Illinois State Redbirds @ North Dakota State Bison
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ILST | 0 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 29 |
NDSU | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
Illinois State scores 2 late TDs to knock out top-ranked North Dakota State 29-28 in FCS playoff
FARGO, N.D. -- — Tommy Rittenhouse connected with Daniel Sobkowicz for two touchdown passes inside the final two minutes and overcame five interceptions to help No. 17 Illinois State upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten North Dakota State 29-28 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Rittenhouse’s second 8-yard TD pass to Sobkowicz pulled Illinois State to 28-21 with 2:44 left. On the ensuing possession, Jake Anderson strip-sacked Cole Payton and the Redbirds had the ball back at the 23.
On fourth-and-goal with 51 seconds left, Rittenhouse threw a 6-yard TD pass to Sobkowicz and the Redbirds converted a 2-point pass to Scotty Presson Jr.
The Bison then drove near midfield, but Nathan Hayes threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-7 to seal it for the Redbirds, who will move on to face the UC Davis-Rhode Island winner in a quarterfinal.
Payton threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Lance on North Dakota State's first play from scrimmage. About 10 minutes later, Jackson Williams scored on a 52-yard punt return for a 14-0 lead. Nathaniel Staehling added a 73-yard pick-6 midway through the second quarter to give the Bison a 21-7 lead.
Rittenhouse threw three interceptions in the first half before throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Sobkowicz late in the second quarter to get the Redbirds within 21-14 at the break.
Rittenhouse completed 35 of 52 passes for 249 yards. Victor Dawson scored on a 69-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and finished with 137 yards rushing for Illinois State.
Payton and Hayes combined for 6-of-19 passing for 120 yards. Barika Kpeenu's 4-yard touchdown run gave the Bison the lead at 28-14 with 12:38 left in the fourth quarter.
The Bison entered having won 14 straight in the series with a pair of playoff wins including a 29-27 victory in the 2014 national championship.
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Game Information
Fargo, ND
2025 Standings
| Missouri Valley Football Conference | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 8-1 | 12-1 |
| South Dakota | 6-2 | 10-4 |
| Illinois State | 6-3 | 10-4 |
| North Dakota | 5-3 | 8-6 |
| Youngstown State | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| South Dakota State | 4-4 | 9-5 |
| Southern Illinois | 4-4 | 7-5 |
| Northern Iowa | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| Murray State | 1-7 | 1-11 |
| Indiana State | 1-7 | 3-9 |
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