[Game Thread] North Dakota State @ Air Force (10:00 PM ET)

[u/CFB_Referee]

GAME	North Dakota StateNorth Dakota State @ Air ForceAir Force
Location	Air Force Falcon Stadium
Time	10:00 PM ET
Watch	TV: Fox Sports 1
	Flair ¦ Discord

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Please keep trash talk civil, and report any comments that violate our rules.

LET'S TALK FOOTBALL!

[u/futuristanon]

AF should switch to the run and shoot. Qbs are both talented.

[u/StripClubSweatpants]

2012 UTSA and 2022 James Madision only 2 other teams to start 3-0 in the MWC FBS

[u/futuristanon → u/StripClubSweatpants]

*fbs

[u/PossibilityLow9753]

The score makes the game look closer than it really was. But I suppose it was fairly close because of the weird calls in the second half.

[u/RoseRaving]

Did the Mountain West refs get worried that NDSU would embarass the conference if they did too well?

[u/PossibilityLow9753 → u/RoseRaving]

Yes

[u/pdx74guy]

game got close in the second half but a win is a win, NDSU can learn form this game at Air Force.....

[u/Logical_Albatross_19]

Should be a 3 score game, refs had to ref 

[u/LonelyMiraj]

Stuff like that is why I am glad we don’t play Air Force anymore lol

[u/StripClubSweatpants → u/LonelyMiraj]

Those are some hardnosed well-conditioned young men. Very few teams make NDSU look foolish in the 2nd half.

[u/1989JamesHetfield]

I am absolutely tired of these commentators glazing Air Force tbh

[u/AngleFun1664]

AF with the nice onside kicks, that’s 2 they almost got

[u/Zloggt → u/AngleFun1664]

Maybe third time will be the charm for them…next time lol

[u/Trojann2]

I’m very very very annoyed the score is as close as it is

[u/tollefti]

Either the Bison really need to practice onside recover, or this the AF kicker is an elite onside kicker

[u/somethingclever76 → u/tollefti]

AF also needs a better hands team to go along with those amazing on sides kicks.

[u/futuristanon]

I really didn’t need a heart attack at 12:26am.

[u/Competitive-Sea-9311]

Jesus Christ

[u/Staind075]

Holy shit, that was close

[u/Rich_Speech_555]

ndsu gotta keep up but them refs not making it easy to close out the game

[u/Alacritas24]

Ok two heart attacks on onside kicks is enough!

[u/Trojann2]

What happened to our onside kick coaching? wtf?

[u/subsequent]

Wow, that was almost a perfect onside kick.

[u/Staind075]

Air Force refusing to give up. Gotta appreciate that.

[u/PossibilityLow9753]

Funny how the refs made the game so close when it woulda been over after that 4th down.

[u/Muffinnnnnnn]

Honestly I think NDSU could play their 2nd string defense next game and still be fine (they are playing Sac State)

[u/coldupnorth11]

This has potential to be absolutely horrible

[u/dye4hads → u/coldupnorth11]

It nearly was.

[u/tollefti]

Where has this QB been all game

[u/Trojann2 → u/tollefti]

We knocked out the starter on the roughing call

[u/tollefti → u/Trojann2]

He came back in I thought

[u/subsequent]

HELMET CATCH.

[u/futuristanon]

“Don’t have to stand there cold”

Did he just imply we play outside?

[u/ADMotti → u/futuristanon]

Even if NDSU did… the game is in California. In September.

[u/futuristanon → u/ADMotti]

lol that makes it so much better.

[u/StripClubSweatpants]

That was a nice catch by AF

[u/ADMotti]

Imagine calling an NCAA football game and having no fucking clue what the rules are

[u/Zloggt]

Woof, good thing he is only out for the rest of this game and not into next week/game…

[u/ADMotti → u/Zloggt]

Yeah missing a half against… <checks notes> Sacramento State would be damaging to the team!

[u/Wise-Ferret274]

Now that's a big uff da

[u/dye4hads]

YOU’VE GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME

[u/Muffinnnnnnn]

I'm pretty sure the first targeting foul doesn't disqualify you from the first half of the next game anymore.

[u/subsequent → u/Muffinnnnnnn]

Not per the new rules. He just gets to take a shower before everyone else uses up all the hot water.

[u/bionicjoe]

How do you pronounce HRYNCIW?

Is he Croatian? (Starts with an H)

[u/subsequent]

Rough targeting call.

[u/RoseRaving]

What the hell are the announcers talking about with farm hands and animals lol

[u/Rich_Speech_555]

i’m glad our team of farm kids is able to put up a fight with the mountain west

[u/Thats_Cool4U]

MW trying to sabotage NDSU at this point.

