Skip to main content
SI

North Dakota State rallies to beat Northern Iowa 31-28

FARGO, N.D. (AP) Carson Wentz threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Darrius Shepherd with 35 seconds remaining to lift North Dakota State over Northern Iowa 31-28

FARGO, N.D. (AP) Carson Wentz threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Darrius Shepherd with 35 seconds remaining to lift North Dakota State over Northern Iowa 31-28 in a game between two top-10 FCS teams on Saturday.

After Northern Iowa (2-3, 0-2 Missouri Valley) missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt, Wentz led a 10-play, 79-yard drive capped by Shepherd's twisting catch while blanketed by two defenders in the corner of the end zone.

Wentz threw 33 yards to Shepherd with 7:49 left to lead 24-21 but on the first play after the ensuing kickoff Northern Iowa's Aaron Bailey broke loose for an 83-yard scoring run.

College Football Bracket Challenge

GET READY TO COMPETE

Pick your champion (you can change it later). We’ll email you when brackets open.

No purchase necessary. 50 U.S./D.C. 18+. Entry opens 3PM ET Dec 6, 2026 and closes 8PM ET Dec 18, 2026. Void where prohibited.See for complete details. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is not a sponsor or administrator of this contest.

Wentz finished 26 of 40 for 335 yards and four scores but also threw his first two interceptions this season. Wentz had 143 attempts without a pick until then.

Bailey ran for 157 yards and Daurice Fountain had 110 yards receiving for the Panthers.

The Bison (4-1, 2-0) have won four straight.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Published | Modified