Sunday Slants is a weekly feature after North Dakota State games to focus on four big points (or downs) from the prior day’s game.

North Dakota State is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 2021 season after a 51-13 dismantling of South Dakota in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener. Cole Payton was sensational, combining for 375 yards and three touchdowns in the rout. The Bison defense chipped in with a second interception returned for a touchdown.

The Bison have allowed just three touchdowns in the four games and have just one turnover.

First Down - Cole Payton has been other-wordly to begin 2025. His performance through the first four games has to exceed even the biggest of Bison fans hopes. Saturday though, we saw the first designed runs of the season for Payto

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