We are officially one week away from kickoff in the Big 12 Conference. While Week 2 might be the week that steals all the headlines in the non-conference, Week 1 has something that caught my attention thanks to a post on our Heartland College Sports Message Boards.
There will be three games between teams from the Big 12 and teams from the Dakotas. Now, I don’t know much about North or South Dakota, but I find it fascinating that three of the four biggest schools from the two states will be playing in Big 12 territory next week. Let’s take a look at the three matchups that will take place.
Thursday, August 29th
North Dakota State in Colorado
The game against Colorado is a HUGE GAME for the Buffaloes. It’s important for Colorado to not only start the season strong but to finish it that way because of how they slumped last season. Plus, they need every win they can get in non-conference play to make sure they make a bowl game. The North Dakota State Bison are a quality team. They are the second-ranked team in the FCS and have a history of beating teams from the power conferences.
Saturday, August 31st
South Dakota State vs. Oklahoma State
Of the three games, this is the most interesting to me. Oklahoma State has a history of getting off to slow starts (like last year’s game against South Alabama) and they can’t afford to get off to a slow start against the reigning FCS champions with back-to-back titles. The Jackrabbits are once again the favorites to win outright and it’s crucial that the Cowboys bring their best to the table. As long as Oklahoma State plays a clean game, they have the talent on both sides of the ball to be able to compete against a strong opponent.
North Dakota vs. Iowa State
Of the three teams on this list, Iowa State had the easiest game. North Dakota is not in the FCS top 20 and went 7-5 last season, including a 1-4 record in road games. If this game had happened last year, I would have been a little more concerned. But considering what this Iowa State team brings back this season, I wouldn’t be worried if I were an Iowa State fan. With Rocco Becht, Abu Sama III, and all the weapons around him, the Cyclones should be able to win this game by double digits.
All of these games are important for the conference. There was talk on our message boards about a “Dakota disappointment,” and frankly, that shouldn’t happen if these three teams are playing well. It’s Week 1, so mistakes are going to happen. But what matters is how these teams respond when they do. Now is the time to adjust and prepare.
The Big 12 has declared war on the Dakotas…at least for a week.
