South Dakota State idle in Week 4; three MVFC teams in action

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South Dakota State is idle in Week 4, while three MVFC teams wrap up nonconference play today.

Top-ranked and defending national champion North Dakota State (2-0), which is riding an eight-game winning streak, plays host to Delaware at 1 p.m.

No. 19/15 Illinois State (2-0) hits the road to face FBS opponent Colorado State and Northern Iowa (0-2) – the only winless team in the conference – is host to Hampton.

The Valley is 14-12 in nonconference games this season – 11-5 versus FCS foes and 0-7 against FBS teams – and won the Big Sky-MVFC Challenge 5-3 for the second consecutive year.

Missouri State and Indiana State are both 2-1.

After having their season-opening game at Iowa State canceled due to the weather, the third-ranked Jackrabbits (2-0) picked up a pair of lopsided home wins.

SDSU beat Montana State 45-14 on Sept. 8 and then had a record-breaking performance while defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 90-6 on Sept. 15.

League play kicks off next Saturday with five games, highlighted by the Jackrabbits and Bison squaring off at 2:30 p.m. at the Fargodome.

Undefeated

There are 18 remaining undefeated teams in the FCS.

No. 4 North Carolina A&T (0-0 MEAC), No. 9/10 McNeese (2-0 Southland), Davidson (0-0 Pioneer) and Chattanooga (1-0 Southern) are all 3-0 overall.

Joining the Jackrabbits, Bison and Redbirds at 2-0 are No. 13/16 Maine (1-0 Colonial), No. 24 Colgate (1-0 Patriot), Sacred Heart (0-0 Northeast), Stetson (0-0 Pioneer) and Western Carolina (0-0 Southern).

Tennessee State (0-0 OVC) and Ivy League members Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania and Princeton are each 1-0.

Missouri Valley Football Conference

MVFC Overall

STATS/Coaches W-L PF/PA W-L PF/PA Strk

1/1 North Dakota State 0-0 0/0 2-0 87/10 W8

3/3 South Dakota State 0-0 0/0 2-0 135/20 W2

19/15 Illinois State 0-0 0/0 2-0 94/10 W2

Missouri State 0-0 0/0 2-1 109/90 W2

Indiana State 0-0 0/0 2-1 111/72 W1

22/— South Dakota 0-0 0/0 1-2 77/82 L1

Western Illinois 0-0 0/0 1-2 68/87 W1

Southern Illinois 0-0 0/0 1-2 134/134 L2

Youngstown State 0-0 0/0 1-2 80/82 W1

21/22 Northern Iowa 0-0 0/0 0-2 37/64 L3

   Notes: The following matchups will not take place in 2018: SDSU-WIU, NDSU-InSU, UNI-SIU, YSU-MSU and IlSU-USD. … In addition to being ranked in the STATS poll, USD is receiving votes (28th) in the Coaches poll. WIU (t39th) and SIU (47th) are receiving votes in the STATS poll and YSU (41st) is receiving votes in the Coaches poll. … The MVFC is 14-12 in nonconference games, including an 11-5 mark versus FCS schools and an 0-7 record against FBS teams. … The Valley won the Big Sky-MVFC Challenge Series 5-3 for the second year in a row.

WEEK 4 – Saturday, Sept. 22

Delaware (2-1, 0-1 Colonial) at North Dakota State, Fargo., N.D., 1 p.m.

Illinois State at Colorado State (1-3, 0-1 Mountain West), Fort Collins, Colo., 2 p.m.

Hampton (1-1, FCS Independent) at Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 4 p.m.

   Open: SDSU, USD, WIU, YSU, SIU, MSU, InSU.

Notable games

Akron (2-0, 0-0 MAC East) at Iowa State (0-2, 0-1 Big 12), Ames, Iowa, 11 a.m.

Idaho State (1-1, 0-0 Big Sky) at North Dakota (2-1, FCS Independent), Grand Forks, N.D., 4 p.m.

Montana State (2-1, 0-0 Big Sky) at Portland State (1-2, 0-0 Big Sky), Portland, Ore., 4 p.m.

Prairie View A&M (1-3, 0-0 SWAC West) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2, 0-0 SWAC West), Pine Bluff, Ark., 6 p.m.