News
There are magic markers (fun!) and gambling markers (dangerous?) and there are Dakota markers (actual stones that mark a geographical boundary).
And in football there is The Dakota Marker Game or “The Marker”.
The Dakota Marker will be played this Saturday, October 15 in Fargo between North Dakota State and South Dakota State and it is one of the biggest matchups of the season in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
“The Brawl of the Wild” played between Montana and Montana State is usually a fantastic matchup every year as well, but right now North Dakota State is ranked #1 in the FCS and South Dakota State is #2 This will be the first time they meet as the two top-ranked teams.
That fact alone moves this matchup to the front of the line.
Series History
Here is some history on the Marker from the NDSU sports information department:
“NDSU and SDSU have played for the Dakota Marker since 2004, the first year of Division I competition for both schools. The Bison have a 10-8 edge in the annual game; postseason games are not included. The trophy is a 75-pound model replica of the original quartzite monuments that were 7 feet long and 10 inches square and placed at half-mile intervals along the state border in 1891 and 1892.”
To “raise the rock” is an honor and tradition and you have to excuse the teams when they skip the post-game handshakes to rush over to snatch the trophy and parade it around like the Stanley Cup. It’s a big deal.
ESPN’s College Gameday came to Brookings for the Marker game in 2019 and that coincided with the first sellout at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium with 19,371 fanatics in attendance.
In addition to all the attention and hype there is another fact: These teams don’t really care a lot for each other.
Ask a current or former Bison player about the Jacks or the other way around and you might get a few respectful responses, but for the most part you won’t want small children around to hear the answer.
A final tidbit that adds to the aura of the Marker matchup… the games are usually really good!
Here is a rundown of the last seven Marker games.
2015 in Brooking | NDSU 28, SDSU 7
*6 Marker wins in a row for the Bison
2016 in Fargo | SDSU 19, NDSU 17
*Taryn Christion TD pass to Jake Wieneke with :01 left
2017 in Brookings | SDSU 33, NDSU 21
*5 Bison turnovers *Taryn Christion – 329 yds, 2 TD passes
2018 in Fargo | NDSU 21, SDSU 17
*Easton Stick TD run in 4th quarter
2019 in Brookings | NDSU 23, SDSU 16
*Adam Cofield 71-yard TD run on 4th down
Spring 2021 in Fargo | SDSU 27, NDSU 17
*Tied 17-17 after 3 quarters
Fall 2021 in Brookings | SDSU 27, NDSU 19
*Pierre Strong – 156 yds rushing, 2 TD