South Dakota at North Dakota State

Saturday, September 27, 2025

North Dakota State beat South Dakota 51–⁠13. It was their 15th meeting; North Dakota State leads the series 12–⁠3.

AwaySouth Dakota10–⁠5 in 2025
13
HomeNorth Dakota State12–⁠1 in 2025
51

Final at Fargodome, FargoIndoorsTV: ESPN+Attendance 18,498

Official
Grant HendersonGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
South Dakota0301013
North Dakota State132110751

Standouts

  • PassingCole Payton14 of 18, 273 yards, 2 TDNorth Dakota State
  • RushingBarika Kpeenu18 carries, 86 yards, 2 TDNorth Dakota State
  • ReceivingBryce Lance4 catches, 98 yards, 1 TDNorth Dakota State
  • DefenseNathaniel Staehling1 INTNorth Dakota State

Player stats

South Dakota

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Aidan Bouman13/2120801
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Reid Watkins839013
L.J. Phillips Jr.1138018
Tennel Bryant229027
Carson Fletcher31717
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Tennel Bryant250042
Carson Fletcher146046
L.J. Phillips Jr.334013
Jack Martens126026

North Dakota State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Cole Payton14/1827320
Nathan Hayes1/1000
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Cole Payton11102130
Barika Kpeenu1886216
D.J. Scott135006
Bryce Lance112012
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Bryce Lance498141
RaJa Nelson252030
Barika Kpeenu439030
Jackson Williams135035
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Nathaniel Staehling0001

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

Team stats

South DakotaNorth Dakota State
296Total yards547
208Passing yards273
88Rushing yards274
9.9Yards per pass14.4
3.3Yards per rush5.5
13First downs24
2–⁠9Third downs10–⁠13
0–⁠1Fourth downs1–⁠1
1Turnovers0
5–⁠20Penalties6–⁠45
24:53Possession35:07

Efficiency

South DakotaNorth Dakota State
44%Success rate59%
0.02EPA per play0.53
1.17Explosiveness1.20
0.15Rushing EPA0.44
−0.13Passing EPA0.76
33%Passing-down success50%

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 and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

North Dakota State 76% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

North Dakota State −25.5, over/under 50.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Every drive

