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North Dakota State at Illinois State

Saturday, October 4, 2025

North Dakota State beat Illinois State 33–⁠16. It was their 18th meeting; after it, North Dakota State led the series 16–⁠2.

AwayNorth Dakota State12–⁠1 in 2025
33
HomeIllinois State12–⁠5 in 2025
16

Final at Hancock Stadium, NormalTV: ESPN+Attendance 9,829

At kickoff
81°F, clear, wind 11 mph from the southWeather: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network hourly; Bloomington Normal Airport, 5 km from the stadium
Official
Jason BergGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
North Dakota State7831533
Illinois State277016

Standouts

  • RushingBarika Kpeenu14 carries, 116 yards, 1 TDNorth Dakota State
  • DefenseRyan Jones1 INTNorth Dakota State

Player stats

North Dakota State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Cole Payton12/1419410
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Barika Kpeenu14116142
Cole Payton1579119
D.J. Scott52117
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Jackson Williams371051
Bryce Lance345123
RaJa Nelson132032
Carson Williams223015
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Ryan Jones0001

Illinois State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Tommy Rittenhouse20/3519111
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Victor Dawson1168023
Wenkers Wright1253111
Tommy Rittenhouse715015
Seth Glatz1101
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Daniel Sobkowicz775126
Luke Mailander558016
Dylan Lord218013
Eddie Kasper21709

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

North Dakota StateIllinois State
407Total yards328
194Passing yards191
213Rushing yards137
13.9Yards per pass5.5
5.9Yards per rush4.4
21First downs22
4–⁠7Third downs7–⁠13
0–⁠0Fourth downs1–⁠3
0Turnovers2
2–⁠15Penalties3–⁠15
29:38Possession30:22

Efficiency

North Dakota StateIllinois State
58%Success rate49%
0.45EPA per play0.06
1.35Explosiveness1.14
0.28Rushing EPA0.14
0.95Passing EPA0.00
54%Passing-down success33%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings going in

Our ratings (scores only)

