won its 12th Missouri Valley Football Conference in its 18 years of league membership, seven of those outright. The Bison have won 16 consecutive games and 19 straight FCS home games, the latter streak second to Villanova's current 22 in a row. - AP College Football

(DS#19 RB) rSr/2026

RB Barika Kpeenu, North Dakota State
News Source: AP College Football
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11/19/25 - Aaron Bickerton, rJr/2027, North Dakota State, 6-2, 201 (DS#999 P) + More +

WEEK 11 MISSOURI VALLEY CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: P Aaron Bickerton, North Dakota State, 6-3, 201, RJr., Stoke-on-Trent, England,...Bickerton had a season-high five punts and 55.6 average per punt in North Dakota State's 15-10 win at North Dakota. He had a season-long of 64 and other punts of 62, 55, 52 and 45 yards with one touchback and one inside the 20 for the Bison, who limited UND to 36 return yards. Bickerton was also the holder for three successful field goals as NDSU went without a touchdown until getting the go-ahead score with 2:22 left in the game. - Missouri Valley Football

(DS#999 P) rJr/2027

P Aaron Bickerton, North Dakota State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
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11/19/25 - Donovan Woolen, So/2028, North Dakota State, 6-3, 219 (DS#33 OLB) + More +

WEEK 11 MISSOURI VALLEY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LB Donovan Woolen, North Dakota State, 6-4, 219, So., Frisco, Texas,...Woolen made a game- and career-high 18 tackles in North Dakota State's 15-10 win at North Dakota. It was the most tackles by a Bison player since linebacker Nick DeLuca had 20 in a one-score road win over Southern Illinois in 2015. Woolen assisted on one tackle for loss and had a key stop on second-and-goal at the NDSU 1 as the Bison defense held and UND missed a field goal two plays later. Woolen leads the Bison with 66 total tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups this year. - Missouri Valley Football

(DS#33 OLB) So/2028

OLB Donovan Woolen, North Dakota State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
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11/19/25 - Jackson Williams, So/2028, North Dakota State, 5-11, 183 (DS#80 WR) + More +

WEEK 10 MISSOURI VALLEY SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: RS Jackson Williams, North Dakota State, So., Omaha, Neb.,...Williams had a team-high 194 all-purpose yards on five touches to help spark North Dakota State to a 38-30 victory over 18th-ranked Youngstown State. Williams broke multiple tackles and scored a 100-yard kickoff return after YSU had scored to make it a four-point game late in the second quarter. It was his second career 100-yard kick return and the seventh in NDSU history. Williams added a 21-yard punt return and 24-yard kickoff return, and he rushed twice for four yards. - Missouri Valley Football

(DS#80 WR) So/2028

WR Jackson Williams, North Dakota State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
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11/19/25 - Trent Fraley, rJr/2027, North Dakota State, 6-1, 303 (DS#999 C) + More +

WEEK 9 MISSOURI VALLEY OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: C Trent Fraley, North Dakota State, 6-1, 303, Jr., Moon Township, Pa. (Moon Area HS / Marshall),...Fraley earned a 91 percent overall grade and had three key blocks in North Dakota State's 38-7 road win over South Dakota State. Fraley played 67 of 71 snaps for the Bison, who rushed for 257 yards, 5.2 yards per carry and five touchdowns while rolling up 500 yards of total offense - the most by an NDSU team in 22 Dakota Marker games. The Bison converted 9 of 16 third down opportunities and controlled the football for more than 38 minutes. - Missouri Valley Football

(DS#999 C) rJr/2027

C Trent Fraley, North Dakota State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
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11/19/25 - Cole Payton, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 6-2, 233 (DS#11 QB) + More +

WEEK 9 MISSOURI VALLEY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State, 6-3, 233, Sr., Omaha, Neb. (Westside HS),...Payton had 380 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in North Dakota State's 38-7 win over South Dakota State. His 17 carries for 137 yards and four touchdowns were all career highs, and he went 18 of 23 passing for 243 yards with completions to six different receivers led by Bryce Lance's five receptions for 103 yards. Payton's 1-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal capped a 16-play, 84-yard opening drive that ate up 9 minutes of the first quarter. He also scored on runs of 2, 57 and 47 yards as the Bison rolled up 500 yards of total offense - the most by an NDSU team in 22 Dakota Marker games. - Missouri Valley Football

(DS#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
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11/18/25 - Aaron Bickerton, rJr/2027, North Dakota State, 6-2, 201 (DS#999 P) + More +

