The 2018 North Dakota State Bison football team represented North Dakota State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Chris Klieman, who also coached his final season with the Bison before heading off to take over for the retiring Bill Snyder at Kansas State. The team played their 26th season in the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota as members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They entered the season as defending National Champions and had won six of the last seven FCS titles. In 2018, the Bison finished the regular season 11–0, the first undefeated Bison season since the 2013 campaign, and won their eighth consecutive MVFC title. They received an automatic qualifying bid to the FCS playoff tournament and were seeded as the No. 1 team. The Bison then went 4–0 in the FCS playoffs to finish 15–0 and FCS champions.
Preseason
Award watch lists Walter Payton AwardBruce AndersonRBSREaston StickQBSRBuck Buchanan AwardGreg MenardDESR
Preseason MVFC poll The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Bison predicted unanimously to win the MVFC championship.
Preseason All-MVFC Teams The Bison placed eleven players on the preseason all-MVFC teams.
Offense
1st team
Bruce Anderson – RB
Brock Robbins – FB
Zack Johnson – OL
Tanner Volson – OL
2nd team
Easton Stick – QB
Darrius Shepherd – WR
Defense
1st team
Greg Menard – DL
Aaron Steidl – DL
Jabril Cox – LB
Robbie Grimsley – DB
2nd team
Derrek Tuszka – DL
Schedule
Source: Schedule
Game summaries Polls are based on the FCS STATS Poll
Cal Poly
North Alabama
Delaware
South Dakota State
At Northern Iowa
At Western Illinois
Illinois State
At South Dakota
Youngstown State
At Missouri State
Southern Illinois
FCS Playoffs
Montana State–Second Round
Colgate–Quarterfinals
South Dakota State–Semifinals
Eastern Washington–Championship
Ranking movements
Players drafted into the NFL
5 166 Easton Stick QB Los Angeles Chargers
References