As we head into conference play, I would like to forget the past for a thread and look at the conference performance leaders:
1. We all should know that YSU leads the nation in past defense. We are also #4 nationally in Total Defense. However, I would like to point out that NDSU is allowing an average of only 184-yards in their last two games.
2. After last week, SDSU linebacker TJ Lally is the national career tackles leader & ranks #2 in TFL's.
3. Punters, Sullens (MSU) and Krause (NDSU) are #1 & #2 respectively in the nation. Sullens is less than 100-yards away from the MVFC all-time punt-yardage leader. Obviously that is good and bad.
4. SIU and QB Iannotti leads the nation in total offense, with an average of 426.
5. SIU is #5 and SDSU #7 respectively in national passing offense. ON the other hand, YSU is #18 and NDSU comes up at #19 in rushing. Talk about a change in the conference dynamic. It used to be that only WIU would rank in passing.
6. SDSU, WIU, ILS and USD are ranked in the top-20 in turn-over margin; with UNI and YSU right behind tied at 21.
7. NDSU is ranked #2 in time-of possession nationally. They will be #1 before long. I might add that the next closest MVFC team is YSU, ranked at 23. I know that with an improved defense, coach M, could chew-up more clock on O, but I did not expect it to come this quickly. Then again, it is only week-3, but I certainly hope this does not change. The xDSU's always control the ball so well.