North Dakota State end zoneSouth Dakota end zoneQ1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 8 playsQ1 South DakotaPunt, 3 playsQ1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 12 playsQ1 South DakotaPunt, 3 playsQ1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 6 playsQ2 South DakotaPunt, 5 playsQ2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 11 playsQ2 South DakotaPunt, 3 playsQ2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 South DakotaField goal, 6 playsQ3 South DakotaPick-six, 4 plays (North Dakota State scores)Q3 South DakotaPunt, 3 playsQ3 North Dakota StateField goal, 8 playsQ3 South DakotaTurnover on downs, 7 playsQ3 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 11 playsQ4 South DakotaField goal, 8 playsQ4 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 South DakotaTouchdown, 8 playsQ4 North Dakota StateEnd of game, 2 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. North Dakota State drives left to right, South Dakota right to left.
  1. Q1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 8 plays, 77 yards
  2. Q1 South DakotaPunt, 3 plays, 8 yards
  3. Q1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 12 plays, 90 yards
  4. Q1 South DakotaPunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  5. Q1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 6 plays, 46 yards
  6. Q2 South DakotaPunt, 5 plays, 23 yards
  7. Q2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 11 plays, 95 yards
  8. Q2 South DakotaPunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  9. Q2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 plays, 83 yards
  10. Q2 South DakotaField goal, 6 plays, 62 yards
  11. Q3 South DakotaPick-six, 4 plays (North Dakota State scores), 13 yards
  12. Q3 South DakotaPunt, 3 plays, −1 yard
  13. Q3 North Dakota StateField goal, 8 plays, 49 yards
  14. Q3 South DakotaTurnover on downs, 7 plays, 63 yards
  15. Q3 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 11 plays, 88 yards
  16. Q4 South DakotaField goal, 8 plays, 42 yards
  17. Q4 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, −5 yards
  18. Q4 South DakotaTouchdown, 8 plays, 80 yards
  19. Q4 North Dakota StateEnd of game, 2 plays, 4 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then North Dakota State 13, South Dakota 0
North Dakota State Touchdown, 8 plays
14:551st & 10 at own 35Zeke Mata kickoff for 63 yds , Jackson Williams return for 21 yds to the NDSU 23
14:351st & 10 at own 23Bryce Lance run for 12 yds to the NDSU 35 for a 1ST down
14:101st & 10 at own 35Barry Kpeenu run for 4 yds to the NDSU 39
13:292nd & 6 at own 39Cole Payton pass complete to Barry Kpeenu for 5 yds to the NDSU 44
13:053rd & 1 at own 44Barry Kpeenu run for 2 yds to the NDSU 46 for a 1ST down
12:151st & 10 at own 46Cole Payton run for 13 yds to the SDAK 41 for a 1ST down
11:431st & 10 at opp 41Cole Payton pass complete to Bryce Lance for 32 yds to the SDAK 9 for a 1ST down
11:291st & goal at opp 9Barry Kpeenu run for 2 yds to the SDAK 7
10:492nd & goal at opp 7Barry Kpeenu run for 7 yds for a TD (Eli Ozick KICK)North Dakota State 7, South Dakota 0
South Dakota Punt, 3 plays
10:491st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
10:441st & 10 at own 25(10:48) Shotgun Bouman,Aidan pass complete short right to Phillips Jr.,L.J. caught at USD26, for 0 yards to the USD25 PENALTY USD Illegal Motion (Fenner,Larenzo) 5 yards from USD25 to USD20. NO PLAY.
10:371st & 15 at own 20L.J. Phillips Jr. run for 1 yd to the SDAK 21
9:502nd & 14 at own 21L.J. Phillips Jr. run for 3 yds to the SDAK 24
9:023rd & 11 at own 24Aidan Bouman pass complete to Zach Witte for 9 yds to the SDAK 33
8:334th & 2 at own 33Tyler Ebel punt for 57 yds, fair catch by Jackson Williams at the NDSU 10
North Dakota State Touchdown, 12 plays
8:332nd & 5 at own 15Timeout North Dakota State, clock 08:33
8:261st & 10 at own 10Barry Kpeenu run for 5 yds to the NDSU 15
7:432nd & 5 at own 15Cole Payton pass complete to Jackson Williams for 35 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
7:061st & 10 at the 50Cole Payton pass complete to Finn Diggins for 3 yds to the SDAK 47
6:342nd & 7 at opp 47DJ Scott run for no gain to the SDAK 47
5:563rd & 7 at opp 47Cole Payton run for 15 yds to the SDAK 32 for a 1ST down
