r/fcs • u/pineapplemonkee North Dakota State Bison • Feb 07 '26
News NDSU keeping quiet on the rumored move to FBS
https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-media-zone/mens-sports/ndsu-issues-statement-on-mountain-west-conference-football-report“North Dakota State University is regularly involved in conversations about the future of collegiate athletics, including conference affiliation. We are aware of media reports and will have no further comments.
Our focus remains on supporting our students, faculty and staff, and honoring our academic and research commitments as a student‑focused, land‑grant, research university, and communicating directly with our community when there is definitive information to share.”
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u/NotARealBuckeye North Dakota State Bison • LSU Tigers Feb 07 '26
Very tepid response.
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u/DankDinosaur404 North Dakota State Bison Feb 07 '26
I think they just had to do this because their phones are blowing up. They weren't going to give a concrete answer one way or the other until things were official.
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u/NotARealBuckeye North Dakota State Bison • LSU Tigers Feb 07 '26
There's likely a NDA during the negotiations and a careful messaging strategy about any formal announcement.
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u/Trojann2 /r/CFB Pint Glass Drinker Feb 07 '26
That’s the most acknowledgment we will get until it’s official on Monday is my guess
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u/BellacosePlayer South Dakota State • Sickos Feb 08 '26
Very good chance that the person who handles those communications doesn't have any better knowledge of the specifics than the more plugged in people ITT, and was just told to make a generic message.
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u/No_Bite_7238 Montana State Bobcats Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
Who would have thought that after 10 Natty's in "x" years it was the Illinois State RedBirds that scared NDSU away to the FBS?! GO REDBIRDS!!
Edit: Name correction from Red Birds to Redbirds. Thanks Rooster.
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Feb 07 '26
Crazy that the Bobcats will never get the chance to finally beat NDSU
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u/bayareacrackhead Nevada Wolf Pack Feb 07 '26
Yea you will. You are coming to the MWC next 😈
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u/No_Bite_7238 Montana State Bobcats Feb 07 '26
Unfortunately. I would have liked another opportunity to beat them. Oh well.
.
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u/Tell-Basic Wyoming Cowboys Feb 07 '26
I think this is the first domino in Montana’s and South Dakota joining the MWC. As a Wyoming fan I’m really excited.
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u/No_Bite_7238 Montana State Bobcats Feb 08 '26
But theres nothing there for us. It took MSU 41 years to win another title. And there are teams that still haven't won their first. Imagine going up to the FBS where only perfect season teams get seeds. Not only that, but the playoff bracket only has what; 12 teams?
Besides, its not a financially sound choice given how secluded our schools are in the country. I know we've been at the top of the mountain in FCS for the past 5-6 years but there was a time (a lot of time) when we weren't. Id rather enjoy this while we can because its not going to last forever.
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u/Tell-Basic Wyoming Cowboys Feb 08 '26
Oh, believe me, I’m with you. Honestly, I would’ve preferred dropping down—joining a conversation about potential national championships and schools that better align with our identity. But the reality is, money is what schools are always going to chase. Just look at Colorado State—a school I dislike, but am genuinely sad to see leave—heading off to what they hope is more money in the MWC 2.0. That said, I’m glad we might eventually have some teams that fit our identity and region with Montana, South Dakota, and now North Dakota.
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u/fltrxs18 Feb 07 '26
NDSU is using a Mediator for the negotiations, smart smart move.
This way when asked the AD, President everyone can say no, we have not been called.
And North Dakota has open records law, this gets around people digging in and blowing it up.
The people I know, if I had to bet. Its done, will be announced in not too much time
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u/briggsbw North Dakota State Bison Feb 07 '26
Coach Polasek at the grocery store this morning. On his phone, very excited “call a f*cking players meeting!” It’s done
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u/bicyclechief North Dakota State • Nebraska Feb 07 '26
Knowing what I know about North Dakota this could legit have happened. I don’t put it past breaking news being caught by some middle aged man picking up a case of Busch light and some wings at hornbachers over hearing Polasek in the caribou coffee line.
