For some reason, FBS teams continue to schedule North Dakota State. The Bison are an FCS dynasty, and have shown no problem in stepping up and taking on their supposedly superior FBS opponents. Entering today’s game with the No. 13 Iowa Hawkeyes, the Bison were 5-0 in their last five match ups with FBS teams.
However, the Hawkeyes were supposed to be different. They were the reigning Big Ten West champs, fresh off a Rose Bowl appearance and ranked No. 13 in the country. The Bison have beaten FBS teams, but never one against one ranked in the Top 25.
But the Bison did what the Bison will do, shocking Iowa, 23-21, on a last-second, 37-yard field goal.
The Bison struck first on an interception return for a touchdown, and two teams were neck-and-neck all game. However, Iowa was in the driver’s seat when the Hawkeyes stopped NDSU’s two-point conversation to take the lead with 3:41 left in the game. Then, Iowa promptly went three-and-out and gave the Bison hope down just 21-20 with 1:53 left on the clock. NDSU calmly marched down the field and set up the aforementioned game winner.
The Bison had just a 9 percent chance of winning the game heading in, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
ESPN's Football Power Index gave North Dakota State a 9 percent chance to beat No. 13 Iowa. That is by far the… https://t.co/mGMcqO6LYQ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 17, 2016
However, all one would have to do is ask NDSU’s previous opponents to know that math might have been just a little off.
https://twitter.com/sbnationcfb/status/777222522177671168
Iowa will fall to 2-1, and likely out of the Top 25, while NDSU moves to 3-0 and looks like a good bet to win its sixth-straight FCS title.
