Jacksonville State at North Dakota State - 2026 Matchup Preview

Jacksonville State Gamecocks at North Dakota State Bison

Saturday, August 29th 2026 (12:00 PM EDT)
Fargodome - Fargo, ND

Gamecocks (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Charles Kelly (9 - 5)
Avg Score : 28 - 25 (24 - 29 on Road)
Record Prediction: 0 - 0 (#104)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)

Our Line: North Dakota State -8 (SP+ JVST -6.5)
Projected Score: JVST: 10 - NDSU: 18 (27)
NDSU Win prob: 74% | Cover: 48%
JVST Travel: 1072 miles

Bison (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Tim Polasek (26 - 3)
Avg Score : 0 - 0 (0 - 0 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8.7 - 3.3 (#18)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 10)

Matchup
Schedules
JVST Players
NDSU Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Jacksonville State's 2026 Schedule

Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/29	Jacksonville State at North Dakota State	+8	—	—	—	—

Total: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Jacksonville State's Schedule

North Dakota State's 2026 Schedule

Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/29	North Dakota State vs Jacksonville State	-8	—	—	—	—
Sat 9/5	North Dakota State vs Fordham	-23	—	—	—	—
Sat 9/12	North Dakota State at Air Force	-4.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 9/19	North Dakota State at Sacramento State	-2.5	—	—	—	—
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/3	North Dakota State vs Wyoming	-10.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 10/10	North Dakota State at UNLV	+5.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 10/17	North Dakota State vs Nevada	-18	—	—	—	—
Sat 10/24	North Dakota State at New Mexico	+3.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 10/31	North Dakota State vs UTEP	-16.5	—	—	—	—
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/14	North Dakota State at Hawai'i	+2	—	—	—	—
Sat 11/21	North Dakota State vs Northern Illinois	-17.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 11/28	North Dakota State at San José State	-12	—	—	—	—

Total: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 2, Poor 8
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 2, Poor 8
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for North Dakota State's Schedule

Important Stats (2025)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
JVST	#61 (.18)	44% (52)	28.1	47% (37)	3.15 (31)	248	39% (99)	162	3.73 (65)	#67 (.16)	42% (73)	25.2	42% (68)	42% (69)	3.78 (79)	56.3	0.9	1.7
NDSU		0%	0	0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%	0	0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
JVST		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NDSU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2025

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
JVST Offense	14	28.1	24	43.7%	3.73	0.9	21	409	248	162	5.4	63%	35%	47%	39%	14%	.18
NDSU Defense	0	0	0	0%	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
JVST Defense	14	25.2	29.2	42.1%	3.78	1.7	-	-	-	-	-	51%	47%	42%	42%	17%	.16
NDSU Offense	0	0	0	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%

Additional Stats 2025

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Jacksonville State	14	30:26	21.2	39%	53%	5.7	56.3	0.9	1.7	5.4	2	1	28.6
North Dakota State	0	0:00	0	NAN%	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	100

Run Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
JVST Offense	14	63% (8)	47% (37)	46.2	247.6	5.4	32 (9)	.2 (28)	3.15 (31)	68% (96)	10% (79)	1.11 (13)
NDSU Defense	0	0%	0%	-	-	-	-		0	0%	0%	0

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
JVST Defense	14	51% (82)	42% (68)	-	-	-	-	.11 (77)	2.71 (33)	79% (118)	10% (48)	1.06 (115)
NDSU Offense	0	0%	0%	0	0	0	0		0	0%	0%	0

Pass Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
JVST Offense	14	35% (129)	39% (99)	13.9	23.4	161.8	6.9	11.6	13 (128)	6 (34)	.19 (102)	1.5 (79)	29% (27)	31% (60)	.31 (65)	4% (20)	2 (73)
NDSU Defense	0	0%	0%	-	-	-	-	-	-	0		0	0%	0%		0%	0

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
JVST Defense	14	47% (48)	42% (69)	-	-	-	-	-	-	14 (100)	.24 (66)	1.6 (73)	33% (46)	30% (80)	.32 (80)	7% (38)	2.1 (86)
NDSU Offense	0	0%	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0%	0%		0%	0

Jacksonville State's Power Ratings
Jacksonville State's Power Rating: -6.03 #96
Jacksonville State's Offense Rating: 10.24 #91
Jacksonville State's Defense Rating: 21.27 #112
2026 Talent Rating: 484.00 #121
Blue Chip Ratio: 2% #73
Jacksonville State's 2026 Expected Record: 0.0 - 0.0
Jacksonville State's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: -6.7 #92
Jacksonville State's Offense SP+ Rating: 27.2 #67
Jacksonville State's Defense SP+ Rating: 32.4 #102

Average Talent
Average Conference USA Talent Rating is 484.36
Average Power Five Talent: 910.63
Average FBS Talent: 728.81

Power Ratings Matchup
Jacksonville State: -6.03 North Dakota State: 1.77

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Jacksonville State: -6.7 North Dakota State:

North Dakota State's Power Ratings
North Dakota State's Power Rating: 1.77 #80
North Dakota State's Offense Rating: 8.15 #98
North Dakota State's Defense Rating: 14.61 #62
2026 Talent Rating: 190.00 #135
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 #103
North Dakota State's 2026 Expected Record: 8.7 - 3.3
North Dakota State's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: NR
North Dakota State's Offense SP+ Rating: NR
North Dakota State's Defense SP+ Rating: NR

