North Dakota State Bison

Location: Fargo.

Coach: Craig Bohl, sixth season (43-12)

2007 record: 3-1 Great West Conference (second), 10-1 overall

Top offensive returnees: Tyler Roehl, sr., RB (207-1,431, 21 TD). Jerimiah Wurzbacher, sr., TE (23-321 yards, five TD). Keith Buckman, jr., OT. Kole Heckendorf, sr., WR (48-766, six TD).

Top defensive returnees: Joe Lardinois, sr., DE (12.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks). Ramon Humber, sr., LB (72 tackles, three sacks). Nick Schommer, sr., FS (64 tackles, four interceptions).

Top special teams returners: Shamen Washington, sr. (13.6 punt return average, 27.1 kickoff return average). Shawn Bibeau, jr., K (14-for-19 FG, longest 51 yards).

n NOTES: NDSU's average home attendance in the Fargodome has grown from 11,567 in 2003 to a school record 18,141 achieved in 2007, including three sellouts. The Bison are 25-3 at home during that span. … NDSU is 6-0 against nationally-ranked teams over the past two years. … Were ranked No. 1 in the FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll for seven weeks during 2007 season. … Roehl rushed for a school-record 263 yards against Minnesota last season. … Heckendorf has caught at least one pass in 25 straight games and 32 of 33 games overall in his career.

Illinois State Redbirds

Location: Normal, Ill.

Coach: Denver Johnson, 12th season (66-58)

2007 record: 2-4 Gateway (sixth), 4-7 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Eyad Salem, jr., WR (31-460, four TD). Geno Blow, jr., TB (143-776, eight TD). Erik Madsen, sr., OL.

Top defensive returnees: Tom Nelson, sr., S (86 tackles, two interceptions). Brandon Wilson, jr., LB (50 tackles, two sacks).

Top special teams returner: Bobby Kelsey, sr., P (39.0 average, 16 inside the 20).

n NOTES: Struggled defensively in 2007. Surrendered 427.9 yards per game. … Play four of their first five games on the road. … Coach Johnson was the head coach at Murray State from 1997-99. 1997-99.

Indiana State Sycamores

Location: Terre Haute, Ind.

Coach: Trent Miles, first season.

2007 record: 0-6 Gateway (seventh), 0-11 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Charles Dowdell, so., QB (92-363, one TD rushing, 45 completions, 623 yards, four TD passing). Jack Byrne, sr., C.

Top defensive returnees: Darius Middlebrooks, so., DB (92 tackles). Donye McCleskey, jr., DB (58 tackles).

Top special teams returner: Corey Varnadore, so., K (4-for-7 FG).

n NOTES: The Sycamores will be looking for their first winning season since 1996. Will not play home opener until Sept. 27, against Illinois State. … Miles spent the 2000 campaign as part of the Green Bay Packers coaching staff. Miles is a former player for ISU.

Missouri State Bears

Location: Springfield, Mo.

Coach: Terry Allen, third season at MSU (8-14), 15th season overall (103-73)

2007 record: 2-4 Gateway (fifth), 6-5 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Cody Kirby, so., QB (149 completions, 1,742 yards, 11 TD). Clay Harbor, jr., TE (45-647, three TD). Seth Reichert, sr., OG.

Top defensive returnees: Jeremy Dawson, sr., LB (99 tackles, one sack). Derek Miller, so., S (82 tackles, one interception).

Top special teams returner: None.

n NOTES: The Bears averaged 49.5 points a game at Plaster Field last season and averaged more than 40 points a game in their six wins. Their overall 36.3 scoring average was the best for an 11-game season in program history. … Kirby took over as starter in the fourth game last season.

Northern Iowa Panthers

Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Coach: Mark Farley, eighth season (63-25).

2007 record: 6-0 Gateway (first), 12-1 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Corey Lewis, sr., RB (258-1,513, 16 TD). Johnny Gray, sr., WR (70-910, five TD).

Top defensive returnees: De'Veon Harris, sr. MLB (87 tackles, three sacks, one interception). Darrell Lloyd, sr., CB (52 tackles, three interceptions).

Top special teams returners: Johnny Gray, sr., (16.9 punt return average). Billy Hallgren, so., K (96 points).

n NOTES: In 2007, UNI became the first team in the 23-year history of the Gateway Football Conference to post a perfect 11-0 regular season. The Panthers also became the first Gateway team to record a perfect 6-0 mark in road games. … In 2007, UNI set a single-season average attendance record by drawing 16,118 fans per game. Also, for the first time in school history, UNI sold out three straight games in the Dome. … Coach Farley earned National Coach of the Year honors and was also named the 2007 Bruce Craddock Gateway Coach of the Year.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Location: Brookings, S.D.