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u/Tufoguy Towson Tigers • Navy Midshipmen Feb 07 '26
This is actually the first time they've truly said something about it. They gone
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u/Ornery-Tough-6129 Feb 07 '26
Question: Davis doesnt need to be added first but needs to be offered the ability to apply first. This means they knew this was coming. Do yall think they already talked about a timeline to join, said no, or are waiting for an announcment?
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u/Ok-Knee6347 UC Davis Aggies Feb 07 '26
Probably a timeline, Davis announced plans for a new stadium and facilities. I would guess Davis would make the jump in no more than 5 years. We have just began to be a fcs playoff presence, but the reality is that if we would jump to the fbs, we're a 2-4 win team even in the MWC
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u/SturgeonGuy420 Cal Poly • Minnesota Feb 07 '26
Not a new stadium- some suites above the press box.
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u/Ok-Knee6347 UC Davis Aggies Feb 07 '26
Got it my bad, it seems like that's the only change, room for 500 guests in the suite section, anything else major?
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u/SturgeonGuy420 Cal Poly • Minnesota Feb 07 '26
Maybe a stadium that seats more people than 11K?
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u/Ok-Knee6347 UC Davis Aggies Feb 07 '26
We can only hope, if they were to build a new stadium I don't know where on campus they'd put it. It's in a great location already. I can see an expansion of the stands but that could make the stadium look funky
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u/Francis_X_Hummel Colorado Mines • Wyoming Feb 07 '26
Dang, I love Davis' stadium Id be sad to see it g.
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u/Ok-Knee6347 UC Davis Aggies Feb 07 '26
Misspoke, the stadium is receiving new suits to seat over 500 guests. Itll add press boxes too. I hope they expand in the future, the stadium is unique but small
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u/Rigs515 Iowa State Cyclones • Montana Grizzlies Feb 07 '26
No surprise here right? I mean what are they going to say
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u/pineapplemonkee North Dakota State Bison Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
They could have just said nothing. The fact that they put out this statement makes it seem like something is definitely up.
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u/Rigs515 Iowa State Cyclones • Montana Grizzlies Feb 07 '26
Yeah that's a fair point. It sounds like most fans are excited but my sample is just Reddit comments.
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u/SawbuckSIU Southern Illinois • Northwest… Feb 07 '26
Soo how do valley teams redo their schedules if this happens? We play them week 4.
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Feb 07 '26
I imagine they're gonna have to redo the whole conference schedule.
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u/Creeping_Death North Dakota State Bison Feb 08 '26
Yeah there were already too many teams to do round robin so they'll just shuffle it around and add one of the opponents you weren't previously scheduled to play.
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Feb 08 '26
What happens to the Dakota marker game? I can't even imagine a scenario where UM or MSU moves up without the other and the Brawl doesn't happen.
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u/Creeping_Death North Dakota State Bison Feb 08 '26
Same thing that happened to the nickel trophy when we went D1 without UND. Except if SDSU moves to FBS later, I don't think either of us will hold a grudge and refuse to play for the trophy again.
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u/OfficerBatman Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Feb 07 '26
Get ready to schedule a D3 or NAIA opponent to fill the schedule. Conference realignment really screws up planned quality schedules…
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u/SawbuckSIU Southern Illinois • Northwest… Feb 07 '26
In that case I'd rather play at Chicago state.
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Feb 07 '26
They’re negotiating the entrance fee. Mountain West leaked the news because now NDSU fanbase will riot if it falls through.
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u/Danster21 Montana State • Washington Feb 07 '26
Has Izzo or Kolpack said anything? Idr which is the one with the actual beat.
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u/bicyclechief North Dakota State • Nebraska Feb 07 '26
Izzo
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u/Danster21 Montana State • Washington Feb 07 '26
Has he said anything further?
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u/bicyclechief North Dakota State • Nebraska Feb 07 '26
Basically said the offer is there, buy out money is being negotiated, would be as soon as this upcoming season
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u/Peteonastick Youngstown State Penguins Feb 08 '26
Damn. I think this was going to be YSUs year to get them.
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u/Duganz Montana Grizzlies Feb 07 '26
tl;dr: I think the jump to FBS usually sucks for FCS schools, and for their fans.
