Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

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.

First Down - The receiving record is going down this year.

Bryce Lance's game yesterday was a clear throwback to a classic game from Christian Watson in 2019, as Jeff Kolpack wrote about yesterday. Lance took over the game on two separate occasions, the first offensive snap for the Bison, then late in the first half, first on a beautiful deep ball from Cole Payton, then on a touchdown grab from Payton to end the first half.

Lance's receiving touchdown was his 21st all-time score, putting him sixth alone in school history. The more remarkable feat was that he had zero entering the 2024 season. His next score will tie him with two all-time greats, T.R. McDonald and RJ Urzendowski. Lance stands just seven behind the all-time leader, Zach Vraa. With NDSU having six regular season games to go and at least one playoff game, there's a good chance we're witnessing the Bison all-time touchdown receiving leader in school history.

Second Down - The Bison may have a starter sitting at safety this coming week. Starter Darius Givance was ejected for targeting after a replay review of a hit that came late in the third quarter. There was no penalty issued on the play, but the replay official can call down to the field to say that they are looking at the play.

"It's interesting how Darius reacted, which tells me he's all in with this football team and his teammates," said head coach Tim Polasek "He was really disappointed in himself, and I said things happen, you're playing hard. We'll turn it in and see what happens."

There is a new procedure in place for teams regarding the targeting rule in 2025. Teams can appeal the ruling to their respective conference officials to get the affected player reinstated for the following game. As it stands now, Givance would have to sit out the first half of Saturday's game at Indiana State.

Off of memory, Givance's ejection for targeting is the first for a Bison player since Jabril Cox was ejected in the second half of NDSU's win over Northern Iowa in 2017. Cox had to miss the first half of the following week's game at South Dakota State. As the story goes, Cox was in full uniform, sitting in a staffer's car in the first half to stay warm before getting to play in the second half.

Third Down - The tight ends may be getting thin.

Senior Carson Williams did not play yesterday because of a foot injury, something that bothered him during fall camp. Fellow senior Finn Diggins left the game with an injury and was seen hugging his parents on the sidelines during the TV broadcast. Polasek said after the game that it's likely a broken bone in Diggins foot, which will cause him to miss the rest of the season.

The Bison have enjoyed the emergence of Reis Kessel, who made another big play yesterday, but with Williams and Diggins hurt, who is next in line?

Truman Werremeyer can flex out to play the spot, he had a reception yesterday. Juniors Kaden Zensen and Luke Kokota along with redshirt freshman Jett Zabel would be the next in line to get more reps.

Expectations were low for the tight end spot heading into 2025, but production has been high. It will be interesting to see who plays more after the injuries to NDSU's two most experienced players at this spot.

Fourth Down - Remember the touting of the crowds to the Fargodome?

That seems preemptive after a crowd of 15,812 was at the Dome Saturday for a top-eight matchup. There were different social media campaigns put on during the week, including the head football coach trying to get people to come to the game.

With the season opener and homecoming, big crowds were expected and that was the case. But the rest of the schedule will be a challenge to get butts in the seats. Southern Illinois, while ranked eighth in the country, is not a rival and doesn't stir up the emotion for the fans who may be on the fence of going. To that point, SIU has never won in Fargo.

The final three home opponents aren't exactly going to pump people up either. Youngstown State is the next home game on Nov. 1, which will mark the Penguins first trip to Fargo since 2022. YSU has an electric quarterback in its own right in Beau Brungard, but that's not a team that will excite people.

After that, it's Northern Iowa on Nov. 15 and St. Thomas the following Saturday. The Panthers are a shell of what they were and St. Thomas is a non-scholarship team. The only appealing factor of that game is it's Senior Day, which may be some more people out.

The marketing and engagement teams at NDSU are going to have their work cut out for them, but it appears it may be the same old deal with fans coming to the games.