SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana University football returns to action this Saturday, Oct. 10, taking on No. 1 Minnesota State University, Mankato (5-0, 1-0 NSIC South) on the road. The Vikings (4-1, 1-0 NSIC South) and Mavericks will square-off at Blakeslee Stadium with kickoff set for 2 p.m.
 
Saturday's game will be the 46th meeting between Augustana and Minnesota State. The Vikings own a one-game lead in the all-time series, winning 23 of the 45 meetings. The Mavericks have won the last four meetings between the two teams, including two narrow victories the last two seasons.
 
Last season, Minnesota State defeated the Vikings 34-28 at Kirkeby-Over Stadium but in 2013, the Vikings led the Mavericks 10-6 in the fourth quarter before the Mavericks scored 14 unanswered points to escape with a 20-10 win in Mankato.
 
Augustana and Minnesota State enter Saturday's game as the top two defenses against the run in the conference. Minnesota State leads the league allowing just 70.6 rushing yards per game while the Vikings rank second allowing just 92.2 yards per contest. Augustana did not allow a team to rush for over 100 yards in four straight games to open the season.
 
The Mavericks currently lead the NSIC in rushing yards averaging 262.4 per game while the Vikings rank sixth in the league picking up 183.8 yards on the ground. Augustana also owns the third-best passing offense in the NSIC through five games, averaging 274 yards through the air per game.
 
For more information on this week's game, read this week's INFOGRAPHIC game notes HERE.