AJS

*As new members on a division of Conference USA* Doesn't have to happen this year or next, but the planning should start. Get everyone on the same page. I cannot think of who says no (I'm including current members of Conf USA).

Search a Kolpack article about NDSU athletic endowment. Within last 6 months. Those would be from that article. He got the numbers from the schools.

If we take a step back and really analyze the last handful of years. What would we want to be different (specially athletics)? Facilities: Nailed it. Betty is next. Cannot criticize what they've done and their vision. It's unbelievable Coaches: Fired Bubba and Berry (with years on their contracts). Told us mediocre isn't good enough. Anyone unhappy with the hires? Like with upgrades to the Betty, hoping B-Ball takes another step. My question being, based on actions, why wouldn't we think they'd be in the mix for conference realignment? What have they shown that would make us believe they aren't serious about being with other peer schools? How much of the online narrative (cannot emphasize online part) with realignment was based on winning? There's no reason not to be optimistic about the future with this leadership.

Athletic endowment was always the glaring difference between the two schools. I really feel UND missed an opportunity with their stretch goal in the Forever UND campaign to try to add say 25M for athletic scholarships. With the goal being the first FCS program to up their scholarships from 63. Initially move to 72. Would be a big deal, perception wise.

If Teammakers vs CC is 6.5 vs 4, that's actually closer than I would have thought. A lot of work to do, but still.

I'll follow up by asking, did the NDSU donors go to Cook x Larson proposing this scenario (we have X amount, get us a conference), or did NDSU officials go to donors? I would guess the latter. We don't know if UND donors would or wouldn't. Main point was conveying that if you look at the fundraising, there's no reason to believe that UND couldn't afford something that NDSU could. Some other schools. UND - 510 million (Current) NDSU - 498 million (FY 24) USD - 338.6 million (FY 25) Montana - 289.6 million (FY 24) Montana State - 287 million (FY 24) SDSU - 260.7 million (FY 24)

Good article by Miller. I'm of the opinion that the media can play apart in this type of thing. It's nice to see this as the top story currently on the Herald. https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/miller-und-should-be-leery-of-next-domino-at-fcs-level-following-bison-move

Very good post. Here's one thing I'll say about the financial piece. Look at a school's endowment for a fair look into their fundraising power. From an article two weeks ago. I can't find NDSU's #'s, but would suspect that their current endowment is higher, but not significantly higher (498 million at end of 2024). If you look at facts, they will tell you that UND can hang financially with NDSU. *UND is also on the backend of their Forever UND campaign*

Who are the 4?

See below. No difference in travel for FB (same amount of bus trips). Few less than currently in the Summit for other sports but still looking at 3 bus trips. Not a similar scenario at all to the Big Sky days.

NDSU is gone as soon as they can from the Summit. Need to get the wheels moving. Good on Larson, can’t say he didn’t warn you.

Shot in the arm for Conference USA. They are at the bottom of the G6 with no way out currently. No downside for current members. As far as your theory. I'll believe that when I see it. There's a reason the AC paid 17.5 million. I can't find a reason why all schools wouldn't be on board with this. I think there'd be a real fear with administrations of being left behind. The Summit is on life support as is. Added bonus being you screw NDSU with Non-FB sports + IMO, you're in a more fun G6 league. @gfhockey you want to get this to Chavez? I don't see anything wrong with kicking the tires. My question is, who says no?

Good idea. Added an and / or to the original post. I would leave that up to Montana / Montana State and Idaho. Do they want to add Weber or a bus trip?

Outside of the basic increases you'd incur with an FBS move, what else? Travel would be not too much different than it would be now (you'd lose bus trips to Fargo and Omaha) for non-Football but would stay at 3 for FB (remove Fargo, add UST). You'd see an increase in attendance no doubt. IMO, the key to this is the state of Conf USA currently. They are currently dead last in the G6. This would help the current members immensely. I would think you could do this for little to no additional fee. TV contract. Isn't Conf USAs so minimal right now, you either see if the networks will double that small # or just have all the new teams keep what they have currently until their current deal is up.