5:241st & 10 at opp 32Barry Kpeenu run for no gain to the SDAK 32
4:362nd & 10 at opp 32Cole Payton pass complete to Finn Diggins for 17 yds to the SDAK 15 for a 1ST down
3:581st & 10 at opp 15DJ Scott run for 4 yds to the SDAK 11
3:152nd & 6 at opp 11Cole Payton pass incomplete to Bryce Lance
3:073rd & 6 at opp 11Cole Payton run for 7 yds to the SDAK 4 for a 1ST down
2:401st & goal at opp 4Cole Payton run for 3 yds to the SDAK 1
2:172nd & goal at opp 1Cole Payton run for 1 yd for a TD (Eli Ozick PAT MISSED)North Dakota State 13, South Dakota 0
2:171st & 10 at own 25Timeout North Dakota State, clock 02:17
South Dakota Punt, 3 plays
2:171st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
2:172nd & 8 at own 27Timeout North Dakota State, clock 02:17
2:091st & 10 at own 25Tennel Bryant run for 2 yds to the SDAK 27
1:352nd & 8 at own 27Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Jack Martens
1:313rd & 8 at own 27Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Jack Martens
1:284th & 8 at own 27Tyler Ebel punt for 40 yds , Jackson Williams returns for 21 yds to the SDAK 46
North Dakota State Touchdown, 6 plays
1:211st & 10 at opp 46Barry Kpeenu run for 3 yds to the SDAK 43
0:342nd & 7 at opp 43Cole Payton pass complete to Barry Kpeenu for 1 yd to the SDAK 42
0:003rd & 6 at opp 42Owen Johnson run for 3 yds to the SDAK 39
Q2 14:524th & 3 at opp 39Cole Payton run for 11 yds to the SDAK 28 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:181st & 10 at opp 28Cole Payton pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 22 yds to the SDAK 6 for a 1ST down
Q2 13:441st & goal at opp 6Barry Kpeenu run for 6 yds for a TD (Eli Ozick KICK)North Dakota State 20, South Dakota 0
Q2 13:441st & 10 at own 25Timeout North Dakota State, clock 13:44
2nd quarter5 drives, then North Dakota State 34, South Dakota 3
South Dakota Punt, 5 plays
13:441st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
13:371st & 10 at own 25L.J. Phillips Jr. run for no gain to the SDAK 25
12:482nd & 10 at own 25L.J. Phillips Jr. run for 18 yds to the SDAK 43 for a 1ST down
12:121st & 10 at own 43L.J. Phillips Jr. run for 5 yds to the SDAK 48
11:412nd & 5 at own 48Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Jack Martens
11:373rd & 5 at own 48Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Tysen Boze
11:274th & 5 at own 48Tyler Ebel punt for 47 yds
North Dakota State Touchdown, 11 plays
11:271st & 10 at own 46Timeout North Dakota State, clock 11:27
11:131st & 10 at own 5Cole Payton pass complete to Bryce Lance for 41 yds to the NDSU 46 for a 1ST down
10:421st & 10 at own 46DJ Scott run for 4 yds to the 50 yard line
10:112nd & 6 at the 50DJ Scott run for 5 yds to the SDAK 45
9:363rd & 1 at opp 45DJ Scott run for 6 yds to the SDAK 39 for a 1ST down
9:221st & 10 at opp 39DJ Scott run for 5 yds to the SDAK 34
8:472nd & 5 at opp 34Barry Kpeenu run for 2 yds to the SDAK 32
8:143rd & 3 at opp 32Barry Kpeenu run for 16 yds to the SDAK 16 for a 1ST down
7:351st & 10 at opp 16DJ Scott run for 2 yds to the SDAK 14
6:502nd & 8 at opp 14Cole Payton run for 7 yds to the SDAK 7
6:143rd & 1 at opp 7DJ Scott run for 5 yds to the SDAK 2 for a 1ST down
5:381st & goal at opp 2C. Payton pass to B. Lance for 2 yds for a TD (E. Ozick KICK)North Dakota State 27, South Dakota 0
5:381st & 10 at own 25Timeout North Dakota State, clock 05:38
South Dakota Punt, 3 plays
5:381st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
5:301st & 10 at own 25L.J. Phillips Jr. run for a loss of 2 yards to the SDAK 23
4:472nd & 12 at own 23Aidan Bouman pass complete to Jesse Miller for 9 yds to the SDAK 32
4:113rd & 3 at own 32(04:12) PENALTY USD False Start (Miller,Jesse) 5 yards from USD32 to USD27. NO PLAY.
3:373rd & 8 at own 27Aidan Bouman pass complete to Jesse Miller for 7 yds to the SDAK 34
2:554th & 1 at own 34Timeout North Dakota State, clock 02:55
2:474th & 1 at own 34Tyler Ebel punt for 49 yds, fair catch by Jackson Williams at the NDSU 17
North Dakota State Touchdown, 9 plays
2:391st & 10 at own 17Cole Payton run for 1 yd to the NDSU 18
2:112nd & 9 at own 18Cole Payton pass complete to Bryce Lance for 23 yds to the NDSU 41 for a 1ST down
2:001st & 10 at own 41Timeout North Dakota State, clock 02:00
1:541st & 10 at own 41North Dakota State Penalty, (-2 Yards) to the NDSU 39
