I just finished watching the Iowa/NDSU football game and was inspired to write a post about NDSU football. This is a very low probability event. I seldom write about sports and this is probably the first time I have ever written about NDSU for any reason.
I have a secondary connection to both Iowa and NDSU. I attended the other Iowa school (Iowa State) and I worked at the other North Dakota school (University of North Dakota). Still, I keep an eye on the other schools.
I watched ISU and Iowa play a week or so ago. It was pretty much a blow out. I thought Iowa had an obvious advantage over Iowa State because of the offensive and defensive lines. NDSU could have lost both of the first two games of the year, but squeaked both out at the end. I assumed Iowa would win their game with NDSU probably after a close first half by taking advantage of the extra scholarships allowed by BCS status and wearing the NDSU lines out in the second half.
I should have known better. NDSU has won the last half dozen or so games it has played against BCS opponents. Sure enough, NDSU came from behind to win on a last second field goal. Fewer scholarship players or not, it was NDSU dominating in the 4th quarter. Even after failing to go ahead by going for two after what could have been a tying score, NDSU immediately stopped Iowa and then drove the ball down field to score on a field goal.
When the UND/NDSU division II rivalry ended, I thought NDSU was craze to move to division I. UND dominated the final years of the division II rivalry and any North Dakota school faces recruitment challenges. It is cold. Somehow, NDSU turned their fortunes around even after moving up a level.
Explaining their success if difficult. I thought it was probably coaching. However, coach Bohl took advantage of his success at NDSU and moved up to coach Wyoming. UND then played up a level last year and defeated Wyoming. I suppose it takes some time to build up a program. I think the NDSU thing is really a matter of confidence. They just seem to assume they should win. They play the game to the end and seem to rise to the occasion in the most demanding situations. Pressure seems to improve their play and they have pulled out wins in three straight games. Whatever the level of an opponent, this is not a team you want to have to take on at the end of a tight game.
It would really be a shame if BCS teams starting avoiding good lower division I teams. You should get some credit for defeating a team that would be easy to rank among the best in any division.