BEMIDJI, Minn. – With both teams off to 4-0 starts overall and in conference play, this Saturday's matchup will feature a top 10 meeting between the No. 9/7 Bemidji State University Football team and the No. 4/5 Minnesota State University Mavericks with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at Chet Anderson Stadium. Since the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Poll started for NCAA Division II in 2000, this will be the first top 10 meeting in Bemidji.

This won't be the first time Minnesota State has been in Bemidji nationally ranked. During the 2018 season, the Mavericks were the top team in the nation entering that game in Bemidji. During the 2016 season, Bemidji State traveled to Minnesota State when the Mavericks were ranked sixth nationally and claimed the 45-17 win. That stands as the last win in the series for BSU, with Minnesota State winning the last three games in the series. MSU has won the last four meetings in Bemidji, with the last win for the Beavers happening in 2005 (28-23). Last year's game went right down to the wire after BSU surged back with 21 unanswered to take the lead at 34-30. A touchdown with 1:38 left pushed Minnesota State to the 37-34 victory in the season opener for both teams.

Both teams have similar numbers across the board. The offensive lines have protected the quarterbacks with MSU leading the nation in sacks allowed (0.25), while BSU is 23^rd nationally (1.00). BSU leads the nation in team sacks per game (5.0), while MSU ranks 24^th nationally (3.0). MSU's rushing attack averages 283 yards per game to rank third nationally. BSU's defense allows just 69.8 rushing yards per game, good for 13^th nationally. BSU's passing attack averages 261.8 yards per game to rank 30^th nationally, while MSU's defense allows just 135.5 passing yards per game to rank 11^th nationally. Turnover margin has been a big factor with MSU at +1.75 to rank ninth nationally and BSU at +1.25 to rank 21^st nationally. Both offenses have put the points up with MSU ranking 10^th nationally averaging 44.8 points per game and BSU ranks 18^th nationally averaging 40 points per game. BSU's defense ranks third nationally in points allowed per game (11.8), while MSU's defense ranks 44^th nationally in points allowed per game (18.8).

Holding the 20-10 halftime lead at UMary last week, the Beavers scored the only 21 points in the second half to take the 41-10 victory. The defense limited the Marauders to just four net rushing yards and 187 total yards. The offense posted 400 yards, passing for 255 with Brandon Alt throwing for four touchdowns for the second straight week. Alt has now thrown 96 touchdowns passes in his last 30 games alone. He enters this week with 9,604 career passing yards.

Dhel Duncan-Busby brought in a pair of receiving touchdowns against UMary for the second straight game and third time this season. Duncan-Busby is third nationally and leads the NSIC in receiving touchdowns with six.

Defensively, it was another six-sack game for the Beavers, having posted at least four sacks in all four games. BSU now leads all of NCAA Division II in team sacks per game at 5.0. Marcus Hansen leads BSU with 5.5 sacks, while Max Buduris and Stephen Hoffman add 2.5 apiece. Hansen is fifth nationally in sacks and ranks fourth nationally in tackles for loss with 10.5. Buduris was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week after coming away with 11 tackles, 10 solo, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the win at UMary. Princeten Harris has four passes defended this season to rank first in the NSIC and 17^th nationally.

Special teams are led by Marko Jovisic making five field goals and 15 extra points. Elliott Lowny is averaging 35.53 on 15 punts, but had a career long of 66 last week against UMary and averaged 50.67 yards. In the return game, De'vonta' Roberts has six kickoff returns for 161 yards, with a long of 53. Jake Hill has five punt returns for 37 yards.

Bemidji State held steady at No. 9 in the AFCA Poll and No. 7 in the D2Football.com Poll.

Minnesota State holds a 33-15-2 overall series record and have won the last three meetings. Minnesota State is 16-9 against the Beavers in Bemidji. Last year's matchup saw the Mavericks jump in front 30-13 before the Beavers surged back with 21 unanswered to take the 34-30 lead in the fourth quarter. Minnesota State tallied a touchdown with 1:38 left to claim the 37-34 victory. It was the season opener for both teams last season.

The game will be broadcasted on the NSIC Network and on Beaver Radio Network. BSU will be using cashless tickets for the season, so please make sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time on HomeTown Tickets by clicking here.

Game Notes        NSIC Network        Live Stats         Beaver Radio Network

Bemidji State Notes

-        Brent Bolte stands alone in second in program history for wins by a head coach with 56. His .746 winning percentage is the best all-time and he is second in program history for conference wins at 53

-        Holding a 20-10 lead at halftime, Bemidji State scored all 21 points in the second half to cruise to the 41-10 road win at UMary. The offense piled up 400 yards, with Brandon Alt throwing for four touchdowns. The defense tallied six more sacks and held UMary to just 187 total yards and four net rushing yards against the Marauders

-        Bemidji State stayed ranked No. 9 in the AFCA Poll and No. 7 in the D2Football.com Poll for the second straight week. The Beavers opened the season ranked eighth in the Lindy's College Football Preseason Poll

-        BSU leads or is tied for the NSIC lead in 10 categories following week four

-        In 75 games under Bolte, BSU has scored less than 20 points just seven times, which occurred once last year

-        Forty-four of Bolte's wins have come when scoring at least 30 points, which has happened all four times this season

-        Bemidji State has gone 12-2 at home over the past two-plus seasons and Bolte is 28-8 at home since becoming head coach

-         BSU hasn't allowed more than 14 points in all four games this season and has won by at least 20 points in all four games. Twice the Beavers have won by over 30 points

-        Minnesota State holds a 33-15-2 overall series record and have won the last three meetings. Minnesota State is 16-9 against the Beavers in Bemidji. Last year's matchup saw the Mavericks jump in front 30-13 before the Beavers surged back with 21 unanswered to take the 34-30 lead in the fourth quarter. Minnesota State tallied a touchdown with 1:38 left to claim the 37-34 victory. It was the season opener for both teams last season.