North Dakota State 68% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

Every drive

Illinois State end zoneNorth Dakota State end zoneQ1 Illinois StatePunt, 11 playsQ1 North Dakota StateSafety, 1 play (Illinois State scores)Q1 Illinois StateFumble, 5 playsQ1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ1 Illinois StateTouchdown, 10 playsQ2 North Dakota StateMissed FG, 8 playsQ2 Illinois StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 3 playsQ2 Illinois StateTurnover on downs, 13 playsQ2 North Dakota StateEnd of half, 1 playQ3 North Dakota StateField goal, 11 playsQ3 Illinois StateTouchdown, 9 playsQ3 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 8 playsQ4 Illinois StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 6 playsQ4 Illinois StateInterception, 12 playsQ4 North Dakota StateEnd of game, 7 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Illinois State drives left to right, North Dakota State right to left.
  1. Q1 Illinois StatePunt, 11 plays, 38 yards
  2. Q1 North Dakota StateSafety, 1 play (Illinois State scores), −1 yard
  3. Q1 Illinois StateFumble, 5 plays, 33 yards
  4. Q1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 7 plays, 47 yards
  5. Q1 Illinois StateTouchdown, 10 plays, 65 yards
  6. Q2 North Dakota StateMissed FG, 8 plays, 52 yards
  7. Q2 Illinois StatePunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  8. Q2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 3 plays, 68 yards
  9. Q2 Illinois StateTurnover on downs, 13 plays, 56 yards
  10. Q2 North Dakota StateEnd of half, 1 play, −9 yards
  11. Q3 North Dakota StateField goal, 11 plays, 65 yards
  12. Q3 Illinois StateTouchdown, 9 plays, 75 yards
  13. Q3 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 8 plays, 70 yards
  14. Q4 Illinois StatePunt, 3 plays, 1 yard
  15. Q4 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 6 plays, 73 yards
  16. Q4 Illinois StateInterception, 12 plays, 41 yards
  17. Q4 North Dakota StateEnd of game, 7 plays, 32 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then North Dakota State 7, Illinois State 2
Illinois State Punt, 11 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Daniel Sobkowicz for 8 yds to the ILST 33
15:002nd & 2 at own 33Wenkers Wright run for 5 yds to the ILST 38 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 38Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Daniel Sobkowicz
15:002nd & 10 at own 38Wenkers Wright run for no gain to the ILST 38
15:003rd & 10 at own 38Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Daniel Sobkowicz for 11 yds to the ILST 49 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 49Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Luke Mailander
15:002nd & 10 at own 49Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Daniel Sobkowicz
15:003rd & 10 at own 49Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Scotty Presson Jr. for 13 yds to the NDSU 38 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 38Tommy Rittenhouse sacked by Keenan Wilson for a loss of 12 yards to the 50 yard line
15:002nd & 22 at the 50Wenkers Wright run for 6 yds to the NDSU 44
15:003rd & 16 at opp 44Tommy Rittenhouse run for 7 yds to the NDSU 37
9:394th & 9 at opp 37Hayden Futch punt for 36 yds
9:351st & 10 at own 1Tye Niekamp SafetyIllinois State 2, North Dakota State 0
Illinois State Fumble, 5 plays
9:301st & 10 at own 20Eli Ozick kickoff for 59 yds , Dylan Lord return for 4 yds to the ILST 25
9:301st & 10 at own 25Tommy Rittenhouse run for 5 yds to the ILST 30
9:302nd & 5 at own 30Victor Dawson run for 5 yds to the ILST 35 for a 1ST down
9:301st & 10 at own 35Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Luke Mailander for 16 yds to the NDSU 49 for a 1ST down
9:301st & 10 at opp 49Victor Dawson run for 11 yds to the NDSU 38 for a 1ST down
North Dakota State Touchdown, 7 plays
6:431st & 10 at opp 47Cole Payton run for no gain to the ILST 47
6:432nd & 10 at opp 47Cole Payton run for 1 yd to the ILST 46
