“The Flagship”: 2026 NDSU FBS Football PRE SEASON

[JBB2]

MWC Media days in Las Vegas July 15-16. These are the Bison representatives

North Dakota State

• Head Coach Tim Polasek

• Griffin Empey, Jr. OG

• Nathan Hayes, Sr., QB

• Darius Givance, Sr., S

• Keenan Wilson, Jr., DT

https://themw.com/news/2026/7/6/mountai ... tives.aspx

[JBB2]

Just saw the notification:

BISON FOOTBALL TICKETS ON SALE!

https://gobison.com/sports/2021/1/29/nd ... nformation

[JBB2]

Massey put together the top 15 G5 teams, The overall FBS ranking is also shown,no PAC teams. Apoarently they are in the P4(5)

IMG_4096.jpeg (78.68 KiB) Viewed 8549 times

[JBB2]

Just for fun here is Masseys pre-season top 15 FCS

IMG_4113.jpeg (146.52 KiB) Viewed 8548 times

Future members of the MWC on that list?

[JBB2]

And here is the Massey pre-season top 15 FBS

IMG_4116.jpeg (146 KiB) Viewed 8548 times

[JBB2]

The PAC 12 doesn’t appear on the lists. The Highest Massey ranked pac team is Boise @ 54. Lowest: Co State @ 112. That’s a long way from qualifying for the CFP.

Some how it seems the CFP is becoming the P4 and the Bowls, outside the CFP, the G6.

[JBB2]

News to me. Cal Davis is moving to FBS in 2029. Their recruiting is beginning to reflect their anticipated change.

Will the MWC get them? They hold an option. Hate to see them in the broke pac

https://www.si.com/college/fcs/big-sky/ ... s-football

3-Star Salinas (CA) RB Eli Dukes Commits to UC Davis

Eli Dukes had this to say

The trajectory of the program is what led me to commit to Davis! They're joining the FBS in 2029, with the chance of winning FCS national championships before then

[JBB2]

From a fellow poster on the MWC board

I am good with that, not that my opinion matters. Fun facts:

•UC Davis was founded in 1908, and has a current student enrollment of over 40,000

•UC Davis ranks #1 nationally in veterinary medicine. Yes, better than CSewe.

•UC Davis has over $1,000,000,000 in annual research funding

•UC Davis holds an event called "Picnic Day" that attracts over 100,000 attendees

•UC Davis is ranked #1 in agriculture and forestry, #11 as the best value in America, and the #9 public university

[JBB2]

Starting July 1, UC Davis Olympic sports joined the MWC. They have an option at football. options don’t require execution. They transfer rights not obligations. They usually come with a price. I don’t know what that might have been.

UCD could be acting responsibly. Getting things in order for the move. It could be in part budgeting cycles. Maybe there are unknown obligations that must be met first. What ever the case they have a football option and 3 more years before expiration. They didn’t excercise it when NDSU joined.

Maybe they plan to use the 3 years to cook up the best deal? Maybe they are in demand and are holding out for more? No entry fee? Signing bonus? Media contract deals?

If they do become MWC #11 do we need 1 more?

Tarleton?
Montana State?
Montana?
SDSU?

[JBB2]

Concerning USD & MWC football My search engine revealed this:

UC Davis has the first right of consideration to join the Mountain West Conference for football if they elevate their program from the FCS level.

What factors influence UC Davis's decision to remain in the Big Sky Conference for football?
UC Davis chose to remain in the Big Sky Conference for football to reduce travel time and expenses, compete in a recognized top-tier FCS conference, and strengthen postseason opportunities and rivalries like the Causeway Classic with Sacramento State.

Checking to make sure it’s correct I saw this

UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca issued the following statement regarding the future of the football program:
"UC Davis is proud to be an affiliate member of the Big Sky Conference in football, and our focus remains on building and sustaining one of the premier programs in the FCS. Our progress is evident in back-to-back FCS quarterfinal appearances, a program record of 32 consecutive weeks ranked in the national Top 25, and national recognition for our fan support, including a top-five FCS ranking last season in average home attendance as a percentage of stadium capacity.

There was no info found about conditions of the first right of consideration. Didn’t find out if it’s binding.

the delay will certainly help while they get their other programs settled in the Mountain West.