-        The Beavers have a couple of players ranked high individually in the NSIC through week four with Duncan-Busby leading the conference in receiving touchdowns (6), Hansen leads the conference in both sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (10.5), Buduris leads the NSIC in solo tackles per game (5.2), Harris leads the conference in passes defended (4), Jovisic is second in both field goal percentage (83.3) and field goals per game (1.25), De'vonta' Roberts is third in the conference in kickoff return yards per game (26.8), and Alt is second in the conference in passing touchdowns (12).

-        Nationally, Jovisic is 21^st in field goal percentage and 23^rd in field goals per game, Roberts is 23^rd in kickoff return yards per game, Harris is 17^th in passes defended, Alt is 23^rd in passing efficiency (158.9), 10^th in passing touchdowns, 17^th in points responsible for (74), 19^th in points responsible for per game (18.5), Duncan-Busby is third in receiving touchdowns, 24^th in scoring per game (9.0), 23^rd in total points scored (36), and 15^th in total touchdowns (6), Hansen is fifth in sacks and fourth in tackles for loss, Buduris is 24^th in solo tackles

-        Bolte is 1-3 against Minnesota State, winning the first matchup in 2016 in Mankato. BSU is 0-2 in Bemidji during Bolte's time as head coach

-        Bemidji State is just one win away from reaching 400 in program history.

-        Including his time as an assistant, Bolte is 164-87 with the Beavers

-        The defense didn't allow any team to rush for over 200 yards last year and seven times held teams under 100 rushing yards. So far in 2023, the Beavers have limited three teams to under 100 rushing yards

-        When BSU leads at the half, they hold a 21-0 record in the last two-plus seasons

-        BSU has continued to dominate in the red zone to start the 2023 season. The Beavers have scored on 19 of 20 chances so far this season for 109 points. The drives have ended with 14 touchdowns and five field goals

-        On the flip side of that, the defense has allowed just 10 trips inside the 20 and six scores for 34 total points

-        The defense forced four interceptions in week one, which is the most in a game since tallying four against Minnesota Crookston during the 2019 season. BSU added two more in week three for six on the season to rank second in the NSIC and 28^th nationally

-        Six times last year Bemidji State tallied at least four sacks in a game. The high was nine against MSU Moorhead on Oct. 15, 2022.This season the defense continues to post high sack numbers. All four games this season the team has recorded a sack and have reached six in a game twice. The Beavers enter week five the national leader in sacks per game (5.0) in all of NCAA Division II

-        For the fourth time this season, Bemidji State had more passing than rushing yards. Dating back to the 2019 season, Bemidji State has now gone 30 straight games throwing for more yards than rushing. Five times during the 2019 season the Beavers had more rushing than passing yards.

-        Bemidji State ranked in the top-25 nationally last year in passing offense (4th), red zone defense (13th), rushing defense (22nd), sacks allowed (5th), scoring defense (25th), scoring offense (11th), team passing efficiency (10th), team passing efficiency defense (22nd), team sacks (9th) and total offense (10th)

-         Both teams have similar numbers across the board. The offensive lines have protected the quarterbacks with MSU leading the nation in sacks allowed (0.25), while BSU is 23^rd nationally (1.00). BSU leads the nation in team sacks per game (5.0), while MSU ranks 24^th nationally (3.0). MSU's rushing attack averages 283 yards per game to rank third nationally. BSU's defense allows just 69.8 rushing yards per game, good for 13^th nationally. BSU's passing attack averages 261.8 yards per game to rank 30^th nationally, while MSU's defense allows just 135.5 passing yards per game to rank 11^th nationally. Turnover margin has been a big factor with MSU at +1.75 to rank ninth nationally and BSU at +1.25 to rank 21^st nationally. Both offenses have put the points up with MSU ranking 10^th nationally averaging 44.8 points per game and BSU ranks 18^th nationally averaging 40 points per game. BSU's defense ranks third nationally in points allowed per game (11.8), while MSU's defense ranks 44^th nationally in points allowed per game (18.8).

Minnesota State Notes

-         The Mavericks are led by Todd Hoffner who is 126-30 currently in his 13th season at Minnesota State. He is 6-1 against Bemidji State.

-         MSU was picked to finish second in the NSIC Preseason Poll and had the most first-place votes (5).

-         MSU returns NSIC Players to Watch in Hayden Ekern (QB) and Trey Vaval (DB). So far this season, Ekern has thrown for 800 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding a rushing TD. Vaval has 10 tackles (nine solo), along with two TFL, an INT, two blocked kicks and three passes defended.

-         Last time out, the Mavericks rolled to the 42-10 win over Concordia-St. Paul. Leading 21-10 at the half, MSU scored the only 21 points in the second half for the 32-point victory. They rushed for 261 yards and four touchdowns.

-         MSU returned to form last year following a 6-5 2021 season to win 10 games in 2022 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. MSU is just a few seasons removed from their national runner-up year in 2019.

-         MSU is averaging over 44 points per game and allowing under 19 per contest. The offense is averaging over 500 yards per game and allowing 289 per contest. The ground attack rushes for nearly 300 per game (283) and have 15 rushing TDs. Both BSU and MSU have dominated once they get inside the opponents 20 scoring on 36-38 chances, each converting all but one chance.