“The Flagship”: 2026 NDSU FBS Football PRE SEASON

[JBB2]

More reality. Big changes to the traditional scheduling

https://youtu.be/FTDI-33c0Io?si=PZV4AY6wFLulR_Tr

Discusses MWC scheduling. Prepare for an 11 PM Hawaii kickoff, Friday night games and 11 AM possibly 10 AM kickoffs.

[JBB2]

The CW network sign up is free. Don’t know after that. They have movies etc.

https://www.cwtv.com/

The MWC app only formats for a phone. Couldn’t find any format settings to expand to full screen

I can get the network portals and espn for $35/month right now.

[User1]

More reality. Big changes to the traditional scheduling

https://youtu.be/FTDI-33c0Io?si=PZV4AY6wFLulR_Tr

Discusses MWC scheduling. Prepare for an 11 PM Hawaii kickoff, Friday night games and 11 AM possibly 10 AM kickoffs.

I'm fine with all of that except the 11PM Hawaii kickoff. That's just stupid. But we're the new kids on the block, so...

[JBB2]

This may be NDSUs first FBS game

Heres the match-up

IMG_3662.jpeg (110.83 KiB) Viewed 328 times

Youngstown State, an old FCS conference foe has a similar Saragin ranking of 58.51. Bison beat them in a bruising 38-30 contest last season.

The MWC & MVFC have similar Sagarin rankings.

Going to be interesting to see if an FCS 55 is the same as an FBS 55.

[JBB2]

THIS IS WHAT THE FLAGSHIP BRINGS TO THE MWC. MWC TERRITORY:

[JBB2]

More reality. Big changes to the traditional scheduling

https://youtu.be/FTDI-33c0Io?si=PZV4AY6wFLulR_Tr

Discusses MWC scheduling. Prepare for an 11 PM Hawaii kickoff, Friday night games and 11 AM possibly 10 AM kickoffs.

I'm fine with all of that except the 11PM Hawaii kickoff. That's just stupid. But we're the new kids on the block, so...

At least it will be better than the MAC/Sac State deal,

[JBB2]

Don’t know the dates but the home/away is published at the MWC home page. Nice looking schedule. UNR still on track for the first FBS home game.

I expect The Bison to be as good or better than last year.

IMG_3671.jpeg (94.31 KiB) Viewed 232 times

[JBB2]

Just found this NCAA info on the2026/27 playoff format. MWC doesn’t have an Auto bid. Highest ranked from G6 does.

The College Football Playoff will have a 12-team playoff bracket for the 2026-27 season, the third year of that size after expanding from the four-team format. Here's what you need to know about the change:

How CFP teams are selected under new format

The 12-team College Football Playoff field each of the conference champions from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC —also known as the Power 4 — will receive an automatic bid regardless of their final ranking.

The highest-ranked team from one of the Group of 6 conferences (American, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 OR Sun Belt) — regardless of whether its a conference champion or not — will also get an automatic bid.

Previously in the first two years of the 12-team format (2024/25), the five highest-ranked conference champions — regardless of conference — received automatic bids.

Notre Dame can also receive an automatic bid in 2026 if it ranks among the top-12 teams.

The highest-ranked teams remaining will round out the 12-team format.

[JBB2]

Scheduling:

For non-conference Izzo predicts the Bison will play Jacksonville State on Aug. 29, possibly UC Davis on Sept. 5, Sacramento State on Sept. 19, and another Group of Six school on Oct. 24.

Jacksonville State is “near-100% accurate” Izzo wrote, based on his information. Now a member of Conference USA, JSU and NDSU would set a rematch of the 2016 FCS championship game but at home in the Fargodome this time. The Gamecocks have reached bowl games each of the past three years and could make a quality kick-off game for the Bison.

not much is changing. It’s an FCS OOC schedule. Dream games speculated upon are not materializing. Maybe in time? Boise states history serves up the example.

The FBS label makes the Bison more dangerous. An FCS loss embarrassment. An FBS loss devastation.

I don’t see a real step-up in competition. Perhaps more balanced, it’s not much stronger per Sagarin ratings. These are all teams the Bison can beat. The GAM concurs.

There will be no post season series of great playoff games. Maybe a bowl game with Sam Houston, a rematch of those great FCS title games? That’s the sell on Jacksonville too. Are they any better now?

[JBB2]

As predicted on The Bison Forum the first FBS game in Fargo is the Wolfpack

Here is the MWC schedule. The OOC dates aren’t included

IMG_3698.jpeg (116.71 KiB) Viewed 42 times