Average Talent
Average Mountain West Talent Rating is 486.6
Average Power Five Talent: 910.63
Average FBS Talent: 728.81

Jacksonville State Scoring
Offense: 28.1 PPG
Offense on Road: 24
Defense: 25.2 PPG
Defense on Road: 29.2

Jacksonville State's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
North Dakota State 18
Jacksonville State 10

Projected Total Points: 27

North Dakota State Scoring
Offense: 0 PPG
Offense at Home: 0
Defense: 0 PPG
Defense at Home: 0

North Dakota State's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
North Dakota State	0	0	0 Overs
Jacksonville State	0	0	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0

(#96) JVST at (#80) NDSU

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	JVST	NDSU
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#96	#80
SP+SP+	#92	NR
Perf GradeGrade	NR	NR
OffenseOff	NR	NR
DefenseDef	NR	NR
Spec TeamsST	NR	NR
TalentTal	#121	#135
Blue ChipsBC%	#73	#103

Jacksonville State Injury Report

North Dakota State Notes(2/14) Vibes: High, looking to dominate MWC in 1st yr
(2/14) Really good program, possibly fav to win MWC
(2/14) OL good, returns 3 starters + 2 more w good exp
(2/9) QB1 lost starter, N Hayes some exp, very mobile
(2/9) RB Scott (500 yds, #2 LY) back, have depth here
(2/9) WR lost #1 & 2, have some exp + good TE
(2/9) DT K Wilson & LB D Woolen both FCS A.A. LY
(2/9) FCS Def stats N/A, will need to sort out
(2/8) 1st year in FBS & MWC. Stats are limited
North Dakota State Injury Report

Jacksonville State on Offense

Very Run heavy Offense 64%, Pass: 35%
CategoryCat	JVST Off	NDSU Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#52	NR
ExplosiveExp	#62	NR
PPAPPA	#61	NR
PowerPwr	#91	#62
SP+SP+	#67	NR
Pts POPPO	#65	NR
HavocHav	#48	NR

Jacksonville State Run Game

Very Run heavy Offense 64%, Pass: 35%
CategoryCat	JVST Off	NDSU Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#37	NR
Run ExplRExp	#13	NR
PPAExp	#28	NR
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#31	NR
Stuff RateStuff	#61	NR
TackleTak	-	NR

Jacksonville State Pass Game

Very Run heavy Offense 64%, Pass: 35%
CategoryCat	JVST Off	NDSU Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#99	NR
Pass ExplPExl	#79	NR
PPAExp	#102	NR
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#79	NR
DB HavocDB	#20	NR

North Dakota State on Offense


CategoryCat	NDSU Off	JVST Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	NR	#73
ExplosiveExp	NR	#102
PPAPPA	NR	#67
PowerPwr	#98	#112
SP+SP+	NR	#102
Pts POPPO	NR	#79
HavocHav	NR	#40

North Dakota State Run Game


CategoryCat	NDSU Off	JVST Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	#68
Run ExplRExp	NR	#115
PPAExp	NR	#77
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	#33
Stuff RateStuff	NR	#44
TackleTak	-	NR

North Dakota State Pass Game


CategoryCat	NDSU Off	JVST Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	#69
Pass ExplPExl	NR	#73
PPAExp	NR	#66
Pass Block/RushP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	NR	#48
DB HavocDB	NR	#38

Program Comparison
NDSU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Poor G5
'26 Profile: Remains Poor G5

JVST 5 Year Profile: Improving Poor G5
'26 Profile: Down to Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Fargodome
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

No Matchups Past 4 Years

JVST's OC Taylor Housewritght (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Caden Creel	130	211	62%	1514	9	4	7.2
Gabe Glover	1	1	100%	18	0	0	18.0

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Caden Creel	182	1075	7	5.9	73
Nate Thomas	109	453	3	4.2	17
Khristian Lando	51	201	1	3.9	17
Andrew Paul	30	127	3	4.2	42

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Darius Cannon (Tr)	76	726	3	9.6	65
Deondre Johnson	30	724	6	24.1	77
Ronnel Johnson (Tr)	35	463	2	13.2	35
Nate Thomas	10	50	0	5.0	21

View Jacksonville State's Full Roster

JVST's DC Brian Williams (in his second season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Mac Sanders	83	12	2	5	2
Walker O'Steen	78	6	3	6	1
Caleb Nix	63	4	0	0	3
Tre'Quon Fegans	36	2	0	0	9

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Walker O'Steen	78	6	3	6	1
Khurtiss Perry	20	5	2	0	1
Gharin Stansbury	22	6	2	5	1
Mac Sanders	83	12	2	5	2

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PD
Tre'Quon Fegans	36	2	9
Jaheim Jenkins	21	0	5
Caleb Nix	63	4	3

NDSU's OC Dan Larson (in his second season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Nathan Hayes	25	44	57%	381	4	1	8.7
Trey Drake	1	1	100%	4	0	0	4.0

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
DJ Scott	95	502	6	5.3	39
Cortez LeGrant	25	131	0	5.2	22
Nathan Hayes	7	88	1	12.6	34
Myles Mitchell	18	78	1	4.3	21

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Reis Kessel	15	335	1	22.3	50
Jackson Williams	17	293	1	17.2	51
Mekhi Collins	6	159	2	26.5	68
Isiah St. Romain	4	50	1	12.5	15

View North Dakota State's Full Roster

NDSU's DC Grant Olson (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD