Could An FBS Football Conference Be Eyeing NDSU Bison To Join?
The North Dakota State Bison football team has won 90% of their games since 2011.
That's according to Yahoo Sports, and during that span, they compiled a record of 172-19. That's crazy good. Overall, NDSU has won 9 Division 1 FCS National Championships.
I know what you are thinking: The Bison are beating inferior FCS teams. This is true, but NDSU has also managed to handle a good share of its FBS opponents.
In fact, the North Dakota State football team has a 9-5 record against FBS teams, which is a good enough record to earn the Bison a Bowl game every year.
The College Football landscape is continuing to evolve, and now an FBS conference is reportedly considering NDSU's membership.
According to Hero Sports, the Mountain West Conference is reportedly considering adding NDSU as a football member only.
This comes after numerous of their members are planning on jumping ship for the PAC-12 conference. The article says the Mountain West Conference was trying to convince both Northern Illinois and Toledo to join the conference but it appears both schools have decided to stay put.
This could open the door for the Bison to finally step up from FCS to FBS. Other reports say that South Dakota State might not be far behind and could be a part of the Mountain West's realignment. It would only make sense for the MAC to add both schools from a geography standpoint.
It's my opinion that both UND and USD wouldn't be that far behind if both the state schools make the jump, similar to what happened when the schools left Division 2.
Reportedly NDSU officials are very tight-lipped on the subject at this point.
It's MY opinion that NDSU Bison should really consider a move up from FCS to FBS. The Bison have already shown they can not only compete with FBS schools but can beat FBS schools. It would certainly appear that NDSU would have little trouble competing in the Mountain West from the outside looking in.
NDSU opened their 2024 season at Colorado (from the Big 12) with a very impressive showing against the Buffalos. Colorado rallied to beat NDSU 31-26 but it was a game NDSU could have easily won. More proof that NDSU would stack up well in FBS.
NDSU has won nine (9) NCAA Division I FCS National Championships between 2011 and 2021 and holds the record for the most consecutive championships with five (5) titles between 2011 and 2015.
The Move-Up Requirements for NDSU to go FBS.
1. FBS schools must have an average home attendance of at least 15,000 (over a rolling two-year period). No problem for NDSU.
2. An FBS school must sponsor a minimum of 16 varsity intercollegiate teams (including football), with at least six men's or coeducational teams and at least eight all-female teams. NDSU checks that box too.
Are the Bison going to be winning Mountain West championships, or bowl games right away?
Probably not, it will take time, but NDSU would be competitive and who knows? Give them five years and they could become very competitive.
It's time for North Dakota State to consider this move and bring another prominent D1 program to the state much like UND in hockey. Horns up, NDSU. Time for the big fish in the pond to move to a bigger body of water.
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