North Dakota State defeats Jacksonville State in program FBS debut

North Dakota State began its tenure as an FBS program with a 33-7 victory over Jacksonville State in a Week 0 matchup. The Bison maintained control throughout the contest, scoring in all four quarters while holding the Gamecocks to a single first-quarter touchdown. Quarterback Nathan Hayes finished with 160 passing yards and two touchdowns to lead the offense. On the ground, the team produced 185 rushing yards combined from Myles Mitchell, Nyeoti Punni, and DJ Scott. Head coach Tim Polasek addressed the win in a postgame interview, acknowledging the transition from the FCS level to the Mountain West Conference. The Bison will play their next game at home against the Fordham Rams on September 5.

• 7:30 PMYahoo Sports — North Dakota State opens FBS era with huge win as Tim Polasek gets emotional after victory