Last Updated 11:16 PM, October 25, 2025
Stan Becton

No. 1 North Dakota State routs No. 2 South Dakota State, wins Dakota Marker

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Celebrating North Dakota State's football dynasty
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3:03 am, October 26, 2025

North Dakota State defeats South Dakota State, wins 2025 Dakota Marker

NDSU-SDSU

No. 1 North Dakota State started fast and finished strong, defeating South Dakota State 38-7 to win the 2025 Dakota Marker.

Quarterback Cole Payton ran for a career high 131 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the win. Payton also finished 18-of-23 passing for 243 yards in his fantastic day, leading the Bison to a 21-0 lead in the first half.

The North Dakota State defense also had a great day, even with it against South Dakota State's backup quarterback Luke Marble after starter Chase Mason was determined out with an injury in the pregame. The Bison defense forced three consecutive three-and-outs on the first three SDSU drives, forcing six total punts on the day while only allowing 43 total rushing yards.

North Dakota State has now beaten the Jackrabbits in each of the last three meetings, taking home consecutive Dakota Marker trophies. It also snaps South Dakota State's 33-game home win streak, the fourth-longest in FCS history.

The Bison hold a 66-47-5 head-to-head edge in the all-time series and North Dakota State leads the trophy count 12-10 for the Dakota Marker trophy.

MORE: Here are some more memorable moments from the NDSU-SDSU rivalry

When it comes to the history of FCS No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups, it’s now tied 2-2 between all-time top two ranked teams.

History of regular season FCS No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups
Date Winner Loser Score Location
Oct. 24, 1992 No. 1 Northern Iowa No. 2 Idaho 27-26 Cedar Falls, IA
Oct. 15, 2022 No. 2 South Dakota State No. 1 North Dakota State 23-21 Fargo, ND
Oct. 19, 2024 No. 2 North Dakota State No. 1 South Dakota State 13-9 Fargo, ND
Oct. 25, 2025 No. 1 North Dakota State No. 2 South Dakota State 38-7 Brookings, SD
2:44 am, October 26, 2025

Bison add one more! NDSU 38, SDSU 7

Have a day Cole Payton! The North Dakota State quarterback now has rushed for a single-game career high 131 yards and four touchdowns. His fourth score put the Bison up 38-7.

It took just one play for Payton to find the endzone after South Dakota State turned it over on downs, with the Bison signal caller dashing 47 yards for a touchdown.

2:30 am, October 26, 2025

Third quarter update β€” North Dakota State 31, South Dakota State 7

It was a scoreless third quarter in the Dakota Marker. After South Dakota State intercepted North Dakota State on the first drive of the half, each team punted on its next possessions.

It's now a battle of field position, with the Jackrabbits starting each of its third-quarter drives inside their own 15-yard line. When play resumes, SDSU will have the ball facing 1st-and-10 from its own 25-yard line.

Click or tap here for live stats from the game.

2:08 am, October 26, 2025

Interception! β€” 3Q - 10:27

North Dakota State's first drive of the second half came to a halt after South Dakota State cornerback Myles Taylor nabbed an interception before losing possession as the ball bounced out and landed in the hands of safety Koby Bretz. It's the first turnover of the game for either team.

South Dakota State's defense now has the ball at its own one-yard line.

The interception comes in clutch for a SDSU defense that is now without star linebacker Chase Van Tol for the second half due to injury.

Click or tap here for live stats from the game.

1:30 am, October 26, 2025

Halftime update β€” North Dakota State 31, South Dakota State 7

North Dakota State leads South Dakota State 31-7 at halftime after kicker Eli Ozick made a 43-yard field goal with two seconds left in the half. The Bison jumped out to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter behind a dominant start from the defense, forcing three-and-outs on the first three South Dakota State drives and a punt on the fourth drive.

Meanwhile, North Dakota State scored on each of its first three drives, with quarterback Cole Payton showing off his dual-threat ability. Payton ran in for two of NDSU's first three touchdowns while not throwing an incompletion. Payton would later run in for a 57-yard touchdown to put the Bison up 28-7.

Another standout from the first half is NDSU wide receiver Bryce Lance. Lance has five catches for 103 yards in the first half, beating man coverage on multiple occasions.

Click or tap here for live stats from the game.

1:22 am, October 26, 2025

Bison answer! NDSU 28, SDSU 7 | 2Q - 2:38

Cole Payton scored his third rushing touchdown of the day to put North Dakota State back up three scores, 28-7. This time Payton scrambled from 57 yards out for the score, tightroping his way up the sideline.

South Dakota State Dan Jackson was irate after the touchdown, feeling there was a missed holding call right next to the first-down marker

Click or tap here for live stats from the game.

