This week

The Southwest Minnesota State University football program (1-0, 1-0 NSIC) opens its five-game home schedule this Saturday, Sept. 9, facing No. 10/11 ranked Bemidji State University (1-0, 1-0 NSIC) for the annual Ag Bowl, presented by Ralco, with kickoff slated for 5 p.m. at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center.

SMSU opened the 2023 season on Aug. 31 with a come-from-behind 28-23 road victory over Minot State.

BSU, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Playoff last season and captured a share of the NSIC regular season championship, opened the 2023 season last Thursday with a 49-13 home win over Northern State.

BSU is ranked No. 10 in D2Football.com Top 25 poll and No. 11 in the AFCA Top 25 poll.

Annual Ag Bowl

Saturday’s 17th annual Ag Bowl concludes a day of celebration of agriculture in Minnesota and features numerous events for both kids and adults prior to the game.

Proceeds generated by the Ag Bowl will fund scholarships and programming for worthy SMSU student-athletes and young people who will dedicate their careers to business success in agriculture, environmental science and the food industries.

SMSU is 6-9 all-time in Ag Bowl games and will be playing BSU for the second time.

All-Time Ag Bowl results

2007 Concordia-St. Paul W, 24-19

2022 Concordia-St. Paul W 14-6

Home openers and more

SMSU won last season’s home opener, 14-6, over Concordia-St. Paul. The win snapped a four-game home opener losing skid.

SMSU is 23-31 all-time in season openers after beginning the 2023 season with a victory at Minot State on Aug. 31. The win snapped a five-game losing skid in season opening games.

SMSU vs. ranked opponents

SMSU is 1-27 versus Division II Top 25 teams all-time, including 0-2 last season.

SMSU’s lone victory versus a ranked team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

Bohannon earns NSIC weekly honors

Junior safety Hunter Bohannon was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following his performance in SMSU’s 28-23 victory at Minot State on Aug. 31.

Bohannon forced two fumbles, recovering one, recorded three solo tackles and one pass break-up in the Mustangs’ come-from-behind win.

It’s the second time Bohannon has earned the award in his career. He also earned the award on Sept. 27, 2021.

Broadcast info

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 11th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.

Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.