During an NCAA FCS football game between the Illinois State Redbirds and the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, ND on Saturday, November 18, 2023. By Russell Hons

Game Preview: No. 12/14 Hawks to Tussle with No. 15/16 Hornets in FCS First Round

No. 12/14 North Dakota vs. No. 15/16 Sacramento State
Grand Forks, N.D. (Alerus Center)
UND holds a 4-2 series lead
Kickoff: Noon (CT)
Radio: AM 790 FM 104.7 KFGO and the Home of Economy Radio Network (Pregame Show @ 11 a.m. CT)

GRAND FORKS, N.D.(UND Athletics) – North Dakota will host Sacramento State in the first round of the FCS playoffs inside the Alerus Center this Saturday. Kickoff between the Fighting Hawks and Hornets is slated for Noon.  It will be carried on the Home of Economy Radio Network with a pregame show starting at 11 a.m.

North Dakota enters Saturday with a 7-4 record and a 5-3 standing in MVFC play after defeating Illinois State 22-21 at the Alerus Center last week. The Fighting Hawks trailed 21-16 with 4:53 remaining but traveled 76 yards over the next 4:28 to secure the victory. UND won with a balanced attack, putting up 169 yards passing and 169 yards rushing.  Both of UND’s most recent wins inside the Alerus Center have come in the final minutes of play.

Sacramento State comes to the Alerus Center with an overall record of 7-4 and 4-4 in the Big Sky after falling 31-21 at UC Davis on Saturday. Carlos Hill had 10 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown and Kaiden Bennett threw three second half touchdowns in the game, but the Hornets could not overcome the slow start that saw the Aggies lead 17-0 at intermission. Three of Sacramento State’s four losses this season have come on the road and against teams ranked in the top-10. Earlier this season, Sacramento State defeated Stanford, 30-23.

The game on Saturday will be the seventh all-time meeting between North Dakota and Sacramento State, with UND holding a 4-2 lead in the series. In the most recent contest between the two squads, the Fighting Hawks defeated the Hornets by a score of 41-15 in Sacramento on Oct. 20, 2018. The last time the two teams met at the Alerus Center, Sacramento State came away with a 34-27 win on Oct. 21, 2017.