For statistics mavens, the NCAA offers a category for just about anything you'd want to know about college football.
Take, for instance, strength of schedule. There’s a “sorted on past opposition” category which covers teams you’ve played to date. Georgia Southern ranks 31st in that category. Essentially the stats gurus are saying the four teams the Eagles (2-2, 1-1) have played are slightly above average.
Then there’s the “sorted on cumulative opposition” which includes teams played to date and future opponents. On that list the Eagles jump to eighth in the nation. With Appalachian State, Furman and Wofford yet to be played, GSU's strength of schedule takes a quantum leap forward.
There’s another team in that mix, too. That would be unbeaten North Dakota State.
The No. 11 Bison (4-0) visit Paulson Stadium this weekend, and Coach Brian VanGorder said NDSU will be the best team the Eagles will have played to date. Game time is 1 p.m. This will be the first of three straight home games for No. 21 Southern, a team coming off a 24-14 win at Western Carolina.
The game will bring together two programs that have combined to win 14 national championships. The Eagles own six at the I-AA level, and NDSU claimed eight Division II national titles before deciding to move up to I-AA. The Bison are in their third year of a five-year transition period to I-AA status.
Three times the two schools won national championships in the same year, winning in 1985, 1986 and 1990.
“North Dakota State is a playoff, national championship caliber team,” said VanGorder. “I think this is going to be a very good gauge of where we are.
“I’m excited about that,” said VanGorder. “The players are excited about it. I think it will be a good measuring stick.”
The extent to which that excitement lasts once the game begins remains to be seen. There’s no question the Bison are going to present the Eagles with a stern test.
North Dakota State is a program on the rise. As a transition team it is not eligible for the playoffs and statistically is not included in the NCAA’s team and individual rankings. If it was it would be ranked in several categories, both offensively and defensively.
Under fourth-year head coach Craig Bohl, who was defensive coordinator at Nebraska for three years before taking the NDSU job, the Bison are averaging 433.8 yards per game while allowing only 234.8.
Georgia Southern’s offensive strength is still the run, and that’s where North Dakota State excels, allowing only 29 yards per game and 1.2 per rushing attempt. It gave up 14 yards to Concordia-St. Paul, 45 to Northeastern, 14 to Ball State and 71 last week at Stephen F. Austin.
The 29-24 win over Ball State is one of two I-A games this season for North Dakota State. In two weeks it plays at Minnesota.
“It’s got authentic personnel,” said VanGorder of the Bison defense. “They’re very well coached. They don’t do a lot, but what they do they do very well, and they do enough. They’re very well trained in their system.
“They’ve got a dominating middle,” VanGorder said. “They’ve got two outstanding defensive tackles and a great middle linebacker, and a lot of times that’s where good defense starts.”
The two tackles that anchor the Bison defense are Justin Frick (6-foot-3, 292) and Mike Fairbairn (6-2, 293), and they are backed by middle linebacker Joe Mays (5-11, 245).
Offensively the Bison are just as impressive. Quarterback Steve Walker and tailback Kyle Steffe leading the way in Bohl’s West Coast offense. Walker has been the Great West Football Conference’s player of the week the last two weeks.
Walker had 455 yards total offense against Ball State, the top performance by a I-AA player this season, and followed that up by completing 20 of 24 passes at Stephen F. Austin last week.
“Again, offensively they’re very well trained,” said VanGorder. “They’ve got a great feel for what they do. Their play action is difficult on first down, and they have a large offensive line.
“The quarterback is very intelligent,” said VanGorder. “They do a very good job of finding what the defense will give them. The offense is built on running and play action. It’s not a drop back.”
Walker, who is throwing for 242 yards per game, has completed 78 of 112 passes for 971 yards and six touchdowns. More importantly, he has zero interceptions. Steffes has gained 439 yards on 83 attempts, and the Bison are gaining 188 yards per game on the ground.
“Our defense has been solid all year,” said Bohl. “Walker has been exceptional. He has improved each game. His numbers have certainly been outstanding. We’re pleased with how Steve has been taking care of the football.”
Tackles Adam Tadisch (6-5, 319) and Nate Safe (6-5, 312) anchor the Bison line. Both guards aexceed 290 pounds, with center Tyler Lekang (6-3, 282) being the smallest man up front.
If and when they need him, junior punter Mike Dragosavich is averaging a nation-leading 51.5 yards per kick and 44.4 for his career.
