Illinois State hosts North Dakota State for its 100th homecoming game Saturday in Normal. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)

Throughout college football, some programs refer to third down as the “money down.”

In five games this fall, Illinois State’s football team is failing to cash in.

The Redbirds (2-3) rank last in the 11-team Missouri Valley Football Conference in third-down offense and third-down defense.

“That’s disappointing,” head coach Brock Spack said during his weekly press conference. “Third down has been a big issue on both sides of the ball. We’ve been pretty good in years past.”

The Redbird offense has converted 27% of its third-down opportunities and is averaging just three conversions a game.

Now comes a matchup with unbeaten North Dakota State (5-0, 2-0 MVFC), which is ranked No. 3 nationally, for a visit to Normal. The Bison lead all MVFC defenses by allowing a 22% success rate on third down. The two teams kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday in an MVFC game.

Defensively, ISU (0-2 MVFC) is allowing opponents to have success on 50% of its third downs, an average of eight per game.

“A lot of it is pressure on the quarterback,” said Spack, whose team has a league-low six sacks in five games. “That’s been a big issue, finding ways to put pressure on. We have to win our one-on-one matchups. We’re not doing that right now.”

The Bison rank fourth in the league on offensive third-down conversions (41%) and bring an offense that is averaging 35.4 points a game behind the nation’s No. 1 ground game (289.8 yards).

Illinois State, which is coming off a bye week, has allowed at least 24 points in each of its last three games, two of which were against ranked teams.

News and notes

Sophomore Bryce Jefferson, who sustained a sprained right shoulder in the first quarter of ISU’s Sept. 18 victory at Eastern Illinois, will return to the starting lineup, Spack said, to face NDSU. … The Bison lead the series between the two schools, 12-2, and have won the last 10 games in a row against the Redbirds. … ISU senior defensive back Jarrell Jackson leads the conference with seven passes defended. … This week, ISU’s depth chart lists Bloomington native Franky West as a starter opposite Jackson at the two cornerback spots. Redshirt freshman Braden Price had started ISU’s first five games.

Where to find the game

ISU kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at home against the undefeated Bison in Normal. The game will air on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN-Plus. The radio call is available online at WJBC.com. https://www.wjbc.com/