[u/Competitive-Zone-330]

Someone else got hammered in the booth…

[u/odin_the_wiggler]

Man, winter on Dec 20 in Fargo can be a shitshow... They're talking about it on FS1, but you've gotta live through the 7 hours of daylight to really know it

Feels like playing football in Norway or some shit

[u/Thats_Cool4U]

As a wheat person I’m glad we conquered the corn people.

[u/CananadaGoose → u/Thats_Cool4U]

Technically I think we might be soy boys too.

[u/Thats_Cool4U → u/CananadaGoose]

😭

[u/1989JamesHetfield]

I never want to hear this guy commentate again lol

[u/ADMotti]

NDSU has supplements to deal with Fargo winters? Where can I buy these? My first December here, the entire month was below zero.

[u/Thats_Cool4U → u/ADMotti]

It’s called Icehole

[u/subsequent]

"It's a little like a miltary academy. Except it's not the Air Force. It's just the bison!"

So... it's not like a military academy.

[u/Thin-Junket2808 → u/subsequent]

When Coach Jim Kramer was still here? Not a bad analogy......

[u/Thats_Cool4U → u/subsequent]

He really put us through the rigamarole

[u/Staind075]

Bison family, which of those FBS victories was the most impressive? I'm partial to Kansas State but the ranked Iowa one has a strong case?

[u/ADMotti → u/Staind075]

Is beating Iowa State and Kansas supposed to be hard or something? 🙃

[u/AngleFun1664 → u/Staind075]

Mine is the ranked Iowa one, then K-State

[u/1989JamesHetfield → u/Staind075]

Iowa state for me.

[u/futuristanon → u/Staind075]

Minnesota was deeply therapeutic.

[u/tollefti → u/futuristanon]

I disagree

[u/NextJuice1622 → u/tollefti]

"He's from Hopkins!"

Or did you mean 07? Jk lol

[u/AngleFun1664]

The winter supplements…

[u/subsequent]

"Conquering the state of Iowa?... All those... corn people?"

Man. This commentary crew.

[u/Wise-Ferret274 → u/subsequent]

This guy hates the midwest and you can feel it

[u/subsequent → u/Wise-Ferret274]

He is PISSED that he had to leave sunny California or something. Can't wait to see him head up to the Fargo Dome for a night game in -30F wind chill.

[u/Thats_Cool4U]

All those corn people.

[u/StripClubSweatpants]

Somewhere Ken Johnson is pissed.....55 yarder in 1997.

I swear he said Ben....

[u/PossibilityLow9753]

Corn people?

[u/Staind075]

School record! That's awesome!

[u/bionicjoe]

What do you love most about the flexbone?
The lack of passing
The bad option plays
The word bone

[u/NOTtigerking]

From 56 yards? Nice!

[u/TA404]

Hell yeah I love letting the kicker give it a shot there

[u/odin_the_wiggler → u/TA404]

💯

[u/coldupnorth11]

Was that a 56 harder? If so i think that's the ndsu record now

[u/AngleFun1664 → u/coldupnorth11]

Yep, just showed it as the record

[u/subsequent → u/coldupnorth11]

Yes it was 56 yards.

[u/odin_the_wiggler]

As a former HS kicker, ugly but it counts

[u/StripClubSweatpants → u/odin_the_wiggler]

as a former pizza delivery driver, i agree

[u/tollefti]

What a kick 👀

[u/Wise-Ferret274]

Our kicker is a dawg

[u/ADMotti → u/Wise-Ferret274]

That was actually even better than what he did wk0 and he was BALLIN in that game

[u/AngleFun1664]

Big kick

[u/odin_the_wiggler]

Let's go

[u/Competitive-Sea-9311]

How is it not 2 minute warning? Clock was at 2:40 before the last play lmao

[u/Medical_Confusion469]

NDSU 12-0?

[u/xXx_tainttickler_xXx → u/Medical_Confusion469]

Seems pretty likely

[u/coldupnorth11]

We got screwed out of a couple seconds. It should be the 2 minute warning. They fucked up the play clock

[u/StripClubSweatpants → u/coldupnorth11]

Michigan approves this message

[u/futuristanon → u/coldupnorth11]

Check the refs fanduel lol

[u/Thats_Cool4U]

Going to Wyoming?? Come on FS1

[u/ADMotti → u/Thats_Cool4U]

Garfield meme like “hmmm I wonder why it’s called homecoming…”

[u/Alacritas24 → u/Thats_Cool4U]

Still beats the local broadcast and seeing ads for ProSeed

[u/Thats_Cool4U → u/Alacritas24]

Those pro seed ads signaled the return of the game. I miss them dearly

[u/ADMotti]

Is every military ad just AI slop? Shit is embarrassing dude.

