FCS-CFB Game Preview: Northern Colorado Bears (1-1) vs. South Dakota Coyotes (0-2)

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Venue & Game Info

kickoff: 1:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM MT

Location: DakotaDome, Vermillion, South Dakota

Broadcast: ESPN+ / Midco Sports Plus (Jay Elsen – PxP, Andre Fields – Analyst)

Radio: Coyote Sports Network (KVHT 106.3 FM) Pirate Radio 93.5 FM (UNC)

Weather Outlook (as of Sept. 11)

Forecast: Mostly sunny, light winds (5–8 mph)

Temperature at Kickoff: ~74°F, dropping to upper 60s by late 4th quarter

Impact: Perfect dome conditions inside; no weather-related handicapping adjustments

Injury & Availability Report

South Dakota:

No major starters ruled out

QB Aidan Bouman (234 pass yds, 2 TD, 3 INT) healthy

RB Charles Pierre Jr. (102 rush yds, 4.4 YPC) available

LB Matt Walsh (16 tackles, 1 FF, 1 INT) active

Northern Colorado:

No confirmed absences for key starters

QB Eric Gibson Jr. (199 pass yds, 1 INT) healthy

RB Mathias Price (73 rush yds, 4.6 YPC) available

LB Zach Nowatzke (19 tackles, 13 solo) active

Recent Form

South Dakota:

L 20–13 at Lamar — offense struggled to finish drives

L 55–7 at Iowa State — overmatched by FBS opponent

Northern Colorado:

L 21–17 at Colorado State — led most of the game, forced 5 turnovers

W — vs. NAIA opponent in opener — defense dominant

Series History

All-Time: Northern Colorado leads 20–16 (first meeting 1959)

Recent Trend: South Dakota has won last 3 meetings, including 14–6 in 2019 at Greeley

At Vermillion: USD has won last 4 (2000, 2001, 2010, 2018)

Betting Trends

South Dakota: 0–2 ATS in 2025; 8-game home winning streak dating back to 2023

Northern Colorado: 1–0 ATS in lined games this season

Over is 1–1 in USD games; Under 1–0 in UNC lined games

USD is 39–7 in DakotaDome home openers since 1979

Game Odds

Northern Colorado Bears             51.5

South Dakota Coyotes                   – 17.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 12, 2025

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NCAAFB Editor
Profile: A dedicated college football analyst with a deep understanding of the sport’s tactical complexity, recruiting landscape, and conference‑wide dynamics. This columnist provides comprehensive coverage of the NCAA football season, blending film study, statistical insight, and historical context to explain how programs evolve from Week 1 through bowl season and the College Football Playoff. Background: With extensive experience covering Division I football, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets, digital platforms, and radio segments focused on coaching trends, roster construction, and player development. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking long‑term program trajectories across all major conferences. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and tactical matchups Film‑based breakdowns of offensive and defensive systems Recruiting analysis, transfer‑portal movement, and roster‑building strategy Coaching philosophies, scheme evolution, and conference‑wide trends Historical context, rivalry features, and postseason analysis Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex schemes, advanced metrics, and recruiting data into insights that resonate with both long‑time college football fans and new followers of the sport. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the tradition, passion, and unpredictability that define NCAA football.