1:542nd & 12 at own 39Timeout North Dakota State, clock 01:54
1:482nd & 12 at own 39Cole Payton pass incomplete to RaJa Nelson
1:363rd & 12 at own 39Cole Payton run for 16 yds to the SDAK 45 for a 1ST down
1:251st & 10 at opp 45Barry Kpeenu run for 13 yds to the SDAK 32 for a 1ST down
1:211st & 10 at opp 32Cole Payton pass incomplete to Carson Williams
1:062nd & 10 at opp 32Cole Payton pass complete to Barry Kpeenu for 3 yds to the SDAK 29
0:533rd & 7 at opp 29Cole Payton pass complete to Reis Kessel for 29 yds for a TD (Eli Ozick KICK)North Dakota State 34, South Dakota 0
South Dakota Field goal, 6 plays
0:531st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
0:441st & 10 at own 25Aidan Bouman pass complete to Larenzo Fenner for 14 yds to the SDAK 39 for a 1ST down
0:351st & 10 at own 39Aidan Bouman pass complete to L.J. Phillips Jr. for 11 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
0:251st & 10 at the 50Aidan Bouman pass complete to L.J. Phillips Jr. for 13 yds to the NDSU 37 for a 1ST down
0:151st & 10 at opp 37Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Larenzo Fenner
0:102nd & 10 at opp 37Aidan Bouman pass complete to Javion Phelps for 9 yds to the NDSU 28
0:043rd & 1 at opp 28(00:09) Shotgun Bouman,Aidan pass incomplete deep left to Phelps,Javion thrown to NDSU01 PENALTY NDSU Pass Interference (Chideme-Alfaro,Anthony) 15 yards from NDSU28 to NDSU13, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
0:041st & 10 at opp 13Timeout South Dakota, clock 00:04
0:001st & 10 at opp 13Will Leyland 31 yd FG GOODNorth Dakota State 34, South Dakota 3
3rd quarter5 drives, then North Dakota State 44, South Dakota 3
South Dakota Pick-six, 4 plays (North Dakota State scores)
15:001st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:521st & 10 at own 25L.J. Phillips Jr. run for 1 yd to the SDAK 26
14:112nd & 9 at own 26L.J. Phillips Jr. run for 8 yds to the SDAK 34
13:253rd & 1 at own 34L.J. Phillips Jr. run for 4 yds to the SDAK 38 for a 1ST down
12:431st & 10 at own 38Aidan Bouman pass intercepted Nathaniel Staehling return for 43 yds for a TD South Dakota Penalty, Ineligible Downfield on Pass (Yards) declined (Eli Ozick KICK)North Dakota State 41, South Dakota 3
12:431st & 10 at own 25Timeout North Dakota State, clock 12:43
South Dakota Punt, 3 plays
12:431st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
12:351st & 10 at own 25L.J. Phillips Jr. run for a loss of 1 yard to the SDAK 24
12:002nd & 11 at own 24Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Larenzo Fenner
11:543rd & 11 at own 24Aidan Bouman pass incomplete to Zach Witte
11:374th & 11 at own 24Tyler Ebel punt for 57 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the NDSU 40 , Jackson Williams returns for 21 yds to the NDSU 40
North Dakota State Field goal, 8 plays
11:372nd & 5 at own 45Timeout North Dakota State, clock 11:37
11:281st & 10 at own 40Barry Kpeenu run for 5 yds to the NDSU 45
10:292nd & 5 at own 45Cole Payton pass complete to Barry Kpeenu for 30 yds to the SDAK 25 for a 1ST down
10:101st & 10 at opp 25Barry Kpeenu run for 6 yds to the SDAK 19
9:432nd & 4 at opp 19DJ Scott run for 4 yds to the SDAK 15 for a 1ST down
9:051st & 10 at opp 15DJ Scott run for 5 yds to the SDAK 10
8:232nd & 5 at opp 10Barry Kpeenu run for a loss of 1 yard to the SDAK 11
7:433rd & 6 at opp 11Cole Payton pass incomplete to RaJa Nelson
7:394th & 6 at opp 11Eli Ozick 29 yd FG GOODNorth Dakota State 44, South Dakota 3
7:391st & 10 at own 25Timeout North Dakota State, clock 07:39
South Dakota Turnover on downs, 7 plays
7:391st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
7:321st & 10 at own 25L.J. Phillips Jr. run for 1 yd to the SDAK 26
6:442nd & 9 at own 26Aidan Bouman pass complete to Tennel Bryant for 8 yds to the SDAK 34
6:053rd & 1 at own 34Aidan Bouman pass complete to Carson Fletcher for 46 yds to the NDSU 20 for a 1ST down
5:311st & 10 at opp 20South Dakota Penalty, Intentional Grounding (-12 Yards) to the NDSU 32
5:222nd & 22 at opp 32Carson Fletcher run for 6 yds to the NDSU 26
4:353rd & 16 at opp 26Aidan Bouman pass complete to L.J. Phillips Jr. for 10 yds to the NDSU 16
3:554th & 6 at opp 16Aidan Bouman pass complete to Zach Witte for 4 yds to the NDSU 12
North Dakota State Touchdown, 11 plays
3:471st & 10 at own 12Barry Kpeenu run for 4 yds to the NDSU 16