Forming a new Division for Conference USA seems like the move. For FB you play your division (8 games) and have a title game with the winner of each division. Even for Olympic sports, is travel that much more of a concern? Home and Home in your division, then one game against the other division. This is a win for everyone. Division Idaho Idaho State or Weber State Montana Montana State UND USD SDSU St. Thomas Missouri State Division Delaware FIU Jacksonville State Kennesaw State Liberty Middle Tennessee State NM State Sam Houston Western Kentucky

@siouxfan512 good post, but they'll never drop back. The only example of that happening was Idaho and that was because the Sun Belt dropped them. They'll be successful, no doubt, relatively speaking, but each programs definition of success is different. Them dominating is a possibility, but lower than most of their fanbase believes. I genuinely wonder if their fanbase would be happy with 9-3 / 8-4 records most years while playing against the new MW teams. Those are really good records, but for a program and the success they've had, that would seem like purgatory. Playing no rivals. That's what would seem to spark interest for most G6 programs. Since outside of a handful of teams yearly, they really have nothing to play for.

Let's look at the final Sagarin rankings from 2025 NDSU - 40 MWC (2026 version) 74, 81, 84, 105, 127, 138, 144, 149, 176 MVFC 87, 95, 99, 108, 109, 118, 180, 208, 220 Will NDSU be successful? Yes. Imo, it's 10-2 or better or bust. Year in and year out. What's important to note is like FCS is in their bubble. All G6 conferences are also in their own little bubble. To get into the national discussion, you have to be basically flawless. This isn't NDSU teams of even 5 years ago. What I'm really interested in seeing is when you're forced to schedule FBS teams non-conf (is this confirmed, only one FCS team on the schedule>). I look at it this way, if it was a situation where they only played 1 FBS team on their schedule, they would absolutely win that game. Playing 11 FBS teams, they no longer have 4 what I call >99% chance to win non-conference layups. Also, the botton of the MWC >>> bottom of the MVFC. Very interested to see how it plays out next year.

Very simply, you don’t want to be stuck in a situation that isn’t in the schools best interest. They just don’t have any other choice. That’s a real possibility.

Sac State model? No. What needs to happen is UND leadership should be on the phone with USD, SDSU, Idaho, St. Thomas, Montana & Montana State. Try to figure this out together. Sell the vision that moving together would be in the best interests for every University including the fan bases and student athletes. Then try to sell it to a conference (ex: Northern division of Conf USA) What cannot happen, is UND waits and ends up with Augie, Mankato in NSIC 2.0 (new Summit) once SDSU leaves. Need to start planning and building. This takes self awareness that you aren’t next in line & there’s no more rope. I’m of belief that if next move is truly NDSU FB only, that’s the best case scenario for UND. Now, they can try to reshuffle the deck. Get desperate.

Let’s also look at it this way. UND: non-hockey athletics. What would need to happen to spur change. In levels of importance. 1. Motivated big $ donors. 2. Ambitious leadership 3. Vocal fanbase - other 99.5% of champions club / donors. 4. Media Bad news, they currently check 0 of those boxes.

Unsurprisingly, NDSU makes the first move in realignment for the Dakota / Montana schools. I’ve always been jealous of their ambition. They just get it done. They lead. This goes for UND (as well as the other 5). You have to be strategic & smart, but you also have to be ambitious, someone needs to make something. Right now, you should be setting yourself up behind the scenes. Try to up FB scholarships. Work together. Have a conference call, maybe bring in Idaho as well. Pitch a North segment of Conf USA. Talking now specifically UND. My fear is they are doing absolutely nothing. My question is who is it on to light a fire under the leadership? Media? Top donors? Who knows, maybe nobody outside of a handful on here actually care. Seems like this could be a unifying moment for the schools I’ve mentioned. Why I think it’s important for UND to take the lead. Imo, currently not on the radar. SDSU / Mont & Mont State - my guess is come w/ 15 mil and you’re in. They also have a travel partner. They have a bit more of a safety net. UND needs to realize they would be in the worst spot if more changes come.

What’s worse UNDs play or the sound on Duluth’s broadcast?

That was as bad of a period as I’ve ever seen.

Glass half full? Hope we finally see a motivated donor base.

This seems like common sense, but I don’t have faith this will be the case. We’re about to see with the new funding model. NDSU writes the rules and everyone smiles and goes along with it.