Kobe Johnson, Adam Cofield and Trey Lance all ran for touchdowns and North Dakota State completed an undefeated 12-game regular season for the first time in school history with a 21-7 win over Southern Illinois on Saturday in Carbondale, Ill.
The top-ranked Bison (12-0, 8-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) won their 33rd consecutive game, tying their own record (2012-14) for the longest win streak in FCS history. The only undefeated FCS team remaining this season went 8-0 in the Valley for the third time.
North Dakota State will have a bye in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Its second-round game will be on Dec. 7 at the Fargodome.
Johnson ran 44 yards for a first-quarter touchdown, but Javon Williams Jr. went 28 yards in the second quarter for SIU. Cofield ran 8 yards for the go-ahead score in the third quarter, and Lance added a 34-yarder in the fourth. The three NDSU scoring drives went for 74 yards or longer.
The Bison ran for 246 yards with Lance throwing for 146 more.
The Salukis (7-5, 5-3), tied with Yale at No. 25, got 117 yards rushing on 23 carries from Williams but had just 70 yards passing.
South Dakota 24, South Dakota State 21: The host Coyotes (5-7, 4-4 Missouri Valley) ended a 10-game losing streak to the Jackrabbits. Fifth-ranked South Dakota State (8-4, 5-3) entered the game in a four-way tie for second place, but only Northern Iowa won its finale. South Dakota was led by quarterback Austin Simmons, who was 20-for-32 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
North Dakota 36, Southern Utah 18: The Fighting Hawks (7-4) finished 6-0 at home this season with the victory in Grand Forks. Nate Ketteringham was 22 of 31 for 286 yards and two touchdowns, and Luke Skokna carried 11 times for 114 yards and two scores.
