Valley Rundown: Dakota Marker 2025 ushers in one of the most consequential NDSU/SDSU matchups

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It’s finally that time again: it’s Dakota Marker week. And this is shaping up to be one of the most important iterations of NDSU and SDSU’s annual rivalry matchup.

It’s been neck-and-neck between the Bison and Jacks during this rivalry over the past 10 seasons. The foes have played 14 total times and have split them right down the middle, seven victories each. That also includes four playoff showdowns, highlighted by last season’s semifinal thriller in Fargo and SDSU’s triumphant title victory in 2023. 

Lately, it’s been the Jacks who have had the better run of success, winning five out of the last seven matchups. However, the Bison were the better team twice last season, winning both the regular season and aforementioned semifinal bout in Fargo. 

How important is this DM? 

Dakota marker in Brookings, SD on November 4, 2023 (Max Mueller/KVRR)

This will be the third time Dakota Marker has featured both the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, and only the fourth game in FCS history to feature the two top-ranked teams in the country. SDSU came in as the top-ranked team with NDSU coming in No. 2 in last year’s rivalry game, with the Bison taking home a victory in one of the most exciting 13-9 games you’ve ever watched. 

Then in 2022, the second-ranked Jacks drove up I-29 to Fargo, escaping the Fargodome 23-21 victory over the top-ranked Bison. This will also be only the second time in the last 10 years that both teams enter the game undefeated. The only other time that happened was in 2018, but NDSU was only 3-0 and SDSU was only 2-0. We’ve never had a Dakota Marker with both teams having undefeated records (both 7-0) this late in the season over the last 10 years. 

So, what’s really at stake on Saturday? 

Well, let’s start with the conference race. Three teams remained undefeated in the Valley: NDSU (4-0), SDSU (3-0) and UND (3-0). Mind you, all three of those teams face the other two, and I could very easily see a similar scenario to last season, where we see a three-way tie in the end-of-season standings. 

Next, playoff seeding. Whoever wins Dakota Marker will be in a prime position to take the No. 1 seed in the postseason. I would add that it’s possible that Saturday’s winner could go undefeated the rest of the way, but both still have very difficult games remaining, highlighted by trips to Grand Forks for both the Bison and Jacks. 

However, a Dakota Marker win is about the best regular-season victory to put on a resume and would almost certainly guarantee a top three seed at worst (assuming no giant collapses by either side down the road).

I’ll also add that SDSU is currently on a 33-game home winning streak. So, that’s very much at stake.        

The rather large elephant in the room 

Any question, topic point and everything in between relating to Saturday’s game will revolve around one big SDSU decision: Will Chase Mason be ready to go? 

It was a surprise to many when Mason didn’t return to SDSU’s lopsided victory over Murray State following a seemingly routine first-quarter rushing touchdown. He jogged off the field, showing no obvious signs of injury (outside of perhaps a slight limp). However, backup signal-caller Luke Marble played the rest of the way and filled in well, leading the Jacks to a 35-14 victory over the Racers.  

Dan Jackson told Sioux Falls Live that Mason is day-to-day with an ankle injury and didn’t affirm his status for this week. In addition, and while not super unusual for big games, SDSU practice is closed to the media this week. The Jacks will keep their cards close to them and Mason’s status won’t likely be clear until warmups. 

That being said, it sure seems like Mason wouldn’t miss a game of this magnitude. I don’t think the question will be whether he plays, but more importantly, can he play the style of football that makes the Jacks’ offense hum? 

That means he’ll have to be ready to make plays with his legs, even if the ankle is 100%. But in a battle like this one, I’m positive Mason will be more than prepared and ready to put anything on the line to walk away with a victory. 

Nathan’s prediction: NDSU 24 - SDSU 21  

I always lean the Jacks’ way in Brookings, but NDSU looks better than everybody else right now. The Bison had a rough start against Indiana State but were back to normal in the second half. SDSU is going to scratch, claw, bite and do everything it can to come out on top, but I just can’t pick against NDSU. I foresee Cole Payton leading NDSU over Chase Mason and SDSU in perhaps their only head-to-head Dakota Marker game.