Moving the Chains with the Bison Boot Game

North Dakota State has built a reputation building off their physical run game. This year they expanded their outside zone package with a clean, quarterback friendly play-action. What makes the Bison play-action attack dangerous is not just the concept itself, but how consistently they present the same outside zone picture to the defense while creating simple, high percentage throws for the quarterback. For high school coaches looking to steal an efficient and multiple boot package, the out, under, and over structure from NDSU is worth a close look.

The Out-Under-Over Boot Concept

North Dakota State aligns out of a classic under center double wing formation with no on-ball tight end, but the boundary wide receiver is squeezed down, giving a run-heavy feel.

Showing the split zone look, the boundary wing comes under the formation while the boundary wide receiver runs over the linebackers. That over and under concept is used throughout most of the NDSU boot game.

Many of us were taught to tag the number one play side wide receiver with a go or comeback on boot. Either take the top off or create the easy stop throw. What stands out with the Bison is how often they feature the out route from the play side wide receiver. While there is a lot of variation in the boot game, the Bison use an out route on almost every boot pass that we captured throughout the season. The more I watched it, the more I liked it.

The quarterback sells the play action and gains excellent depth on the boot. With a left handed quarterback, the throw becomes very natural. The under route shows in the flat for an easy completion and a first down.

The Bison are outstanding at presenting the same concept from different pictures.

Here they move from double wing to a double tight end set. The outside wide receiver motions down to the hip of the tight end. With the motion, the wide receiver and tight end exchange responsibilities. The wide receiver runs the under while the tight end pushes the over.

Up front, the split zone action remains intact. The field side tight end stays committed to the zone scheme, which helps sell the run.

The quarterback again gains clean depth on the boot and this time hits the out route for another first down. Same structure. Different presentation. Same result.

Now the Bison move to a shotgun trips look with a wing to the field, but the core concept does not change.

The slot wide receiver comes across in jet motion while the offensive line shows outside zone. The running back now becomes the under route and the backside wide receiver handles the over.

The quarterback gives a quick run fake, gains depth, and delivers the out route on time. Three formations. Same quarterback picture. That is excellent offensive teaching.

No Over Route

After seeing the core concept, the next step is understanding how NDSU builds answers.

From the alignment, we see a classic NDSU look with an unbalanced double wing formation, then motioning a wing to the fullback position. This looks like vintage NSDU football.

Now we get that split outside zone flow with the fullback leading the play into the boundary. Remember, we only have one wide receiver on the backside of this play, so they abandon the over route and just run the wing on the under route across the formation. The ineligible tight end on the left side of the formation is now a blocker for the boot action as he engages the defensive end.

The rest of the play unfolds just like the prior examples, and the quarterback completes a pass to the wing on the under route. When personnel changes the picture, the concept adjusts without becoming complicated.

No Out Route

This next variation was one of the few times we did not see an out route in the NDSU boot game. We start in a shotgun formation that features a tight end to the field, a wing to the boundary, and a split backfield.

This time they place the single wide receiver on the backside and he will run the over route. With no wide receiver to the field, they vacate the out route. We now get the under route from the wing and the over from the wide receiver. The running back and halfback show outside zone to the boundary.

The quarterback gains depth on the boot and delivers the ball to the under in the flat. Both routes have space, but under pressure the flat becomes the clean answer. Again, the system gives the quarterback clarity.

Slam and Post

In an earlier play, we saw North Dakota State align in a double tight end set and motion the boundary wide receiver in for the under route. Here, instead of motioning him for the under, they use the field side tight end and slam release him into the under route.

This variation now gives two receivers on the backside. The tight end runs the over and the wide receiver runs a post.

This is a great clip to show young quarterbacks the importance of getting depth on the boot action. After the slam release by the tight end, the defensive end is able to pressure the quarterback. However, the quarterback’s depth allows him to sprint around the defensive end who is attempting to redirect. We now see the quarterback connect with the over route. Once again, another first down off boot.

Flood Variation

While NDSU consistently runs the out route with their play action boot game, an easy variation that most teams have in their toolbox is the flood concept. NDSU simply adds a play side wide receiver to the concept and runs the number one on a go route.

Here we see another boundary run heavy formation with twins to the field. The Bison bring the outside wide receiver in short motion to tighten the corner, then the outside wide receiver runs him off with the go route. The motioned wide receiver runs the out while the under route comes from the backside wing. Another excellent stretch play action scheme up front and great depth from the quarterback to escape the backside defensive end.

Slam Release to Flood

If not blocking the backside defensive end on naked boot concerns you, here is your answer.

Put the wing on the boot side of the formation and have him slam release, forcing the defensive end down the line of scrimmage. This creates more space for the quarterback and gives him an easy out route to hit.

Here is one more example of a slam release, but we get a stunt from the defensive end. Notice the backside over route, which may be a little tight here, gets across the field and protects the under route from the wing.

Conclusion

North Dakota State continues to show why their boot game is one of the cleanest packages in college football. The real takeaway for high school coaches is not just the concept itself, but the consistency of structure paired with formation and motion variety. The Bison rarely change the quarterback’s picture. Instead, they dress the same core idea in multiple ways.

If you are installing this at the high school level, focus first on teaching quarterback depth and selling the run action. Those two details make the entire concept go. From there, build your answers. The out route gives you a reliable chain mover, the under provides the easy completion, and the over or post creates the explosive opportunity.

Keep it simple for your players, but stressful for the defense. That is the NDSU way, and it translates very well to Friday nights.