Northeastern State takes a 52-10 win over William Jewell and a renewed playoff push into Saturday’s Oklahoma Gridiron Classic against Langston. The RiverHawks lead the all-time series, which resumes for the first time since 1996. A strong showing could help NSU stay in contention for its first playoff berth since 2000.

By the Numbers
  • NSU leads the series 23-8-1; its last meeting with Langston was a 28-6 win in 1996.
  • NSU is 11th in Super Region 4’s NPI rankings and needs to finish among the top four at-large teams in the region to reach the playoffs.
  • Quarterback Donnie Smith has a program-record 384 career completions and 5,068 passing yards.
  • Kickoff is Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. at W.E. Anderson Stadium.
Yes, But

NSU enters as the stronger recent team, but the playoff path remains tight: the RiverHawks must climb into the region’s at-large cutoff with three regular-season games left. Langston has lost four straight, though the in-state rivalry and road setting add uncertainty.

State of Play
  • NSU is coming off a 52-10 victory, with 285 rushing yards and a defense that held William Jewell to 172 total yards.
  • Langston has allowed at least 69 points in two games and ranks last in the Sooner Athletic Conference in run defense, giving up 246.6 yards per game.
  • Smith is among the nation’s top passers, while freshmen Mikail Trotter and Jordan Schelling have driven a young ground game.
What's Next

NSU looks to build momentum against Langston before its final two regular-season games. Each result will matter as the RiverHawks pursue a playoff spot.

Bottom Line

The matchup gives NSU a chance to extend its recent form and strengthen its postseason case—but the RiverHawks still need to turn their remaining schedule into a top-four at-large finish.