Cornfields, frozen beef and the FCS stars who spurned big-time transfer offers

North Dakota State left tackle Grey Zabel and South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski are two players at the heart of the highest-profile FCS upset hopes this weekend .

Both players had plenty of interest to play at the highest levels of the sport through third parties and direct inquiries last year .

Zabel projects as a top 100 NFL draft prospect in 2025 .

Gronowski has led the Jackrabbits to back-to-back national titles, a 29 -game-winning streak and a strong NFL prospect.

Quarterback is 37-3 as a starter at South Dakota State .

The Jackrabbits had eight players who spent time on NFL rosters last year .

Gronowski has two years of eligibility remaining because of the injury, but plans to play one more at SDSU and go "all-in".

Grey Zabel is an agribusiness major with minors in economics and precision agriculture.

Zabel 's fidelity to the college experience and farm life has collided after each season , when he's hosted his teammates on a pheasant hunt.

NDSU head coach Tim Polasek recruited Zabel a bit when he coached the offensive line at Iowa .