For the fourth time in the last five seasons, North Dakota is postseason bound. UND will host Sacramento State on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Noon (CT) in the opening round of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs, with the winner heading to No. 3 seed South Dakota the following weekend.This will be the seventh all-time meeting between North Dakota and Sacramento State, with UND holding a 4-2 lead in the series. In the most recent contest, the Fighting Hawks defeated the Hornets 41-15 inside the Alerus Center on Oct. 20, 2018.North Dakota enters the postseason with a 21-16 record in its postseason history. The Fighting Hawks were most recently in the playoffs last season and visited No. 9/10 Weber State. Despite trailing 24-0 late in the first half, the Hawks clawed their way back within seven late, but were not able to overcome the early deficit and fell by a score of 38-31.The Fighting Hawks ended the 2023 regular season with the No. 15 strength of schedule, according to the Massey Ratings. NoDak enters the playoffs with the No. 24 scoring offense this season, averaging 30.9 points per game. The Fighting Hawks have also won eight of their last 11 one-score games.
UND beat Illinois State 22-21 at home on Saturday in the regular-season finale.UND is 25-2 in the Alerus Center in its last 27 games, only falling to the eventual FCS national champions in 2021 (North Dakota State) and 2022 (South Dakota State).
(UND Athletics)