Coach: John Stiegelmeier, 12th season (68-51).

2007 record: 4-0 Great West (first), 7-4 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Ryan Berry, sr., QB (197 completions, 2,132 yards, 19 TD). JaRon Harris, sr., WR (40-664, seven TD). Kyle Minett, So., RB (77-476, five TD).

Top defensive returnees: Eric Schroeder, sr., DT (68 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, six and one-half sacks). Jimmy Rogers, jr., LB (110 tackles). Chris Johnson, jr., LB (106 tackles).

Top special teams returners: Adam Monke, jr., RB (26.2 kickoff return average, one TD). Dean Priddy, so., P (38.6 average, 14 inside the 20).

n NOTES: SDSU claimed its first conference title since 1963 by winning the Great West championship. … SDSU started 0-3 for the second straight year and then reeled off seven wins in its final eight games. … Has posted six straight winning seasons.

Southern Illinois Salukis

Location: Carbondale, Ill.

Coach: Dale Lennon, first season at SIU, 12th season overall (102-33).

2007 record: 5-1 Gateway (second), 12-2 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Mike Farrell, sr., C. Aaron Lockwood, sr., LG. Shawn Smith, jr., RG.

Top defensive returnees: Chauncey Mixon, jr., OLB (118 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six sacks). Brandin Jordan, jr., ILB (97 tackles, nine tackles for loss). Marty Rogers, jr., S (73 tackles, two interceptions).

Top special teams returner: Kyle Dougherty, so., K (15-for-19 FG). Scott Ravanesi, jr., P (45.8 average).

n NOTES: Will be looking for its sixth consecutive postseason appearance. … Defense was ranked second in the Gateway in 2007, allowing just 17.4 points a game. … SIU owns the nation's second-longest NCAA FCS playoff streak and has won 10 or more games in three of the last five years. … Lennon coached at the University of North Dakota and at the University of Mary. Since the start of the 2003 season, Lennon's teams have compiled a 54-12 record, including five-consecutive 10-win seasons.

Western Illinois Leathernecks

Location: Macomb, Ill.

Coach: Don Patterson, 10th season (61-42).

2007 record: 3-3 Gateway (fourth), 6-5 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Herb Donaldson, sr., RB (259-1,491 yards, 10 TD). Matt Barr, so., QB (115 completions, 1,305 yards, four TD). Carl Sims, sr., WR (45-546 yards, two TD).

Top defensive returnees: Jason Williams, sr., LB (107 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks). Patrick Stoudamire, jr., DB (41 tackles, three interceptions). Travis Cherry, sr., LB (81 tackles, one interception).

Top special teams returner: Taylor Rowan, sr., K (19-for-31 field goals 117-for-117 career PAT).

n NOTES: Field 10 returning all-conference honorees, including four All-Americans. … Donaldson on pace to become the school's all-time leading rusher in his third season as a starter. … Coach Patterson took a leave of absence because of a diagnosis of tonsillar cancer. He will miss the preseason camp and several games early in the season. … Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mark Hendrickson will serve as acting head coach. … Patterson needs just four victories to become the winningest coach in Leatherneck history.

Youngstown State Penguins

Location: Youngstown, Ohio.

Coach: Jon Heacock, eighth season (50-31).

2007 record: 3-3 Gateway (third), 7-4 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Ferlando Williams, sr., WR (42-499 receiving, 74-464 rushing, 11 TD). Brad Samsa, sr., C. Kevin Smith, sr., TB (123-610, 10 TD).

Top defensive returnees: Roshon Simons, jr., LB (55 tackles). Mychal Savage, sr., DT (43 tackles, four and one-half sacks). Torrance Nicholson, so., DT (42 tackles, two sacks).

Top special teams returners: Brian Palmer, sr., K (14-for-15 FG). Ben Nowicki, jr., P (37.1 average, 19 inside 20).

n NOTES: Williams was named the 2007 conference newcomer of the year. … Three are competing for starting QB job third-year player Todd Rowan, Brandon Summers (transfer from Toledo) and redshirt Paul Corsaro. … Returns experience on special teams, including placekicker, holder, snapper, punter, kickoff specialist, primary punt returner, primary kickoff returner. … Palmer was the Valley's active leader in scoring with 222 points and field goals made with 33.

Compiled by Cindy Peterson