North Dakota State wraps up the month of October with a first-time opponent, as Missouri Valley conference newbie Murray State comes to the Fargodome this weekend.

Murray State was a founding member of the Ohio Valley Conference and left in July as the school wanted to join the Missouri Valley Conference to enhance its basketball profile. The football team was added to the MVFC in April 2022, becoming the 12th school in the league.

The Racers are led by 59-year-old head coach Dean Hood, who's trying to end a 22-year playoff drought for MSU. Murray State last made the postseason in 2001.

North Dakota State enters off a 52-7 win over Western Illinois to improve the Bison to a mark of 5-2. They may be shorthanded again this week as tight end Joe Stoffel will likely miss the game with a banged up shoulder. Stoffel fell hard on his right shoulder as he scored a touchdown against Western Illinois and left the game.

Head coach Matt Entz says a rotation of Carson Williams, Hunter Brozio and Finn Diggins could likely replace Stoffel in the game this weekend.

The Bison are still searching for a 100-yard rusher out of the running back room, which has yet to happen this season. Barika Kpeenu rushed for 95 yards last week against the Leathernecks.

The Forum's Jeff Kolpack and WDAY's Dom Izzo preview the matchup between Murray State and NDSU and look ahead to the final four weeks of the season as the playoff picture starts to come into focus.