“The Flagship”: 2026 NDSU FBS Football PRE SEASON

[JBB2]

The Sicatoka
The Sicatoka Grand Master
Location:A hidden bunker deep under Ralph Engelstad Arena (stole that from me)

Got to listen to the Governor speak earlier this week; my summary of his words:

- ag and oil revenues are down
- everything is on the table to look at
- expect broad and significant budget cuts

Another well wisher from the town known as the Youngstown of North Dakota

He is wrong in his dispersions of ill-will. It’s very doubtful NDSU has moved ahead on shakey ground. Naturally there will be challenges. I refer to similar dispersions of Ill-will made by the same people prior to NDSUs FCS move.

Hold the NDSU move in contrast to und’s hurried, ill funded very slow starting unsuccessful transition. It’s taken und 15 years to simply steady the ship.

The future in the MWC is bright indeed. Already talk of Toledo joining. Full sports potential. All kinds of revenue opportunities. The available opponents are interesting and the number much larger than FCS.

FBS promises to be More interesting, entertaining and prosperous.

[JBB2]

My goodness could the half-wits posting in HYB be more juvenile? No wonder they don’t have much success.

They are primitive in their thinking. It helps explain the evil things that have been done up there.

It’s best to stay away. The MWC has a history of FCS games. NDSU may continue that. I don’t think un_ will be on the schedule.

College Football is consolidating. NDSU made the cut & moving ahead. The traditional rivals are staying behind.

[JBB2]

Sac State tended a 15 million dollar offer to the MAC. That means NDSUs conference membership just went up a few million.

Value is growing. It’s getting more expensive to move.

[JBB2]

Now I’m hearing 18 million to the Mac & 5 mil NCAA. Either way profit is coming fast for NDSU.

It’s also problematic to future FBS prospects.

[JBB2]

NDSU football small as it is stands as one of the best all-around college football programs in history,

From the start in the late 1800’s NDSU Football has enjoyed a long history of success. Seemingly they got better along the way. National championships in Small College, Division 2 and domination of Division 1-FCS. Prior to that what the Bison may have lacked in success was made up through contributions to the game and its rich history.

Now pursuit of the Division 1-FBS title begins. I expect The Bison to rise in the MWC faster than the MVFC. James Madison like, The Bison seem poised for success in the David & Goliath division.

[JBB2]

Anxious to see the schedule. OOC will be interesting. Gophers? Iowa? Probably not. It may be easier to schedule into those ranks now but their past reluctance to face Bison football probably hasn’t changed much.

An FCS is probably de-rigueur.

From the get/go The Bison will be viewed as a big game. I expect a lot of familiar names but not the big P4 names. Earlier looks at James Madison & Kennesaw not a State show one big game. The rest looks interchangeable strength-wise with the old NDSU schedule. I presented a few of those schedules earlier and based on Sagarin NDSU as an FCS team would have done very well, play-off well.

[JBB2]

Pick any 4 FROM THE 2025 JMU schedule for NDSU OOC

It’s their fifth year I think? First year NDSU might not get such prime games.

By the Sagarin numbers

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[JBB2]

A little lower in the rankings, another group of teams from the Kennesaw schedule that might provide likely Bison opponents. UTEP is already on.

The SDSU/CUSA news has hit me from a couple different sources. Hope it’s true. The Montanas to PAC 12 would be good hews too. Getting the cream of the FCS on this side of the divide would be good. Most have already made the move.

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[JBB2]

The gopherhole gives an interesting perspective on the move. Generally uncomplimentary there seems to be a growing sense of dread. How long can the gopher fans, 1-2 vs the FCS Bison in the modern era, maintain their perch?

Their eyes are opening

No, it's interesting. I've been anticipating this for years. It's a biggish school, the flagship school for its state, lots of football success, with a rabid and irrational fanbase. I've thought for years that their natural eventual fit is the Big 12.

We are in agreement about The Big 12. Makes a lot of geographic sense, some schools are very familiar, but not that much different than the MWC.

Besides the new, exciting MWC home schedule, NDSU has a couple nice MWC road games, NIU/Wyoming. The scheduling plan looks like a strategic winner promising more fan accessible road games.

Easy Air travel to Vegas. Reno close by. The range roamed by The Herd is a lot bigger now. It’s going to be fun!

[Lakesbison]

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