The anticipation continues to grow as North Dakota State gets closer to kicking off the 2020 season.
The next video series previewing the season focuses on a game by game preview for the Bison this fall. 2020 returns to more of a normal schedule with six home games and five road games. For the first time since 2016 NDSU will face an FBS opponent. Oregon comes onto the schedule, a game that was scheduled nearly five years ago.
This is the first time NDSU has played a team from the PAC-12. The Bison have two more games against PAC-12 opponents in future years; Arizona in 2022 and Colorado in 2024.
The Ducks enter the 2020 season off a monumental season. Oregon won the PAC-12 championship, defeating Utah and then knocked off off Oregon to win the Rose Bowl. The Ducks were led by quarterback Justin Herbert, who returned to Oregon for his senior season and it paid off. Herbert was drafted with the sixth overall pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in April.
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Oregon is led by head coach Mario Cristobal who is entering his third year as head coach. In two short seasons, he has turned the Ducks back into a national power. Cristobal has a combined record of 21-6 and the Ducks are again favorites to win the PAC-12.
They have a tremendous amount of talent returning despite losing its star quarterback. Left tackle Penei Sewell is the reigning Outland Trophy winner, which goes to the top offensive lineman in the country. Sewell won the award as a sophomore and is highly touted to be a top five NFL Draft pick next April.
He's joined by sophomore defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux , who we profiled in our previous series. Each are tremendous talents that NDSU has not seen the likes of.
The Bison will get their highest payday for this game, 650 thousand dollars for the season opener in Eugene.
Oregon Ducks
- 12-2 record, PAC-12 and Rose Bowl Champions in 2019
- Head coach: Mario Cristobal (Third season, 21-6)
- First ever meeting between the schools
- Ducks have six future FCS games scheduled
