North Dakota State 31, Nevada 17
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Fargo, N.D. - Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome
FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State's Jackson Williams returned a failed Nevada field-goal attempt 100 yards on the final play of the first half, one of a handful of wild plays that cost the Wolf Pack in its 31-17 loss to the Bison at the Fargodome.
Joe McFadden's 57-yard attempt on the final play of the half was short and right, and Williams followed his blockers along the left sideline all the way to the other end. The full-field return capped a Bison run of 19 unanswered points over the final six minutes, four seconds of the half and erased an 11-0 Nevada lead.
Nevada (2-4, 1-2 MW) rebounded briefly, forcing a Bison punt on the opening drive of the second half then capitalizing on a
Gerick Robinson 25-yard punt return to the Wolf Pack 49-yard line.
Gary Givens III capped the drive with a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch from
AJ Bianco, the 19-yard play putting the Pack a two-point conversion away from drawing even.
But the Bison blew up the Wolf Pack conversion, forcing a fumble which was scooped up by Matthew Stenbroten and returned the other way for two points and a 21-17 North Dakota State lead.
The Bison (6-1, 3-1 MW) added a Drew Klein 39-yard field goal after an interception to go up seven, then took control early in the fourth quarter on Nathan Hayes' 12-yard touchdown pass to Reis Kessel which made it a 14-point game at 31-17.
AJ Bianco made his first start of the season at quarterback for the Wolf Pack, going 17-for-34 for 190 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Bianco also opened the scoring with a 15-yard scamper as the Pack converted the two-point conversion to go up 8-0.
Jeremy Naborne-Owens and
EJ Smith led the Wolf Pack defense with 13 and 12 tackles, respectively.
Nevada returns to Mackay Stadium for action for the first time in a month next Saturday, hosting San José State for the 2026 Homecoming Game at 2 p.m.
