Husker Film Room

Week 3FCS visit, Lincoln

North DakotaatNebraska

Sat., Sept. 19, 2026 · 6:15 PM CT · BTN · Memorial Stadium, Lincoln

213 plays · 3 games · 2026, before the Nebraska game

· Numbers are from play-by-play and film charts; they don't account for injuries after North Dakota's last game before Sept. 19 (Portland State, LIU, St. Thomas).

North Dakota's offense moved the ball easily early, averaging 7.6 yards a play and succeeding on 60% of plays.

Source: [2]

The bottom line

North Dakota's offense, 213 plays from the ESPN play-by-play over 3 games (2026 games before Nebraska: LIU, St. Thomas, Portland State): 58% run, 7.6 yards a play, 60% success and 37 explosives (run 10+, pass 20+).

Open the interactive fieldFull report (PDF)

The film room

North Dakota offense, 213 plays, ESPN play-by-play in 3 games, 2026 games before Nebraska: LIU, St. Thomas, Portland State. Tap a zone on the field, pick a down & distance, and read what they like. [2]

Start here
Down & distance
Field zone (or tap the field)
QB on the field
NEBRASKANEBRASKA101020203030404050504040303020201010

Replays show the ball path from the snap spot to the charted spot; no formation or routes are drawn (none charted).

Success = 40% of the yards needed on 1st down, 60% on 2nd, all of it on 3rd and 4th. Explosive = a run of 10+ or a pass play of 20+ yards (the play-by-play definitions; Week 7's film grids use 12+ / 16+). Source: the ESPN play-by-play, scrimmage plays only. There is no result column (touchdown, interception, fumble), so results are not shown. Formation, personnel, motion, coverage, front, blitz and hash were not charted for this week, so replays show only the ball path and those sections are hidden. [2]

What they are

213
Plays
3 games · ESPN play-by-play [2]
Post on X
58%
Run rate
123 run / 90 pass (of 213) [2]
Post on X
7.6
Yards per play
run 6.4 · pass 9.3 (incl. sacks) [2]
Post on X
60%
Success rate
128 of 213 · 40/60/100 rule [2]
Post on X
37
Explosive plays
of 213 · run 10+, pass 20+ [2]
Post on X

Top tendencies

  • 1st & 10: 54 runs, 39 passes (58% run, 93 plays).
  • 3rd & 5+: pass on 15 of 19 (79%); 8 hit the success bar.
  • Red zone (20-in): run on 24 of 43 (56%).
  • Top ball carrier: M.Lawson, 29 of 123 runs, 5.3 a carry.
  • Top target: D.Deng, 15 of 90 pass plays, 10.2 a target.

Sources: [2]

Sources

Stats through kickoff: North Dakota's 2026 games before Sept. 19 (LIU, St. Thomas, Portland State). Every number on this page ties to one of these. Film charting is our own work from broadcast-angle cut-ups; no film or broadcast images are published here.

Top of page: The bottom line [2].

  1. [1] ESPN: Nebraska 2026 football schedule (date, kickoff, TV, venue)
  2. [2] ESPN play-by-play: North Dakota offense, scrimmage plays only, LIU, St. Thomas, Portland State. Down, distance, spot, gain, ball carrier/target, direction; success and explosive flags computed by the Husker Film Room scouting desk