WEEK 11 FCS NATIONAL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Bickerton, North Dakota State, P, R-Jr., 6-3, 201,...In unbeaten North Dakota State's closest game of the season, Bickerton was a difference-maker, helping the Bison to a 15-10 win at North Dakota in the MVFC. On a season-high five punts, he averaged 55.6 yards, second-highest in the FCS this season and the fourth-highest average in over nine years. His punts went for 64, 62, 55, 52 and 45 yards. Bickerton also was the holder on three successful field goals before NDSU took its first lead with 2:22 remaining. Honorable Mention: Marko Dubak, P, Mississippi Valley State; Bugs Mortimer, PR, Stephen F. Austin; Mac Plummer, PK, Saint Francis; Ryan Ricketti, KR/WR, Valparaiso; Keegan Shackford, PK, William & Mary; Mark Shenouda, P, Tennessee State; Ben Shrewsbury, P, VMI; Ryan Short, PK, Butler; Jeff Yurk, P, Elon. - Stats Perform FCS Football

(DS#999 P) rJr/2027

P Aaron Bickerton, North Dakota State
News Source: Stats Perform FCS Football
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11/18/25 - Cole Payton, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 6-2, 233 (DS#11 QB) + More +

WEEK 9 FCS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK: North Dakota State (38-7 win at South Dakota State),...Coach Tim Polasek's No. 1-ranked Bison retained the Dakota Marker rivalry trophy by ending SDSU's 33-game home winning streak with the largest win in the series in 33 years. Quarterback Cole Payton gained 380 yards of total offense (243 rushing, 137 rushing) and scored four touchdowns on the ground. Linebacker Donovan Woolen had a career-high nine tackles as NDSU limited the Jackrabbits, who were second-ranked, to their fewest offensive yards against an FCS opponent (166) since 2013. Honorable Mention: Dayton (35-19 over Presbyterian); UT Rio Grande Valley (56-28 win over UIW); Wagner (24-13 over Duquesne). - Stats Perform FCS Football

(DS#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
News Source: Stats Perform FCS Football
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11/15/25 - Cole Payton, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 6-2, 233 (DS#11 QB) + More +

Cole Payton and Barika Kpeenu combined for five touchdowns and North Dakota State moved to within one win of a perfect regular season, defeating Northern Iowa 48-16 on Saturday. The FCS top-ranked Bison (10-0, 8-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) stretched their homefield winning streak to 18 games and they have won 15 straight overall. They finish the regular season on Saturday with a non-conference home game against St. Thomas of Minnesota. Payton completed 15 of 17 passes for 212 yards with one touchdown. He had a 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and his 64-yard touchdown run in the third gave NDSU a 38-2 lead. Kpeenu had two touchdowns and 54 yards rushing. He has 15 touchdown runs this season.

Bryce Lance had 131 yards receiving and caught Payton's touchdown pass, a 14-yarder in the second quarter. They also connected on a 51-yard pass play. Northern Iowa managed only 201 yards of total offense and became the 10th NDSU opponent to score 17 points or less. The Panthers' defense came through with a safety and a blocked punt for a touchdown. NDSU is 52-11 in regular-season November games since 2004, including 38-6 since 2011. The game was North Dakota State's traditional Harvest Bowl, a game in which they are 46-2-2 since 1974. - AP College Football

(DS#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
News Source: AP College Football
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11/08/25 - Cole Payton, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 6-2, 233 (DS#11 QB) + More +

Cole Payton threw for 125 yards and his 8-yard touchdown run with 2:02 left helped top-ranked FCS North Dakota State beat North Dakota 15-10 on Saturday to claim the Missouri Valley Conference title. It was the Bison's lone touchdown of the day and first lead of the game against their 18th-ranked, in-state foe (6-4, 4-2). Both teams exchanged punts after Payton's touchdown on what proved to be North Dakota's final drive lasting nine plays and covering 43 yards. The Bison (10-0, 7-0) ended the Fighting Hawks' upset bid when Anthony Chideme-Alfaro intercepted Jerry Kaminski at the goal line with 11 seconds left.

Sawyer Seidl's 2-yard touchdown run with 2:52 left in the first quarter put North Dakota ahead 7-0. The Bison got field goals of 24 and 38 yards from Eli Ozick to get within 7-6 at the end of the first half. In the third, Kenton Laughman extended North Dakota's margin with a 32-yard field goal for a 10-6 lead before Ozick kicked a 33-yarder to make it 10-9 with 1:09 left in the third. Kaminksi threw for 170 yards and the North Dakota State defense recorded three interceptions. - AP College Football

(DS#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
News Source: AP College Football
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11/01/25 - Cole Payton, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 6-2, 233 (DS#11 QB) + More +

Cole Payton threw for 194 yards, Barika Kpeenu ran for three touchdowns and North Dakota State won its 13th straight game by beating Youngstown State 38-30 on Saturday. Youngstown State posted early leads of 3-0 and 10-7, with the Penguins' first touchdown coming on 10-yard run by quarterback Beau Brungard. The last five minutes of the first half generated an explosion of points for both teams. DJ Scott gave the FCS top-ranked Bison (9-0, 6-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) the lead for good with a 3-yard scoring run with 4:52 before intermission. On the ensuing kickoff, Ky Wilson fumbled at his own 9 and Kegan Huber recovered for the Bison. Two plays later, Kpeenu ran it in from the 4 for a 21-10 lead.