Take, for instance, strength of schedule. There’s a “sorted on past opposition” category which covers teams you’ve played to date. Georgia Southern ranks 31st in that category. Essentially the stats gurus are saying the four teams the Eagles (2-2, 1-1) have played are slightly above average.
Then there’s the “sorted on cumulative opposition” which includes teams played to date and future opponents. On that list the Eagles jump to eighth in the nation. With Appalachian State, Furman and Wofford yet to be played, GSU's strength of schedule takes a quantum leap forward.
There’s another team in that mix, too. That would be unbeaten North Dakota State.
The No. 11 Bison (4-0) visit Paulson Stadium this weekend, and Coach Brian VanGorder said NDSU will be the best team the Eagles will have played to date. Game time is 1 p.m. This will be the first of three straight home games for No. 21 Southern, a team coming off a 24-14 win at Western Carolina.
The game will bring together two programs that have combined to win 14 national championships. The Eagles own six at the I-AA level, and NDSU claimed eight Division II national titles before deciding to move up to I-AA. The Bison are in their third year of a five-year transition period to I-AA status.
Three times the two schools won national championships in the same year, winning in 1985, 1986 and 1990.
“North Dakota State is a playoff, national championship caliber team,” said VanGorder. “I think this is going to be a very good gauge of where we are.
“I’m excited about that,” said VanGorder. “The players are excited about it. I think it will be a good measuring stick.”
The extent to which that excitement lasts once the game begins remains to be seen. There’s no question the Bison are going to present the Eagles with a stern test.
North Dakota State is a program on the rise. As a transition team it is not eligible for the playoffs and statistically is not included in the NCAA’s team and individual rankings. If it was it would be ranked in several categories, both offensively and defensively.
Under fourth-year head coach Craig Bohl, who was defensive coordinator at Nebraska for three years before taking the NDSU job, the Bison are averaging 433.8 yards per game while allowing only 234.8.
Georgia Southern’s offensive strength is still the run, and that’s where North Dakota State excels, allowing only 29 yards per game and 1.2 per rushing attempt. It gave up 14 yards to Concordia-St. Paul, 45 to Northeastern, 14 to Ball State and 71 last week at Stephen F. Austin.
The 29-24 win over Ball State is one of two I-A games this season for North Dakota State. In two weeks it plays at Minnesota.
“It’s got authentic personnel,” said VanGorder of the Bison defense. “They’re very well coached. They don’t do a lot, but what they do they do very well, and they do enough. They’re very well trained in their system.
“They’ve got a dominating middle,” VanGorder said. “They’ve got two outstanding defensive tackles and a great middle linebacker, and a lot of times that’s where good defense starts.”
The two tackles that anchor the Bison defense are Justin Frick (6-foot-3, 292) and Mike Fairbairn (6-2, 293), and they are backed by middle linebacker Joe Mays (5-11, 245).
Offensively the Bison are just as impressive. Quarterback Steve Walker and tailback Kyle Steffe leading the way in Bohl’s West Coast offense. Walker has been the Great West Football Conference’s player of the week the last two weeks.
Walker had 455 yards total offense against Ball State, the top performance by a I-AA player this season, and followed that up by completing 20 of 24 passes at Stephen F. Austin last week.
“Again, offensively they’re very well trained,” said VanGorder. “They’ve got a great feel for what they do. Their play action is difficult on first down, and they have a large offensive line.
“The quarterback is very intelligent,” said VanGorder. “They do a very good job of finding what the defense will give them. The offense is built on running and play action. It’s not a drop back.”
Walker, who is throwing for 242 yards per game, has completed 78 of 112 passes for 971 yards and six touchdowns. More importantly, he has zero interceptions. Steffes has gained 439 yards on 83 attempts, and the Bison are gaining 188 yards per game on the ground.
“Our defense has been solid all year,” said Bohl. “Walker has been exceptional. He has improved each game. His numbers have certainly been outstanding. We’re pleased with how Steve has been taking care of the football.”
Tackles Adam Tadisch (6-5, 319) and Nate Safe (6-5, 312) anchor the Bison line. Both guards aexceed 290 pounds, with center Tyler Lekang (6-3, 282) being the smallest man up front.
If and when they need him, junior punter Mike Dragosavich is averaging a nation-leading 51.5 yards per kick and 44.4 for his career.
