# North Dakota State Bison

Mountain West · Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome, Fargo, ND
Head coach: Tim Polasek · year one
Offense: Pro Style · Defense: 4-3

## 2026 outlook

- National title odds: +125000 (#115 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 8.5 (over priced -148)
- Returning starter games: 35%
- Schedule difficulty: 136th-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Offensive line | 0% | 0/24 | 0/2 |
| Defensive front | 43% | 38/89 | 14/21 |
| Secondary | 39% | 22/57 | 8/13 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Taylen Eady (SAF), Darius Givance (SAF), Keenan Wilson (DT), Victor Isele (DE), Jaylin Crumby (SAF)
- Key departures (with destination): Trent Fraley (OL) – MSU, Beau Johnson (OL) – VAN, Cole Payton (QB), Anthony Chideme-Alfaro (CB), Toby Anene (DE) – COLO
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Chance Tucker (CB) – ND, Kene Anene (OL) – KU

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Mekhi Collins, Logan Conklin, SJ Green, Kelly Watson
- WR-Z: Isiah St. Romain, Chris Kiel, Dylan Vokal
- WR-F: Jackson Williams, Cade Osterman, John Gores
- LT: Ryan Babatz
- LG: Nate Tastad, Jack Liwienski
- C: Griffin Empey, Gage Schmidt
- RG: Josh Magin, Nate Schneckloth
- RT: Kene Anene, Noah Stommes
- TE: Reis Kessel, Kaden Zenzen, Luke Kokat
- QB: Nathan Hayes, Trey Drake, Zander Smith
- RB: DJ Scott, Myles Mitchell, Barry Kpeenu, Cortez LeGrant, Braylon Toliver

### Defense

- LDE: Kelton McCaslin, Allante Burley, Anthony Okes
- LDT: Keenan Wilson, Zach Vanderpool, Obald Niyonkuru
- RDT: Logan Larson, Alijah Wayne, Chase Evink
- RDE: Matthew Stenbroten, Victor Isele, Ethan Wood
- WLB: Alex Elliott, Gavin Sell, Noah Taylor
- MLB: Keith Williams, Peder Haugo, Oliver Lucht, Ryland Satter
- SLB: Donovan Woolen, Ray James Jr., Chase Brixius
- LCB: EJ Davis, Najee Nelson, Marion Moore, Will Rosenmeyer
- SS: Darius Givance, Jaylen Archibald, Will Steil
- FS: Taylen Eady, Jaylin Crumby, Mikhale Ford, Walker Braaten
- RCB: DJ Voltz, Kegan Huber, Kendrick Carter

### Special Teams

- PT: Aaron Bickerton, Caleb McGrath
- PK: Drew Klein
- KO: Drew Klein
- LS: CJ Anderson, Gabe Vernetti
- H: Aaron Bickerton, Caleb McGrath
- PR: Jackson Williams, Mikhale Ford, John Gores
- KR: Jackson Williams, Preston Brown, John Gores, Cade Osterman

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Jacksonville State | Home | CBS Sports Network | NDSU -6.5 |
| 1 | Fordham Rams (FCS) | Home | MW+ | NDSU -38.5 |
| 2 | Air Force | Away | Fox Sports 1 | – |
| 3 | Sacramento State | Away | ESPN | – |
| 5 | Wyoming | Home | The CW | – |
| 6 | UNLV | Away | The CW | – |
| 7 | Nevada | Home | CBS Sports Network | – |
| 8 | New Mexico | Away | – | – |
| 9 | UTEP | Home | MW+ | – |
| 11 | Hawai'i | Away | The CW | – |
| 12 | Northern Illinois | Home | The CW | – |
| 13 | San Jose State | Away | CBS Sports Network | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/north-dakota-state
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.