Wilson recovered and ran the following kickoff back 52 yards. The Penguins drove 46 yards and scored when Brungard threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Alex McDonald to reduce the deficit to 21-17. North Dakota State wasted no time when on the ensuing kickoff Jackson Williams took it back 100 yards for a touchdown and a 28-17 lead with 1:32 left before halftime. Andrew Lastovka kicked field goals of 49 and 42 yards just before and after halftime to reduce the Penguins' deficit to 28-23. Youngstown State drew within 35-30 when Brungard ran it in from the 2 in the fourth quarter but never got closer. Brungard threw for 203 yards, a touchdown and interception and ran for 50 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns for the 19th-ranked Penguins (5-4, 2-3). - AP College Football

(DS#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
News Source: AP College Football
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10/25/25 - Cole Payton, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 6-2, 233 (DS#11 QB) + More +

Cole Payton accounted for 380 yards and four touchdown runs to lead undefeated North Dakota State to a 38-7 victory over previously-unbeaten South Dakota State on Saturday night for its second straight Dakota Marker trophy. The FCS defending national champion and top-ranked Bison (8-0, 5-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) snapped a two-game skid at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium for its first win there since 2019. The Bison have also won three straight against second-ranked South Dakota State (7-1, 3-1), including a 28-21 win at home in last season's NCAA semifinal matchup.

It was just the 10th matchup of No. 1 vs. 2 in FCS history, but only the fourth time it has happened in the regular season. Payton scored twice from short yardage and had a 57-yard TD run as the Bison built a 31-7 halftime lead. The Bison scored on five of six possessions and had 345 yards of offense in the first half. They finished with 500 yards overall and held South Dakota State to just 166. Payton's 47-yard touchdown run made it 38-7 early in the fourth quarter. He was 18-of-23 passing for 243 yards with an interception and ran 17 times for 137 yards. Luke Marble threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Lofton O'Groske in the second quarter for the Jackrabbits. North Dakota State leads the overall series 66-47-5, including an 12-10 advantage in Dakota Marker games. - AP College Football

(DS#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
News Source: AP College Football
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10/18/25 - Barika Kpeenu, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 5-10, 213 (DS#19 RB) + More +

Barika Kpeenu had 113 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns and North Dakota State defeated Indiana State 38-7 on Saturday. The FCS top-ranked Bison (7-0, 4-0 MVFC) overcame a rare 7-0 deficit and a long weather delay in defeating the Sycamores for the 12th time in 13 all-time matchups. This was the sixth time North Dakota State has faced Indiana State when ranked No. 1. The Sycamores scored first on a 3-yard run by Nick Osho and led 7-0 after one quarter. Cole Payton's 3-yard touchdown pass to Truman Werremeyer tied it early in the second quarter and a career-high tying 54-yard field goal by Eli Ozick made it 10-7 for the Bison at halftime.

After a long lightning delay at halftime, the game continued in the rain. Payton and Kpeenu had touchdown runs in the third quarter for a 24-7 lead and DJ Scott and Kpeenu scored in the fourth to wrap it up. Payton completed 12 of 18 passes for 149 yards. Kpeenu had 23 carries and led a rushing game that piled up 283 yards. Scott had 78 yards on nine carries and Payton kept it 10 times for 71 yards. Indiana State (2-5, 0-3) was held to 192 total yards. - AP College Football

(DS#19 RB) rSr/2026

RB Barika Kpeenu, North Dakota State
News Source: AP College Football
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10/14/25 - Cole Payton, rSr/2026, North Dakota State, 6-2, 233 (DS#11 QB) + More +

WEEK 7 MISSOURI VALLEY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State, 6-3, 233, Sr., Omaha, Neb.,...Payton accounted for 291 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in North Dakota State's 45-17 win over eighth-ranked Southern Illinois. He picked up eight first downs on 13 of 16 passing for 243 yards and one TD, and he rushed eight times for 48 yards and two scores including a 41-yard scramble in the third quarter to extend NDSU's lead to 31-10. Payton connected with Bryce Lance for 48 yards and a 9-yard TD on back-to-back plays late in the second quarter to take a 17-10 lead before halftime, and his 50-yard strike to tight end Reis Kessel on third-and-7 extended the opening drive of the second half as NDSU built a 24-10 lead. - Missouri Valley Football

(DS#11 QB) rSr/2026

QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
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