The North Dakota State Bison football team is heading to Boulder, CO to open the 2024 season against the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
This will be the first time NDSU battles Colorado, although they have played in the state before. The Bison defeated Colorado State in Fort Collins, CO on Sept. 8 2012 by a score of 22-7. Overall NDSU is 3-1 against Big 12 Conference opponents, including wins against Kansas (6-3 in 2010), Kansas State (24-21 in 2013), and Iowa State (34-14 in 2014).
NDSU finished the 2023 season at 11-4, falling to Montana in the FCS Semifinals in 2OT 31-29. That loss marked the end of the Matt Entz era as he accepted a a position at the University of Southern California as the linebacker coach and assistant head coach for defense.
With the departure of Entz, NDSU hired a familiar name to the program in Tim Polasek. He previously coached at NDSU from 2006-12 then again from 2014-16. Polasek spent the past seven seasons in the FBS. He was the offensive line coach at the University of Iowa from 2017-20, then served as the offensive coordinator at the University of Wyoming from 2021-23.
Colorado is coming off of a 4-8 season where it began 3-0 before going 1-8 in their final nine games. Head coach Deion Sanders (Coach Prime) is entering his second season leading the Buffaloes. Coach Prime began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator for Trinity Christian High School from 2017-20, before heading to Jackson State where he was the head coach from 2020-22.
NDSU is entering the programs 128th season opener on Thursday night in Boulder. All-time the Bison are 90-31-6 in season openers, including a 35-10 victory against Eastern Washington at US Bank Stadium in the 2023 opener. NDSU last lost in a season debut back in 2015 when they fell to Montana 38-35 in a thriller in Missoula in the 2015 FCS Kickoff game on ESPN. Since the 2015 loss to the Griz, NDSU has won eight straight season opening games.
Colorado has a season opening record of 84-45-5 in 134 games. Additionally, the Buffs are 55-21-1 in those games. Colorado has won seven of its pst eight season openers, including defeating Texas Christian University 45-42 in a heart stopping back and forth game. The Buffs did lose their last season inning home game though in 2022 to that very TCU Horned Frogs squad 38-13.
The Bison are returning 13 total starters, including eight on the offense and five on the defensive side of the ball. NDSU will be without a key leader on both sides of the ball with Fullback Hunter Brozio (foot) and Safety Cole Wisniewski (ankle) sidelined with injuries. The Herd will bring in plenty of experience regardless, including Griffin Crosa, Braylon Henderson, Sam Jung, Nick Kubitz, TK Marshall, Cam Miller, Eli Mostaert, Will Mostaert, Raja Nelson, Jake Rock, Kaedin Steindorf, Joe Stoffel, Luke Weerts, and Grey Zabel who have all appeared in at least 45 game for the Bison so far in their collegiate careers.
As for Colorado they return a fair about of talent that includes Quarterback Shedder Sanders and two-way defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter. The Buffaloes will be relying on many newcomers as they went all in and brought nearly four dozen players to Boulder from the portal this offseason.
The Bison enter their game with Colorado having a 9-4 record over FBS opponents.
NDSU and Colorado will kickoff the 2024 season on Thursday, August 29 at Folsom Field in Boulder beginning at 7 p.m. CT.