Honestly, I have to wonder how this will work out for NDSU. There would be 137 FBS teams if they join, and in all honesty only about 45-50 of those teams matter to anyone other than their limited, niche fanbases. The rest are just lost behind the talk about those major teams.
I mean, I know some folks out there are still ride or die for Appalachian State, right? But they were 5-8 this year. In 2005-2007 they dominated the FCS. They were a topic. Their 34–32 win against #5 Michigan is one of the most legendary games in college football.
And now what? Some diehard will scream, “They won the Sun Belt Conference four years straight!”
So? Who cares? No one cares about the SBC other than fans of SBC teams, and folks who want to debate the CFP format.
“They’ve won multiple Bowl games!”
So? Who cares? The only bowl games anyone cares about are playoff games ESPN has taped the name of a legendary bowl game onto. No one cares about the other bowl games. No college football fan stopped to argue over the finer points of the 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl. No one waxes poetically about the historic nature of the JLab Birmingham Bowl, or gets weepy when discussing it.
In fact, you didn’t know App State lost the 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl.
Any App State fan being honest would tell you that from the September 1st, 2007 Michigan win, straight through to winning the National Championship against Delaware, was the high water mark of their program. The last 18 years have just been “fine” in comparison.
Yes, it’s nice to say you compete in the top league, but nothing compares to being at the actual top of a league. App State isn’t Ohio State, or Alabama, or even Texas. It’s App State and college football is structured to make goddamn certain it will stay App State.
Why would it be different for NDSU?
“James Madison was in the CFP!”
They sure were. They also snagged Cignetti, who we can all agree is clearly the best mind in college football, and then Bob Chesney, another great football coach. And boy howdy JMU still looked like ass against Oregon.
So, again, what would the FBS look like for NDSU? Would it look like the FCS has? A field of goddamn victory and glory, or just being one of the nearly 90 faceless teams most fans forget about until sometime in late December when the TruGreen Mulch and Weed Control Bowl comes on?
As a Griz fan, I’m all for the Bison making the leap to being a mediocre FBS team. But as a football fan I have to think it’s a bad idea.
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u/captainduck2 North Dakota State • Auburn Feb 07 '26
Nobody cares anyway. The amount of times I've been happy for a Bison win to be met with "Isn't that like D2?" or "Nice, who did they play? East Wisconsin A&M." So if they stay nobody cares, if they leave nobody will care.
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u/FicVirth James Madison • College Football Playoff Feb 08 '26
No one cares about FCS outside of FCS fans. Trust me, the amount of coverage the G6 gets is peanuts compared to the P4 but it still dwarfs that of FCS.
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u/UnderstandingOdd679 Feb 08 '26
I think that depends on geography. In the Mountain West and Northern Plains, the FCS gets more attention than FBS. It’s been a foregone conclusion for 30 years that the FBS champions are going to come from somewhere southeast of Wichita with a few exceptions. Meanwhile, the FCS power center has been in areas where FBS is minimal or nonexistent. Draw a line from Omaha to Boise and there’s only one other FBS school along or north of that 1,000-mile stretch.
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u/Bobcat2013 Texas State Bobcats Feb 07 '26
App was a topic then?? From what I can tell they had won two nattys in the two seasons before that win over Michigan en route to a third straight title, but no one had heard of them until the Michigan win.
You're right, no one outside of the SBC care about the SBC. If you dont think that FCS is the same then you need to step out of your Montana bubble.
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u/atlantasmokeshop Feb 08 '26
You still don't seem to get the fact that, as little as you think of conferences like the SBC, the overall number of people that watch college football in general think even less of FCS than the G6. That's why schools at the top of FCS have done everything they can to get out over the last 20 years. Do you honestly think that JMU would trade going to the CFP for winning an FCS Championship? lol...you don't get Billy to come be your next coach after losing 2 coaches to the P4 if you're still in the CAA.
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u/DSWYO Montana State Bobcats • UC Davis Aggies Feb 07 '26
Smartest analysis I've ever heard from a Griz, and that pains me to say. You're spot-on.
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u/Round-Ad3684 Northern Illinois • Mountain West Feb 07 '26
Oh they gone