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<\/p>\nFARGO \u2014 The ascension of North Dakota State\u2019s women\u2019s basketball team will lead to statewide over-the-air television exposure on ABC stations.<\/p>\n
The Bison\u2019s game against South Dakota State on Feb. 25 at Scheels Center will be broadcast by WDAY channel 6 in Fargo, WDAY channel 8 in Grand Forks, KBMY channel 17 in Bismarck and Dickinson and KMCY channel 14 in Minot and Williston.<\/p>\n
The stations are owned by Forum Communications Co., which also owns The Forum.<\/p>\n
“Every year of our partnership with NDSU we’ve tried to put at least a game or two on ABC as a way to help bring better awareness to the programs,” said Josh Rohrer, vice president of broadcast for Forum Communications. “This game is perfect for that.”<\/p>\n
NDSU is having its best season since moving to NCAA Division I in 2004. The Bison are 20-2 overall, leading the Summit League with a 9-0 record and are ranked No. 2 in the College Insider Mid-Major Women\u2019s Basketball poll.<\/p>\n
The game will feature the top two candidates for the conference\u2019s player of the year award in NDSU\u2019s Avery Koenen and SDSU\u2019s Brooklyn Meyer.<\/p>\n
The Jackrabbits are the team that\u2019s mostly dominated the Summit League the past two decades. SDSU is tied for second in the conference with a 7-2 record, 17-6 overall.<\/p>\n
NDSU beat SDSU 76-68 in mid-January in Brookings, the Bison\u2019s first win over the Jackrabbits since 2015.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the first time the Bison women have been on Channel 6 and the statewide ABC network. Most recently, it was NDSU\u2019s victory over Minnesota in December 2022 at Scheels Center. But with the Bison in first place and a serious contender to win the Summit League postseason tournament to gain the program\u2019s first Division I NCAA tournament berth, this season\u2019s game takes on extra meaning.<\/p>\n
“This one was a no-brainer,” Rohrer said. “It’s going to be a game that has influence on the standings and the conference tournament seedings when these two teams play.”<\/p>\n
The game will also be carried in South Dakota on KSFL in Sioux Falls and a KNBN sub-channel in Rapid City.<\/p>\n
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National quarterback Cole Payton (9) of North Dakota State throws the ball during the second half of the 2026 Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.<\/p>\n
Vasha Hunt \/ IMAGN IMAGES<\/p>\n
Cole Payton by the numbers<\/p>\n
Former NDSU quarterback Cole Payton had a strong Senior Bowl week, capping it with being named player of the game for his American team after going 5 of 10 passing for 72 yards while rushing for 22 yards on five carries. His 19-yard run was reminiscent of some of his big runs for the Bison as he escaped the pass rush, broke tackles and got into the open field to show his speed.<\/p>\n
Before the game, analytics guru and player personnel director for the University of San Diego Adam Carter posted some interesting numbers about Payton on the social media platform X.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Payton\u2019s 15.48% rushing TD rate as a junior would be the highest all-time if you were to convert the numbers to running back.<\/p>\n
\u2014 He has the best single season big-time throw rate from a clean pocket (11.80%) and when blitzed (13.3%) in more than 10 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese numbers are even more impressive when you factor in that Carson Wentz had a 7.1% big time throw rate from a clean pocket and a 2.6% big time throw rate when blitzed,\u201d Carter wrote.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Payton\u2019s 95.8 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025 is tied with Mac Jones for the highest in a single season (FBS or FCS) since PFF started tracking data in 2014 among QBs with a minimum of 250 dropbacks.<\/p>\n
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University of Jamestown guard Anthony Walters is off to a strong start for the Jimmies men’s basketball team.<\/p>\n
Contributed \/ Kadin Neppl Photography<\/p>\n
Three area college basketball games this week the Insider will be keeping an eye on:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Denver at North Dakota State men, Thursday, 7 p.m. at Scheels Center in Fargo: The first-place Bison take on some familiar faces in this Summit League clash. Pioneers coach Tim Bergstraser was at Minnesota State University Moorhead last year, as were starters Carson Johnson and Logan Kinsey. Denver starting forward Jeremiah Burke transferred from NDSU.<\/p>\n
\u2014 MSUM at Jamestown men, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at Harold Newman Arena: The Jimmies are leading the NSIC North Division in their first year as a Division II program (albeit with a 9-7 record) behind senior forward Anthony Walters. The player of the year candidate is averaging 19.5 points per game and the Dragons are allowing a league-worst 83.6 points a game. Could be a big day for Walters, <\/p>\n
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