With the non-conference portion of the schedule in the books, No. 6 ranked Illinois State now turns its focus to the start of Missouri Valley Football Conference action this weekend, when the Redbirds (3-1) host defending FCS national champion and No. 1 ranked North Dakota State (4-0) at Hancock Stadium on Family Weekend at ISU.

NDSU is ranked No. 1 in the STATS and AFCA polls for the 21st consecutive week dating back to the 2017 postseason poll. NDSU has been the top-ranked team in both polls 68 of 120 weeks this decade and No. 1 in at least one of polls for 72 weeks.

Safety Michael Tutsie and defensive tackle Cole Karcz each made interceptions in the fourth quarter to help North Dakota State improve to 4-0 on the season and hold off No. 4 UC Davis by a score of 27-16 to close non-conference play two weeks ago. 

Brady Davis rose to the challenge and exploded for 419 yards and two scores to help lead the Redbirds to the victory over Northern Arizona. Davis recorded a career-best 419 yards, with 228 of those recorded by wide receiver Andrew Edgar, as the Redbirds racked up 534 yards of total offense to improve to 3-1 on the season. The 419 yards passing were the most for the Redbirds since 2012, when Matt Brown threw for 473 against Eastern Illinois. 

Illinois State currently sits at No. 6 in the FCS Coaches Poll and at No. 10 the STATS FCS Top 25. Five MVFC teams are ranked in the polls this week, including North Dakota State (No. 1), South Dakota State (No. 3), the Redbirds (10), Northern Iowa (13) and Youngstown State (17). Indiana State and Southern Illinois are also receiving votes in the polls.

Game time Saturday is noon from Hancock Stadium in Normal.