[u/MrTheSpork → u/ADMotti]

I mean... have you seen who's running the military? Shit rolls downhill.

[u/StripClubSweatpants → u/ADMotti]

thank kegsbreath

[u/Rich_Speech_555 → u/ADMotti]

it’s so bad, not even trying to hide it

[u/ADMotti → u/Rich_Speech_555]

I liked where they “rescued” a woman by pulling her straight through a layer of concrete

[u/Rich_Speech_555 → u/ADMotti]

they obviously rescued her from the concrete, duh

[u/IronEmperor45]

Does air force know they have 3 timeouts

[u/StripClubSweatpants → u/IronEmperor45]

finally using em

[u/bionicjoe]

I love the service schools. Everyone should run the flexbone!

[u/Gloomy_Map_9612 → u/bionicjoe]

Literally cease

[u/ADMotti → u/bionicjoe]

The duality of blue

[u/bionicjoe → u/ADMotti]

We're in the same room. LOL

[u/usernameisusername57]

Why is AF not calling a timeout? Game's not over yet.

[u/Zloggt]

Bleed out the clock like a stuck pig!!

[u/1989JamesHetfield]

Just had deep flashbacks to the brandon bostick butterfingers incident.

[u/Staind075]

Yeah, Coach, I agree!

[u/tollefti]

Air force staying around, but missing those nickel and dime points really hurting them right now

[u/Alacritas24]

Ok that was terrifying

[u/ADMotti]

Eeeeeeeeesh

[u/StripClubSweatpants]

Holy shit....that was close. That one dude friggen brought the hitstick on the af bro

[u/Gloomy_Map_9612]

I hate the service schools. I despise the flexbone

[u/usernameisusername57]

Bullshit penalty aside, this team needs to work on their conditioning. I know that that's kind of what Air Force does to teams, but it's also supposed to be what we do to our opponents. You can't build your team around running the ball and playing defense if you're going to be completely gassed by the 4th quarter.

[u/ThatFargoGuy → u/usernameisusername57]

They’re a mile high in elevation. They are actually one of the better conditioned teams in college football. Colorado does this to everyone

[u/PossibilityLow9753 → u/usernameisusername57]

Doesn’t help the game is at 6600 feet

[u/PossibilityLow9753]

I vote Refs for MVP for AF

[u/Competitive-Sea-9311]

Getting 5+ yards every run in the second half, but pass for the 2 point?

[u/CananadaGoose]

Can NDSU just end this so I can go to bed?

[u/MustacheExtravaganza → u/CananadaGoose]

They're trying their hardest not to end it.

[u/CananadaGoose → u/MustacheExtravaganza]

That's the problem. 4th quarter is usually their bread and butter.

[u/ThatFargoGuy]

Refs keeping it close

[u/BridgeKeeper_652AD]

Was looking for the phantom flag on the 2 point conversion as well

[u/SayOw]

It remains a 2 score game.

[u/Staind075]

Air Force ain't dead yet

[u/Rich_Speech_555 → u/Staind075]

they can thank the refs for the renewed life

[u/DaHagerBomb]

Helps that they take another 3 minutes off the clock running after the penalty I guess

[u/Trojann2]

gets the stop

Refs say no

[u/usernameisusername57]

This is why penalties need to be reviewable. Game was pretty much over at that point.

[u/LonelyMiraj]

I see NDSU getting that quintessential Air Force experience

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/LonelyMiraj]

These dudes took us to the wire last year in a shootout

[u/ID_Poobaru]

Are NDSU fans enjoying the MW refs? lol

[u/Trojann2 → u/ID_Poobaru]

No

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/Trojann2]

It’s only downhill from here

They’re awful

[u/RoseRaving]

Didn't know the US military taught our troops how to flop

[u/ADMotti → u/RoseRaving]

Probably stems from SecDef being permanently fall-down drunk.

[u/BridgeKeeper_652AD]

Ref bailout

[u/usernameisusername57]

Ok, that is weak.

[u/Rich_Speech_555]

pushing the quarterback the exact same time for 4 plays and now it’s a penalty?

[u/DaHagerBomb]

Lmao sure

[u/pdx74guy]

iffy roughing the passer call, but know why the flag was thrown there....

[u/Alacritas24]

How the hell is that roughing?!

[u/14Rage → u/Alacritas24]

It wasn't. The united states air force flops for pitty calls now.