6:433rd & 9 at opp 46Cole Payton pass complete to Jackson Williams for 12 yds to the ILST 34 for a 1ST down
6:431st & 10 at opp 34Cole Payton pass complete to Barika Kpeenu for 2 yds to the ILST 32
6:432nd & 8 at opp 32Cole Payton run for 19 yds to the ILST 13 for a 1ST down
6:431st & 10 at opp 13Barika Kpeenu run for no gain to the ILST 13
6:431st & 10 at opp 38Victor Dawson run for a loss of 4 yards to the ILST 47 Victor Dawson fumbled, recovered by NDSU Nathaniel Staehling
North Dakota State Touchdown, 7 plays
2:502nd & 10 at opp 13Cole Payton run for 13 yds for a TD (Eli Ozick KICK)North Dakota State 7, Illinois State 2
Illinois State Touchdown, 10 plays
2:501st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 60 yds
2:501st & 10 at own 35Tommy Rittenhouse run for 4 yds to the ILST 39
2:502nd & 6 at own 39Wenkers Wright run for 4 yds to the ILST 43
2:503rd & 2 at own 43Wenkers Wright run for 2 yds to the ILST 45 for a 1ST down
2:501st & 10 at own 45PENALTY ILS False Start (Woodard,Landon) 5 yards from ILS45 to ILS40. NO PLAY.
0:001st & 15 at own 40Tommy Rittenhouse run for 15 yds to the NDSU 45 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 45Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Luke Mailander for 16 yds to the NDSU 29 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 29Wenkers Wright run for 7 yds to the NDSU 22
Q2 15:002nd & 3 at opp 22Wenkers Wright run for 3 yds to the NDSU 19 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 19Tommy Rittenhouse run for a loss of 1 yard to the NDSU 20
Q2 15:002nd & 11 at opp 20Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Daniel Sobkowicz for 14 yds to the NDSU 6 for a 1ST down
Q2 11:371st & goal at opp 6Wenkers Wright run for 6 yds for a TD (Matt Maldonado KICK)Illinois State 9, North Dakota State 7
2nd quarter5 drives, then North Dakota State 15, Illinois State 9
North Dakota State Missed FG, 8 plays
11:311st & 10 at own 35Matt Maldonado kickoff for 65 yds , Jackson Williams return for 26 yds to the NDSU 26
11:311st & 10 at own 26Cole Payton pass complete to Carson Williams for 15 yds to the NDSU 41 for a 1ST down
11:311st & 10 at own 41Barika Kpeenu run for 2 yds to the NDSU 43
11:312nd & 8 at own 43Barika Kpeenu run for 19 yds to the ILST 38 for a 1ST down
11:311st & 10 at opp 38Cole Payton run for 12 yds to the ILST 26 for a 1ST down
11:311st & 10 at opp 26DJ Scott run for a loss of 1 yard to the ILST 27
11:312nd & 11 at opp 27Cole Payton pass incomplete to Mekhi Collins
11:313rd & 11 at opp 27Cole Payton pass incomplete to Finn Diggins
11:314th & 11 at opp 27Ozick,Eli field goal attempt from 45 yards NO GOOD blocked by Wilson,Cam (H: Bickerton,Aaron, LS: Bowers,Caleb), clock 00:00 recovered by ILS Wilson,Cam at ILS32, End Of Play PENALTY ILS Offside (Wilson,Cam) 5 yards from ILS27 to ILS22. NO PLAY.
7:544th & 6 at opp 22Eli Ozick 40 yd FG MISSED
Illinois State Punt, 3 plays
7:541st & 10 at own 22Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Daniel Sobkowicz
7:542nd & 10 at own 22Victor Dawson run for 4 yds to the ILST 26
7:543rd & 6 at own 26Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Dylan Lord for 5 yds to the ILST 31
6:214th & 1 at own 31Hayden Futch punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Jackson Williams at the NDSU 32
North Dakota State Touchdown, 3 plays
6:211st & 10 at own 32Cole Payton pass complete to Jackson Williams for 8 yds to the NDSU 40
6:212nd & 2 at own 40Cole Payton pass complete to Bryce Lance for 18 yds to the ILST 42 for a 1ST down
4:561st & 10 at opp 42Barika Kpeenu run for 42 yds for a TD (C. Payton Run For Two-point Conversion)North Dakota State 15, Illinois State 9
Illinois State Turnover on downs, 13 plays
4:561st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
4:561st & 10 at own 25Wenkers Wright run for 7 yds to the ILST 32
4:562nd & 3 at own 32Wenkers Wright run for 1 yd to the ILST 33
4:563rd & 2 at own 33Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Daniel Sobkowicz for 7 yds to the ILST 40 for a 1ST down
