OK, we know there will be butts in the seats, the freshmen will have beds to sleep in, finals will be over, the tailgates will be rockin', and there will be a football game played at 2pm. Time to start talking some ball!

If you're a stats geek, here is a nice and easy-to-read, side-by-side stat comparison of the Aggies and the Redbirds.

Here's my take and the statistics from that article in a brief summary:

He who runs the ball and protects the QB shall win. Who can impose their will, get their talented Running Back loose, and force the opposing QB into critical errors?

I think It's going to come down to pass pro and which QB can play within himself and not try do too much.

Mission Accomplished. Thanks for the add. You guys are great!

From the Twittersphere: Montana State boards their band (yes, the marching band) during winter break for playoff games. Tarleton has offered student housing for students staying around on campus for the playoff run. And in case I forgot to mention it, $1 hot dogs and $1 beer. The longer we wait to do something, the more kids will go home. Not to mention the potentially homeless football players.

Good call by AggieFinn, these guys are putting in the work and getting the word out there about Aggie Football. Thanks to all, all signs of growth and positive movement

Hey, I don't say it enough, but the content that we put on here - go into YouTube and give these guys likes. Mega-big thanks to guys like Colter at Skyline Sports and his exhaustive coverage of Big Sky Football, Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross for having coach on KHTK 1140 AM every week, and especially Brock and Dwight for all they do with the Podcast. All these videos should get liked by every Aggie that watches them, spread the love.

Indeed. Watching your coach rewind the play you screwed up on five times in a row while your buddies heckle is a tie that binds!: good times!

do it!!

I’m debating whether to drive up just for this game

Tarleton is also offering $1 hot dogs AND $1 beer on Saturday! Priorities baby!

I think it's an open tailgate at Bob Biggs Field. Please bring beer and bring something to grill - they will all be consumed so don't worry about the aftermath.

Open invitation to all Illinois State fans as well, come and get it, we want to talk about the MVFC with you so much. Please come say hi.

I hate that we are the only game on +

Okay I have been brooding over this whole crap-show of housing stuff and yeah its so dumb. First of all, as everyone seems to have mentioned student turnout was already going to be crappy right after finals week, but kicking everyone out the morning of the game is really goofy, extend it by a damn day! We already have a decent amount of students graduating who can't go (im projecting :cry: ) but my point stands that they already have factors going against them that hurt attendance, this seems like a no brainer.

Also, this is really really goofy in an era of NIL and recruiting at the height of our program. Having players sleeping on the floor of Plough's house or at a Motel 6 in your own damn college down the day of the game screams amateur hour.

The good news (environment wise) is ticket sales are pretty strong, should be a good crowd if the sales reflect on the ground support. May and the university have been pretty awesome about athletics, you would think they could work this out.

All pure speculation. Good for the brands to be mentioned with MWC and conference re-alignments. I'm sure the artists formerly known as the Go-Go's across the Causeway would love to be mentioned with such regard. But hey, I hear applications are up (unlike their stingers)!

I wonder if there is any coincidence in scheduling North Dakota State home and away

(according to direct university sources as reported by TBM) — Jdur

Righhhhhhht.......
Nobody with UC Davis athletics has said anything publicly about a timeline....I doubt anyone affiliated with the University would be telling these two guys anything....

I randomly went back and breezed through some old Causeway games on YouTube.

From the first Big Sky season in 2012 to now, the jump in the athletic ability of Davis players has been astounding. In those years, Davis had a few guys on each side of the ball that could really ball, and things were not very competitive vs. BSC opponents. Starting in 2017 things started to take off. Now Plough is on fire. FCS top-10 talent all over the field.

Even as frustrated as folks get with the limitations the program faces, its great to see the exponential improvement. Things have come a long way.

Tickets secured, see you all Saturday! Go Ags

well he's 100% aware of the issue, it was glaringly obvious as soon as NDSU lost that we'd be hosting another game. yet, with the last 4 days to discuss an alternative, nothing has come up, with the AGGIE newsletter already going out... unless an announcement came today it seems inherently unlikely that anything will change -- meaning there will be no student section at the game.

appreciate the welcome and am excited to keep contributing to boards, didn't know these forums existed and have just been commenting on r/cfb and r/fcs to talk about aggie football before, good to see a mostly active community

Coach and AD should make nonstop noise about this dorm situation

Find Joy. Tim Plough is genuinely building something awesome here and it's always impressed me.

I personally believe that Pinnick is unusually mature and realizes that he, Coach Plough, and the team have something special. He also benefits from family close by. My gut tells me he completes this year and next, and then he has a serious decision to make. There are innumerable risks bouncing, and nothing but opportunities here to grow and perfect his crafts.

I've followed college athletics for a long time, and could tell you stories about chicanery, deceit, lies, manipulation, illegal behavior, and more, whether by coaches, staff, or community members. We Aggies steer clear of that, from Lotter to Sochor to Plough, it's not our culture. The recent influx of millions has to only make that 10x worse.

Plough's interview today - again too low on volume - suggests Vargas may be close to returning! That would be phenomenal. Go Ags!

Wild that this is the stuff a D1 program deals with.

The things that make Davis great far outweigh this type of thing though, thankfully (for now). The guys seem to really love the program. Plough is doing things the right way.

Plough mentioned this was a problem even for guys on the team living in the dorms - potentially have to sleep on floors or get hotels. I’d love to hear a compelling reason from student housing why people can’t stay till Sunday even if no dining hall. It’s not like they’re paying OT to clean the hallway carpets on the weekend.

"Build a great environment and your guys will want to stay" Plough has the right idea when it comes to the transfer era. Try to encourage the young bucks to stick for 2-3 years for the many great reasons he stated in the presser, and help the older guys realize their dreams if they want to leave. The key is always keep it about the kids and their best interest. Can't lose.

Welcome to our forum and thanks for coming over and chatting with us.

Congratulations for your win over NDSU. I watched that game and it was a classic. I'm sure it's right up there with some of the best wins your program has ever had. Throwing 5 INT's and still finding a way to win the game in the Fargodome is remarkable. The Redbirds are obviously a very good football team. I think Saturday's game will be a real dogfight.

Lots of big info in this one! LOTS

We my look like them, but unlike Notre Dame we are choosing to still play football games- lol

Link to Illinois State fan board below. They are like us, pretty active posters.

Both this year and last year they've seemed like a nice bunch. It was nice having the Rhody fan visit last week but the ones on the URI board were constantly bad mouthing the Ags. Don't see that with the Redbirds. Of course the team wants revenge for last year.

https://www.redbirdfan.net/community/index.php?forums/football.40/

My bet is on Pinnick returning for 2026. This is his first year as a starter! He's tight with Plough and Shelton, he's tight with the families, and it just feels like he needs another year to get things dialed in and make the real money. I don't know the kid or his situation, but from what I observe, it just feels like he is comfortable here and humble enough to understand that he needs to continue to develop. Beyond that, no certainty but it is another year to raise the money needed to keep him beyond that. This is only a blind prediction...

In response to Sailorgabe's prediction, I think Cleeland has the upper hand heading into the off season for the back up job OR to be the guy IF CP were to take the money. Eason has measurables but not a lot of experience, and if he's better than Cleeland, he'll prove it this off season or down the road sometime. Let 'em battle it out in the spring. I see Guess moving to receiver/returner to learn under Gbatu this spring and fall.

I'll take 3 more Pinnick-led wins this year and then he can go play wherever he wants next year.