Fargo, N.D. – North Dakota State opens the 2021 football season at home this week when the Bison host the Albany Great Danes out of the Colonial Athletic Association. Game time is 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. There are no seating capacity restrictions for the 2021 NDSU football season at the Fargodome. Masks are optional for fans, and proof of vaccination is not required. Stadium doors will open 90 minutes prior to game time.
This is the first meeting between North Dakota State and Albany. NDSU is 8-1 all-time against Colonial Athletic Association opponents. Albany is 0-1 against Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents with a 31-24 loss at Youngstown State in 2012. The Bison enter the 2021 season with a 167-27 record in the Fargodome and winners of 70 of the last 72 home games over non-conference opponents.
Although NDSU celebrated its 125th anniversary of football in 2019, this is the 125th season-opener for Bison football. NDSU did not field a team in the war years of 1918, 1943 and 1944. North Dakota State is 87-31-6 in season openers including last year’s 39-28 win over Central Arkansas and the Bison have won five straight since a 38-35 loss at Montana in 2015.
This is the 124th home opener for the Bison. (NDSU does not list any home games in the 1899 season.) North Dakota State has a 96-22-5 record including last year’s 39-28 win over Central Arkansas, and the Bison have won 22 straight home openers since a 23-21 loss to Emporia State in 1998.
North Dakota State was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference behind South Dakota State in a preseason poll of the league’s media, head coaches and sports information directors. SDSU had 24 first-place votes and NDSU had 18. North Dakota was picked third, Southern Illinois fourth and Northern Iowa fifth with one first-place vote.
The Bison took 10 spots on the Preseason All-MVFC team highlighted by senior wide receiver Christian Watson, who was named to the first team as a wide receiver and return specialist. Six other NDSU first team picks included fullback Hunter Luepke, offensive linemen Cordell Volson and Cody Mauch, defensive end Spencer Waege, linebacker James Kaczor and safety Michael Tutsie.
*Courtesy Ryan Perreault, NDSU Athletics