12:58 am, October 26, 2025

Jackrabbits on the board! NDSU 21, SDSU 7 | 2Q - 5:54

After punting on its four drives of the game, South Dakota State finally found the endzone. The Jackrabbits defense got their first 3-and-out of the game to set up the scoring drive that took just two plays. Wide receiver Lofton O'Groske caught a 26-yard pass from fellow wideout Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda to get South Dakota State into the redzone.

Then O'Groske caught a XXX-yard pass from quarterback Luke Marble for SDSU's first touchdown of the day.

Click or tap here for live stats from the game.

12:53 am, October 26, 2025

Bison up big! NDSU 21, SDSU 0 | 2Q - 10:55

Three drives, three touchdowns for No. 1 North Dakota State, leading 21-0. It was the third rushing touchdown of the game as running back Barika Kpeenu ran in for the score this time.

The touchdown followed another big-play from wide receiver Bryce Lance. The projected NFL draft pick caught a 26-yard pass from quarterback Cole Payton, who's 9-of-9 passing for 146 yards in three drives.

Click or tap here for live stats from the game.

12:30 am, October 26, 2025

First Quarter β€” North Dakota State 14, South Dakota State 0

North Dakota State scored its second touchdown of the game shortly before the first quarter ended to go up 14-0. Cole Payton scrambled in for his second rushing touchdown of the day, this time from two yards out, after what can go down as "The Drive that Bryce Lance built". 

Lance got the first big-play of the drive, taking a rpo slant route 33 yards. Then when the Bison offense faced a 3rd-and-16, Lance caught a back shoulder pass on a nine route for 26 yards and a first down. The very next play, Lance forced a defensive pass interference penalty in endzone to set up the ensuing score.

The Bison defense has also impressed, holding South Dakota State's backup quarterback Luke Marble to a pair of three-and-outs. NDSU already has a sack holding the Jackrabbits to just negative three net rushing yards and zero completions.

When play resumed, South Dakota State saw its  third consecutive three-and-out, after facing 3rd-and-5 from its own 20-yard line on the first play of the second quarter.

Click or tap here for live stats from the game.

12:22 am, October 26, 2025

Bison strike first! NDSU 7, SDSU 0 | 1Q - 05:11

It came down to 4th-and-goal from the half-inch line, but North Dakota State found the endzone on its opening drive as quarterback Cole Payton ran in for his seventh rushing touchdown this season. The Bison lead 7-0.

The touchdown capped off a 16-play, 84-yard drive where Payton went 4-of-4 passing for 42 yards while the North Dakota State offense ran for 52 yards. The nine minute drive is NDSU's longest of the season. The Bison defense will come back out after holding South Dakota State to a 3-and-out on its opening drive.

Click or tap here for live stats from the game.

12:04 am, October 26, 2025

We're off

The 2025 Dakota Marker is underway. South Dakota State received the opening kickoff. North Dakota State won the toss and deferred.
11:29 pm, October 25, 2025

Almost game time

The 22nd edition of the Dakota Marker series between North Dakota State and South Dakota State is almost here. The top-ranked Bison will try to land a road victory over the second-ranked Jackrabbits in the third-ever regular season No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in FCS history.

South Dakota State will be without quarterback Chase Mason, who's injured an in a walking boot, but expect backup quarterback Luke Marble to lean on the talent around him as he leans on the talent around him.

You can watch the game on ESPNU, with the opening kickoff shortly after 8 p.m. E.T.

11:24 pm, October 25, 2025

Injury update: Chase Mason out

South Dakota State starting quarterback Chase Mason looks to be out of the Dakota Marker tonight. He was pictured out of uniform and in a boot during pregame warmups.

7:36 pm, October 25, 2025

College GameDay makes Dakota Marker picks

The popular pregame show College GameDay made their predictions on who would win the 2025 Dakota Marker between No. 1 North Dakota State and No. 2 South Dakota State.

Here's how they picked:

  • Desmond Howard β€” North Dakota State
  • Nick Saban β€” North Dakota State
  • Pat McAfee β€” South Dakota State
  • Guest picker Nate Bargatze β€” North Dakota State
  • Kirk Herbstreit β€” North Dakota State

That's 4-1 Bison, with only Pat McAfee selecting the Jackrabbits.

7:33 pm, October 25, 2025

Injury Update: SDSU QB Chase Mason questionable

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported early this morning that South Dakota State starting quarterback Chase Mason had a less than 50-percent chance playing tonight against No. 1 North Dakota State with a foot injury. 

If Mason is out, backup quarterback Luke Marble will likely fill in.