ESPN College GameDay 2014: Week 3 Schedule, Location, Predictions and More

Fargo, North Dakota, will serve as the site of ESPN's College GameDay in Week 3.

That's because North Dakota State, the three-time reigning national champions in the Football Championship Subdivision, are getting some love for their recent, raging success.

The No. 1-ranked Bison will square off with unranked Incarnate Word at the Fargodome, seeking to improve their FCS record to 46-2 overall since being promoted from Division II to start 2011. They are also putting a 26-game winning streak on the line.

Three national titles in as many years in the FCS is not a bad track record. However, North Dakota State is under a new coach in Chris Klieman after Craig Bohl departed to coach Wyoming. So far, so good under Klieman, as the Bison haven't missed a beat in the early going amid a 2-0 start.

Here is a look at all the vital information you'll need to know ahead of Saturday's telecast, along with a quick overview of what to expect in the game and the biggest stars to watch.

Note: Stats are courtesy of ESPN.com and GoBison.com.

ESPN College GameDay Week 3 Information

When: Saturday, September 13

Where: Fargo, North Dakota (Game held in Fargodome)

Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET (Game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET)

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3/WatchESPN

North Dakota State Player to Watch: John Crockett, RB

David Purdy/Getty Images

The 10th-leading rusher in program history has answered the bell this year once again. A three-touchdown performance helped defeat Iowa State, and his 80-yard run to paydirt in that game showed how explosive Crockett can be.

Crockett is going to be the focal point of the Bison offense in this one, and he can also catch the ball out of the backfield. Incarnate Word's struggling defense that's given up 87 points already this season will have to account for Crockett on all three downs.

Damond Talbot of NFL Draft Diamonds likes Crockett's chances to be a success story at the professional level:

If he has any type of ability to eventually play in the NFL, imagine what Crockett will do facing a sieve of a defense at the FCS level. North Dakota State returns only one starter on the offensive line, so perhaps the Cardinals can concentrate on Crockett and cram the box early to stymie the opposition.

No matter what Incarnate Word has done in 2014, it has seemed to backfire. Facing its toughest opponent yet, expect a third straight 100-yard effort from Crockett and multiple TDs on the ground.

Incarnate Word Player to Watch: Casey Jennings, WR

Eric Gay/Associated Press

If the fledgling Cardinals program—in existence only since 2009—is meant to have any chance at keeping this game competitive, it will be up to Jennings to lead the charge.

Jennings is the premier receiving threat, coming off a five-catch, 122-yard performance against Stephen F. Austin. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they couldn't get anything else going on either side of the ball in that game, losing 38-3.

UIW Athletics showcased Jennings' highlight-reel catch, which showed his great concentration skills and the ability to pull the ball down even with two defenders around him:

Keeping the ball away from NDSU would be ideal, but the Cardinals are unlikely to be able to run the ball at all. As a team through the first two games, they've totaled 140 yards on 64 carries—just a 2.19-yard average.

Although some of the negativity in that statistic can be attributed to sack yardage, it's going to be up to quarterback Taylor Woods to make something happen with Jennings. Look for Incarnate Word to take some deep shots early to test the Bison secondary.

That may be the Cardinals' only hope to keep upset aspirations alive—and the strategy itself sounds more like a Hail Mary than anything else.

Game Prediction

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

North Dakota State dominated an Iowa State team in the season opener that just lost by a mere four points to 19th-ranked Kansas State. That provides an idea of what Incarnate Word is up against—and how much of a mismatch this should prove to be.

Rattling off 34 straight points made the win all the more impressive.

Brock Jensen was the winningest quarterback in FCS history (48 wins), but North Dakota State's Carson Wentz has done an admirable job as his successor so far. Wentz is a capable passer and carried the ball eight times for 38 yards versus Iowa State, too.

However, Wentz did throw two interceptions in going 13-of-22 passing for 192 yards during the Bison's 24-7 win over Weber State in Week 2. If the Cardinals can somehow rattle Wentz and pressure him early, it could cause him to press.

More likely, though, Crockett will help control possession, while last year's national champion and No. 1 scoring defense that returns six starters in 2014 will lift North Dakota State to a resounding victory.

Senior coordinating producer Lee Fitting is excited to take ESPN's program back to Fargo, per TwinCities.com's Eric Peterson:

"

Why not? I haven't heard a good reason for the "Why not?" yet. Our job is to tell the best stories within the sport of college football. … It was our way of saying this isn't a cute story; this is not a novelty. North Dakota State is a big part of the fabric of college football right now.

"

Taking the time to travel to Fargo for the second year in a row for College GameDay seems out of the ordinary for ESPN, but this is a historic program that is building a legitimate juggernaut. The quality win over the Cyclones proves that a new quarterback and coach aren't about to slow the Bison down.

Increased national exposure and continued prolific accomplishments could eventually see the Bison rise to the FBS. That is still in the distant future, but this season figures to see NDSU continue striding in that direction. Incarnate Word isn't going to be the team that slows the Bison in that perpetual, ambitious pursuit.

Predicted score: North Dakota State 38, Incarnate Word 7