Days before Tennessee State opened its 2024 regular season with a blowout home win over Mississippi Valley State, Eddie George watched his good friend Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes get all they could handle from perennial FCS power North Dakota State.
The Tigers head coach, like much of the national TV audience who watched along, was impressed with the Bison’s effort despite a 31-26 loss last Thursday night in Boulder.
“They have the pedigree of a champion,” George said about North Dakota State. “They don’t quit. They don’t blink at adversity.”
Tennessee State (1-0) will likely need to embody those same characteristics when it travels to North Dakota State on Saturday in a litmus test for the program.
The No. 2 Bison have won 17 national championships, including nine since 2011.
“We’re going up against one of the top brands in college football,” George said. “It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
If Tennessee State is going to pull off the upset at the Fargodome, the Tigers are going to need close to a repeat performance from veteran quarterback Draylen Ellis, who threw for 356 yards and three TDs versus Mississippi Valley State a week ago.
Jalen Rouse with a 20-yard run to the endzone after a 55-yard pass from Draylen Ellis to 🥋 Brenson.
Time for MVSU to RAGE QUIT @EACFB25
4Q | 13:01
TSU — 38
MVSU — 7 pic.twitter.com/9GlCoIwewq— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) September 1, 2024
“They are very physical; they swarm to the ball,” Ellis told The Tennessean. “Their defense plays together as one. Everyone on the defense does their job. It means we just have to go in and not try to force too many plays. Just let the plays come to us. We’re going to have to play a perfect game.”
Likewise, the defense will require an extraordinary effort to contain Bison quarterback Cam Miller, who accounted for 358 yards of total offense and three touchdowns against Colorado.
“He’s the best player we have probably seen in my tenure here,” George said of Miller. “Cam is a remarkable leader. He can run, he can throw. He has a great deal of experience. He just makes the right plays at the right time. They’re always in the playoffs or competing for a national championship because of that position.”
Saturday, however, won’t be the last time these two programs meet. North Dakota State will play at Tennessee State in Nashville on Sept. 6. 2025.
Tennessee State at North Dakota State
When: 3:30 p.m. EST
TV/Streaming: ESPN+