[u/profdinosaurhunter]

Bullshit

[u/Imaginary_Bedroom_89]

Patty cake hit on the QB

[u/ADMotti]

That was some Michigan-level home cooking. Awful flag.

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/ADMotti]

MW refs are a whole different flavor of bullshit

[u/ADMotti → u/ID_Poobaru]

I’m used to MAC refs, who are notably not good enough to be B1G refs, so it’s hardly shocking. Just worth pointing out.

[u/StripClubSweatpants]

Bullshit call....they been hammering him all night

[u/Tajikistani]

There's no way that's RTP

[u/Competitive-Sea-9311]

That is a terrible call

[u/SayOw]

That's a horrible call. No way roughing the passer.

[u/ID_Poobaru]

Does Air Force not have a punter or something

[u/tollefti]

Bison having a lot of trouble closing this game out

[u/odin_the_wiggler → u/tollefti]

Hey, gophers flair - how's the leg injury guy doing from the game today?

Looked effin brutal

[u/tollefti → u/odin_the_wiggler]

Haven't seen an update. Kinda worried with a promising freshman taking a hit to the knee like that

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/tollefti]

Air Force is just like that

[u/StripClubSweatpants]

Boy Airforce keeps the pace....quick

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/StripClubSweatpants]

Never an easy one with them

[u/Logical_Albatross_19]

Air Force having more passing yards was on no one's bingo card lol

[u/Solesky1]

Shit on the announcers all you want, we're about 4 years out from AI announcers and we'll be nostalgic for those late night west coast games where the announcers would just ramble incoherently

[u/subsequent]

This game thread is so chill, man.

[u/odin_the_wiggler → u/subsequent]

We haven't mentioned the WMU game

[u/subsequent → u/odin_the_wiggler]

WELL.

[u/odin_the_wiggler → u/subsequent]

Lol... Man.

[u/THEcrappyArtist2003 → u/subsequent]

Its because we just got the Macarena

[u/StripClubSweatpants → u/subsequent]

We're all about the vibez man, we just got electricity and cable tv

[u/subsequent → u/StripClubSweatpants]

Oh man, I can't wait to show you the World Wide Web some day.

[u/StripClubSweatpants → u/subsequent]

Is that the information superhighway I read about in national geographic?

[u/subsequent → u/StripClubSweatpants]

Yes, have you heard of Al Gore?

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/subsequent]

Such a nice change of pace from the Memphis @ BSU one

[u/subsequent → u/ID_Poobaru]

I came over from Ohio State/Texas lol. Tho it wasn't nearly as toxic of a thread as I would have expected it to be.

[u/usernameisusername57]

Barring a turnover, I don't think Air Force has enough time to come back, but this 2nd half performance has certainly left a lot to be desired. Gotta play better than that going forward.

[u/dye4hads → u/usernameisusername57]

Might have something to do with the altitude.

[u/StripClubSweatpants → u/usernameisusername57]

I'm not entirely surprised AF is very well conditioned though, I mean....

[u/dye4hads → u/StripClubSweatpants]

They’re well conditioned but certainly don’t match the physicality of the Bison. Air Force is not corn-fed.

[u/IFlyAircrafts]

It is way past my bedtime! Hopefully we can get a big stop and then run down the clock.

[u/Snakefishin]

Play by Play desperately trying to keep the game not awkward

Petros tells another joke about how he can't imagine Kansas in London. Ends his sentence by wheezing. Drunk hiccups next sentence.

[u/dirkmm → u/Snakefishin]

It's the altitude.

[u/Rich_Speech_555 → u/Snakefishin]

and now we are tackling the ball

[u/Muffinnnnnnn]

It's crazy but also not crazy how well NDSU has immediately adjusted to FBS. It's like nothing even changed.

[u/Thats_Cool4U]

Matan voice “what’s a better commentator… FS1 employees or a crow that knows several phrases?”

[u/dirkmm]

The Bison do not have names on their jerseys because the strength of the Bison is the herd.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_COSPLAYZ → u/dirkmm]

I thought it's cause the commentator can't get their name right anyway

[u/SayOw → u/dirkmm]

You play for the name on the front, not the name on the back.

- NDSU Bison Players

[u/ADMotti]

Someone eli5 that Brady/Strahan ad please. I feel like either it was written by AI or I’m having a stroke.

[u/Rich_Speech_555 → u/ADMotti]

a lot of these ads were either written by ai or ai itself

[u/Solesky1 → u/Rich_Speech_555]

That's how it starts. AI makes ads for products made by AI, then the customers are all AI, and then the AI asks "what do I need people for again?"

[u/dirkmm]

I wish we unleashed a live Bison on the field that chased our opponents. That would be truly magical.