Breakdown

The Upside Down is a trendy bit right now because of a certain extremely-popular series but far from fiction, that's been the existence for Minnesota football fans on Sundays of late and now also applies to the NDSU football team.

Not since 2009 have the Bison had their season conclude this early

That is the dynasty

Many of the current players had not even held a full-size football when it started

It's truly a remarkable run of consistency

That is the big picture but for the game

Code Green executed one of the very best defensive performances any of us will ever see on any level of the game. Illinois St. matched their season total of interceptions in the game

IN THE GAME!

It was a ridiculous effort

Add in Jackson Williams' punt return touchdown and it is an even more inexcusable ending to the season

But after averaging better than 42 points/game for the season they had the opening strike to Bryce Lance and the gift of a score by Barika Kpeenu following Anthony Chideme-Alfaro's take & run to the four yard line in the fourth quarter. The offense was rock bottom, it was like they had never played football before, it was every negative characterization that you can think of.

Just a complete waste of the historic run of postseason play and defensive supremacy.

So props to AC-A, Nathaniel Staehling who had two picks, Donovan Woolen & Taylen Eady as well as Toby Anene who had the lone sack as well as three of the five pass break-ups - while working from the defensive line. But our Saturdays are now suddenly, shockingly, wide open more than a month early. Road trips can end with a fiery wreck, it's just been so long and happened so infrequently overall that the coming-to-grips with it happening and what it could mean for the future will take many more hours - like weeks worth of hours - to settle in.

Until next season, be well!