4:561st & 10 at own 40Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Luke Mailander for 10 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
4:561st & 10 at the 50Wenkers Wright run for 11 yds to the NDSU 39 for a 1ST down
4:561st & 10 at opp 39Tommy Rittenhouse sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the NDSU 42
2:002nd & 13 at opp 42Timeout Illinois State, clock 02:00
2:002nd & 13 at opp 42Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Eddie Kasper
2:003rd & 13 at opp 42Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Eddie Kasper for 8 yds to the NDSU 34
1:424th & 5 at opp 34Timeout North Dakota State, clock 01:42
1:424th & 5 at opp 34Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Daniel Sobkowicz for 6 yds to the NDSU 28 for a 1ST down
1:421st & 10 at opp 28Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Daniel Sobkowicz
1:422nd & 10 at opp 28Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Luke Mailander
1:423rd & 10 at opp 28Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Eddie Kasper for 9 yds to the NDSU 19
0:274th & 1 at opp 19Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Scotty Presson Jr.
North Dakota State End of half, 1 play
0:001st & 10 at own 19Cole Payton sacked for a loss of 9 yards to the NDSU 10
3rd quarter3 drives, then North Dakota State 18, Illinois State 16
North Dakota State Field goal, 11 plays
14:531st & 10 at own 35Matt Maldonado kickoff for 63 yds , Jackson Williams return for 13 yds to the NDSU 15
14:531st & 10 at own 15Cole Payton run for 13 yds to the NDSU 28 for a 1ST down
14:531st & 10 at own 28Barika Kpeenu run for no gain to the NDSU 28
14:532nd & 10 at own 28Cole Payton pass complete to Reis Kessel for 9 yds to the NDSU 37
14:533rd & 1 at own 37Cole Payton run for 1 yd to the NDSU 38 for a 1ST down
14:531st & 10 at own 38Cole Payton pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 32 yds to the ILST 30 for a 1ST down
14:531st & 10 at opp 30Cole Payton pass complete to Bryce Lance for 4 yds to the ILST 26
14:532nd & 6 at opp 26DJ Scott run for 7 yds to the ILST 19 for a 1ST down
14:531st & 10 at opp 19DJ Scott run for 5 yds to the ILST 14
14:532nd & 5 at opp 14Cole Payton run for a loss of 1 yard to the ILST 15
14:533rd & 6 at opp 15PENALTY NDSU Delay Of Game 5 yards from ILS15 to ILS20. NO PLAY.
14:533rd & 11 at opp 20Cole Payton run for no gain to the ILST 20
8:154th & 11 at opp 20Eli Ozick 38 yd FG GOODNorth Dakota State 18, Illinois State 9
Illinois State Touchdown, 9 plays
8:151st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:151st & 10 at own 25Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Luke Mailander for 5 yds to the ILST 30
8:152nd & 5 at own 30PENALTY ILS False Start (Brasfield,Logan) 5 yards from ILS30 to ILS25. NO PLAY.
8:152nd & 10 at own 25Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Luke Mailander for 11 yds to the ILST 36 for a 1ST down
8:151st & 10 at own 36Victor Dawson run for 23 yds to the NDSU 41 for a 1ST down
8:151st & 10 at opp 41Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Victor Dawson for 2 yds to the NDSU 39
8:152nd & 8 at opp 39Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Daniel Sobkowicz for 26 yds to the NDSU 13 for a 1ST down
8:151st & 10 at opp 13Victor Dawson run for 8 yds to the NDSU 5
8:152nd & 2 at opp 5Victor Dawson run for 1 yd to the NDSU 4
8:153rd & 1 at opp 4Victor Dawson run for 1 yd to the NDSU 3 for a 1ST down
3:061st & goal at opp 3Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Daniel Sobkowicz for 3 yds for a TD (Matt Maldonado KICK)North Dakota State 18, Illinois State 16
North Dakota State Touchdown, 8 plays
2:591st & 10 at own 35Matt Maldonado kickoff for 65 yds , Jackson Williams return for 30 yds to the NDSU 30
2:591st & 10 at own 30Barika Kpeenu run for 11 yds to the NDSU 41 for a 1ST down
2:591st & 10 at own 41Cole Payton run for 9 yds to the 50 yard line
2:592nd & 1 at the 50Barika Kpeenu run for a loss of 3 yards to the NDSU 47
