Cole Payton threw a touchdown pass and ran for two of North Dakota State's five rushing touchdowns in the Bison's 45-17 victory over Southern Illinois.

The top-ranked North Dakota State football team defeated No. 8 Southern Illinois 45-17 on Saturday. The Bison are now 6-0 on the season.

FARGO, N.D. -- The No. 8/9 Southern Illinois University football team (4-2, 1-1) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday at No. 1/1 North Dakota State as it fell by a final score of 45-17.

It’s possible considering SIU is bringing an improved outlook from last season’s 4-8 record. The Salukis will come to Fargo at 4-1 record and a No. 8 ranking in the Stats Perform top 25 FCS media poll.

The Salukis enter this matchup with a commendable record of 4-1. Their victories include wins against Thomas More, Southeast Missouri State, UT Martin, and Indiana State. The only blemish on their record is a loss to Purdue,

SIU has never won in Fargo, losing all seven previous attempts, which included a 34-10 defeat in November 2023. The Forum's Mike McFeely and WDAY's Dom Izzo preview the matchup and discuss the other games across the conference this Saturday.

No. 10/11 Southern Illinois rushed for a program record 430 yards, using a big first half to open conference play with a 55-27 win over Indiana State