Finally watching the NDSU/MSU game deeper.

1st Trey Lance TD. Excellent blocking in front of him to open up the lane into the endzone. This is what NDSU does best. Blocking.

1st MSU TD. Ballsy call to go for it on 4th in goal after two straight predictable runs up the middle. Credit the MSU OL for absolutely shoving the NDSU DL out of the way for a gaping hole.

2nd TD NDSU. Watson gets wide open and credit to him. However, the MSU defender assigned to him just stood still and wasn't even watching him. He was able to easily run right past him and was already 5+ yards ahead of the defender by the time he realized he was passing. A player couldn't be more wide open and it's because of a god awful blown assignment. The same defender scrambled after him for a missed tackle. Textbook example of bad CB play.

3rd TD NDSU. Watson with a direct hand off. this play developed due to 3 excellent blocks around the edge and then a LB or S being slow and taking a bad angle as the last hope to fill that gaping hole. I credit the 3 great blocks and Watson's speed bursting through the hole as he smokes the slow MSU defenders.

4th TD NDSU. On this drive, MSU defenders struggle to bring down Trey Lance not just 1 on 1 but it requires 2 or 3 guys to finally bring him down. The YAC Lance is getting is crazy. MSU defenders already look gassed before the half.
The TD itself is a TD pass, one great block and 3 missed tackles.

By this point in the game, NDSU's OL is allowing lance to just sip tea back there. Zero pressure by MSU's front 7.

2nd MSU TD. A drive from a forced fumble, credit for getting points following a TO. MSU WR outruns the NDSU DB, albeit not as egregiously as the earlier Watson TD. The NDSU defender was able to stay within 2 yards and was just a touch too slow in keeping up with the receiver.

5th NDSU TD. The entire MSU DL tries to get to Lance, but cannot. The play develops for long enough to where a WR is wide open by 10 yards for an easy TD. This TD was more on the DL not getting home on the sack more than anything.

6th NDSU TD. A completely contained DL, 2 missed tackles and a safety who is simply too slow to have a chance. This then sets up an easy 2 yard QB keeper with a scrambling D that wasn't set and ready. Looked completely disorganized at the goal line.

NDSU looks great, but MSU also looks bad. It's both. The reality is that teams like MSU need to step it up on D if they want any chance at competing for an FCS title. Their program focus needs to be on improving their defense and it starts with recruiting faster players.