Bison and Coyotes Renew Rivalry in Missouri Valley Opener

FARGO, North Dakota — The North Dakota State Bison will host the South Dakota Coyotes this Saturday in their 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference opener. The game is significant as the teams kick off conference play, and it comes with a lot of history behind it.

The Bison enter the game looking to break a two-game losing streak against the Coyotes, having lost their last two regular-season matchups. Last season, the Coyotes upset the Bison 29-28 in a nail-biting finish in Vermillion.

While the Coyotes started this season with losses to Iowa State and Lamar, they’ve bounced back with recent victories over Northern Colorado and Drake, bringing their record to 2-2. Senior quarterback Aidan Bouman, who threw the game-winning touchdown last November, will start his fourth career game against NDSU.

NDSU, on the other hand, is coming off a bye week after dominating its first three opponents, although they are now focused on regaining their dominance over USD. Bison offensive coordinator Dan Larson is hopeful to see senior wide receiver Chris Harris return from injury, which would bolster the team’s offense.

The Coyotes, however, are dealing with several injuries, losing key players like offensive linemen Charles Pierre Jr. and linebacker Gary Bryant III. Despite these setbacks, freshman running back LJ Phillips has stepped up, showing impressive performances in recent games.

Bison head coach Tim Polasek emphasizes the importance of this matchup, stating, “This is a time that has beaten us two years in a row. We will need to be ready.” The game kicks off at 1 p.m. at the Fargodome, where both teams will look to set the tone for the conference season.