2:593rd & 4 at own 47Cole Payton pass complete to Chris Harris for 12 yds to the ILST 41 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 41Cole Payton run for 5 yds to the ILST 36
Q4 15:002nd & 5 at opp 36Barika Kpeenu run for 15 yds to the ILST 21 for a 1ST down
Q4 15:001st & 10 at opp 21No Huddle Payton,Cole rush left for 5 yards gain to the ILS16, out of bounds at ILS16 PENALTY NDSU Holding (Kpeenu,Barika) 10 yards from ILS21 to ILS31. NO PLAY.
Q4 15:001st & 20 at opp 31Cole Payton pass complete to Carson Williams for 8 yds to the ILST 23
Q4 13:142nd & 12 at opp 23Cole Payton pass complete to Bryce Lance for 23 yds for a TD (Eli Ozick KICK)North Dakota State 25, Illinois State 16
4th quarter4 drives, then North Dakota State 33, Illinois State 16
Illinois State Punt, 3 plays
13:141st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
13:141st & 10 at own 25Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Eddie Kasper
13:142nd & 10 at own 25Wenkers Wright run for 1 yd to the ILST 26
13:143rd & 9 at own 26Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete
12:124th & 9 at own 26Hayden Futch punt for 47 yds
North Dakota State Touchdown, 6 plays
12:121st & 10 at own 27Barika Kpeenu run for 5 yds to the NDSU 32
12:122nd & 5 at own 32Cole Payton sacked by Patrick Bauer for a loss of 3 yards to the NDSU 29
12:123rd & 8 at own 29Cole Payton pass complete to Jackson Williams for 51 yds to the ILST 20 for a 1ST down
12:121st & 10 at opp 20Barika Kpeenu run for 3 yds to the ILST 17
12:122nd & 7 at opp 17Cole Payton run for 12 yds to the ILST 5 for a 1ST down
8:211st & goal at opp 5DJ Scott run for 5 yds for a TD (C. Payton Run For Two-point Conversion)North Dakota State 33, Illinois State 16
Illinois State Interception, 12 plays
8:211st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:211st & 10 at own 25Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Eddie Kasper
8:212nd & 10 at own 25Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Victor Dawson for 7 yds to the ILST 32
8:213rd & 3 at own 32Victor Dawson run for 4 yds to the ILST 36 for a 1ST down
8:211st & 10 at own 36Victor Dawson run for 6 yds to the ILST 42
8:212nd & 4 at own 42Victor Dawson run for 9 yds to the NDSU 49 for a 1ST down
8:211st & 10 at opp 49Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Victor Dawson for 1 yd to the NDSU 48
8:212nd & 9 at opp 48Seth Glatz run for 1 yd to the NDSU 47
8:213rd & 8 at opp 47Tommy Rittenhouse pass complete to Dylan Lord for 13 yds to the NDSU 34 for a 1ST down
8:211st & 10 at opp 34Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete to Dylan Lord
8:212nd & 10 at opp 34Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete
8:213rd & 10 at opp 34Tommy Rittenhouse pass incomplete
4:384th & 10 at opp 34Tommy Rittenhouse pass intercepted Ryan Jones return for 12 yds to the NDSU 26
North Dakota State End of game, 7 plays
4:381st & 10 at own 26Barika Kpeenu run for 13 yds to the NDSU 39 for a 1ST down
4:381st & 10 at own 39Barika Kpeenu run for 10 yds to the NDSU 49 for a 1ST down
4:381st & 10 at own 49DJ Scott run for 5 yds to the ILST 46
4:382nd & 5 at opp 46Cole Payton run for 7 yds to the ILST 39 for a 1ST down
2:001st & 10 at opp 39Timeout Illinois State, clock 02:00
2:001st & 10 at opp 39Barika Kpeenu run for no gain to the ILST 39
2:002nd & 10 at opp 39C. Payton takes a knee
0:003rd & 11 at opp 40C. Payton takes a knee

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every North Dakota State–Illinois State game

North Dakota State leads 16–⁠3 in 19 meetings, counting the one since this game.

Recent meetings
2025Illinois State 29, North Dakota State 28FCS Championship – Second Round
2025North Dakota State 33, Illinois State 16
2024North Dakota State 42, Illinois State 10
2022North Dakota State 24, Illinois State 7
2021North Dakota State 20, Illinois State 0
2020North Dakota State 21, Illinois State 13

Around this game

North Dakota State

Illinois State

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