3:052nd & 6 at own 16Cole Payton pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 30 yds to the NDSU 46 for a 1ST down North Dakota State Penalty, (-15 Yards) to the NDSU 31 for a 1ST down
2:321st & 10 at own 31DJ Scott run for 5 yds to the NDSU 36
2:042nd & 5 at own 36DJ Scott run for 3 yds to the NDSU 39
1:203rd & 2 at own 39Cole Payton run for 30 yds to the SDAK 31 for a 1ST down
0:471st & 10 at opp 31Owen Johnson run for 3 yds to the SDAK 28
0:002nd & 7 at opp 28PENALTY NDSU False Start (Magin,Josh) 5 yards from USD28 to USD33. NO PLAY.
Q4 14:532nd & 12 at opp 33Barry Kpeenu run for 3 yds to the SDAK 30
Q4 14:113rd & 9 at opp 30(14:15) Shotgun Hayes,Nathan pass incomplete short right to Lance,Bryce thrown to USD22 PENALTY USD Pass Interference (Stewart,RJ) 10 yards from USD30 to USD20, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Q4 14:021st & 10 at opp 20Barry Kpeenu run for 5 yds to the SDAK 15
Q4 13:232nd & 5 at opp 15Barry Kpeenu run for 4 yds to the SDAK 11
Q4 13:203rd & 1 at opp 11Timeout North Dakota State, clock 13:20
Q4 13:063rd & 1 at opp 11DJ Scott run for 2 yds to the SDAK 9 for a 1ST down
Q4 12:231st & goal at opp 9Jackson Williams run for 9 yds for a TD (Eli Ozick KICK)North Dakota State 51, South Dakota 3
4th quarter4 drives, then North Dakota State 51, South Dakota 13
South Dakota Field goal, 8 plays
12:231st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
12:161st & 10 at own 25Reid Watkins run for 4 yds to the SDAK 29
11:262nd & 6 at own 29Aidan Bouman pass complete to Tennel Bryant for 42 yds to the NDSU 29 for a 1ST down
10:511st & 10 at opp 29Reid Watkins run for 5 yds to the NDSU 24
10:112nd & 5 at opp 24Reid Watkins run for 13 yds to the NDSU 11 for a 1ST down
9:381st & 10 at opp 11Reid Watkins run for 1 yd to the NDSU 10
8:552nd & 9 at opp 10South Dakota Penalty, Intentional Grounding (-15 Yards) to the NDSU 25
8:473rd & 24 at opp 25Aidan Bouman sacked by Victor Isele for a loss of 8 yards to the NDSU 33
8:124th & 32 at opp 33Timeout North Dakota State, clock 08:12
8:064th & 32 at opp 33Zeke Mata 51 yd FG GOODNorth Dakota State 51, South Dakota 6
North Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
8:021st & 10 at own 35Zeke Mata kickoff for 41 yds , John Gores return for 12 yds to the NDSU 36
7:531st & 10 at own 36Owen Johnson run for 2 yds to the NDSU 38
6:542nd & 8 at own 38Cortez LeGrant run for 3 yds to the NDSU 41
6:173rd & 5 at own 41Nathan Hayes pass complete to Reis Kessel for no gain to the NDSU 41
5:424th & 5 at own 41PENALTY NDSU Delay Of Game 5 yards from NDSU41 to NDSU36. NO PLAY.
5:424th & 10 at own 36PENALTY NDSU False Start (Bowers,Caleb) 5 yards from NDSU36 to NDSU31. NO PLAY.
5:344th & 15 at own 31Aaron Bickerton punt for 49 yds, fair catch by Jack Martens at the SDAK 20
South Dakota Touchdown, 8 plays
5:281st & 10 at own 20Reid Watkins run for a loss of 4 yards to the SDAK 16
4:362nd & 14 at own 16Aidan Bouman pass complete to Jack Martens for 26 yds to the SDAK 42 for a 1ST down
3:591st & 10 at own 42Reid Watkins run for 7 yds to the SDAK 49
3:142nd & 3 at own 49Tennel Bryant run for 27 yds to the NDSU 24 Tennel Bryant fumbled, recovered by SDAK Reid Watkins for a 1ST down
2:011st & 10 at opp 24Reid Watkins run for 4 yds to the NDSU 20
1:552nd & 6 at opp 20Reid Watkins run for 9 yds to the NDSU 11 for a 1ST down
1:551st & 10 at opp 11Timeout North Dakota State, clock 01:55
1:471st & 10 at opp 11Carson Fletcher run for 7 yds to the NDSU 4
1:112nd & 3 at opp 4Carson Fletcher run for 4 yds for a TD (Will Leyland KICK)North Dakota State 51, South Dakota 13
North Dakota State End of game, 2 plays
1:021st & 10 at own 35Zeke Mata kickoff for 47 yds , Chris Kiel return for 22 yds to the NDSU 40
0:411st & 10 at own 40Brady Wavrunek run for 3 yds to the NDSU 43
0:002nd & 7 at own 43Barry Kpeenu run for 1 yd to the NDSU 44

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.

North Dakota State leads 12–⁠3 in 15 meetings.

Recent meetings
2025North Dakota State 51, South Dakota 13
2024South Dakota 29, North Dakota State 28
2023North Dakota State 45, South Dakota 17FCS Championship – Quarterfinals, CFP Quarterfinal
2023South Dakota 24, North Dakota State 19
2022North Dakota State 34, South Dakota 17
2021North Dakota State 52, South Dakota 24

Around this game