AJS

I would like to think and it really wouldn't surprise me if it was done because of competitive balance. It'd be a tough sell to see CC / Miami in the same pod.

The highlight being 6 games each, 18 total games vs your Pod (CC / Denver / Omaha) and 2 Games each, 8 total vs other league teams (Miami, Duluth, SCSU, Western). Who is in your pod is incredibly important, given not only a huge differential in games, but also no Non-Conference games to mix into the Pairwise. Either its you finish at worst #3 in your league or you don't have a shot at making it into the NCAA tourney. Let's take a closer look at UND's Pod. This is based on last years NCHC finish. 1) North Dakota: 17-4-3 (56 Points) 3) Denver: 11-8-5 (42 Points) 6) Omaha: 8-13-3 (27 Points) 8) Colorado College: 4-17-3 (16 Points) Highlights for the other teams: Denver: About even talent wise. Lost two leading scorers to early departures (can't emphasis enough how important Mitchell was to that team). Finley graduated (5th leading scorer). So lost 3 of their Top 5 scorers (They didn't have PPG guy). Another Depth Forward, Couple D-man and Backup Goalie. Great Goalie coming back, good depth, couple high end forwards returning. Good recruiting Class. I think they are the #2 team pre-season in the NCHC this year. Omaha: Improved: Return Top 5 Scorers off last years team. Do lose 5 Seniors who were contributors (3 F / 2 D). I think they'd be about #4/5 Pre-season in the NCHC this year. CC: Even. When you finish last with that record, there's really no way to be worse. They lose their Top 2 scorers (who were their Top 2 by a healthy margin). Another Top 6 Foward. I'd have them as the #8 Pre-season NCHC team Pretty even pod's thankfully. Exciting to see the plan.

Per the article it was Halliday's decision to open his recruitment, but we don't know if prior conversations with the UND Coaching staff (i.e. potentially his role / scholarship $) played a part or not. Time will tell if this one will hurt or not, it's really a coin flip. Given his size, him not being drafted is a bit of a tell. The same article confirms Costello is no longer committed either.

It really does. I've become cautious of getting too high or too low when it comes to a player when they originally commit. You get burned enough (both ways) you eventually learn. There is a lot to like about this one.

Yeah. Not only this year, but he could play again next year before aging out.

Per Heisenberg, he’s playing for Chicago in the USHL.

One key for every team will be who is not on their Spring 2021 Roster that would have played Fall 2020. Biggest reason being decided to graduate and move on, transfers, in the rare case declaring for the NFL draft. I mentioned before, Russo appears to be the only Senior for UND who will not be playing in the Spring that would have the Fall. If that sticks, I would say that's about as good as you could get. We are all aware of NDSU losing two early for the draft, I saw USD lost two members of their secondary as they transferred to FBS schools. I have no idea how different if at all each team will look, but it will cause some teams to be weaker in the Spring than they would have been in the Fall. I think UND will be better in the Spring of 2021 than they would have been in the Fall of 2020.

Comparing the current depth chart to Spring 2020, Sean Russo appears to be the only Senior who is not going to participate in Spring 2021 Football.

Thoughts on LB core this year?

@SiouxFanatic How old he was when it happened I'm guessing has a lot to do with it. Or am I off with that line of thinking?

NDSU's combination of high end starters and incredible depth has had them on a different level than every other FCS team not named James Madison for years. Looking strictly offensively, having your 1st Round / All-American LT & QB both opt out of Spring Football is such a huge blow. It's outrageous really. Depth Depth Depth, so as the roster stands now, they'll be fine offensively, but I do think this might be one of the 1st years where potential depth issues might arise if the injury bug hits certain positions.

We've been on different sides of the coin with the should UND have played this Fall along with NDSU scheduling this one game. I'll admit that after the fact, this was not a net gain for NDSU. Far from it really. I do think there's a positive psychological value of getting up for (even if it's one) game. Extra practice / game reps. Break up a "never-ending offseason". Those were always a constant though. My expectations when they scheduled the game were most likely far fetched (Expected them to parlay into more than one Game / Thought there was a National TV audience chance). Neither of those happened. The biggest backfire though was not being able to have fans (outside of parents). That single-handily made the event not worth it. Far from crippling, more of a minor speed bump, but still losing $ on this event hurts.

Watching the NDSU game yesterday, it appears kind of a mixed bad as far as their Seniors playing next Spring. Some will, some are choosing not to. Two questions: Can we expect the same from UND? Does anyone know of any Seniors that will not be playing next Spring? As it stands now, every person is Granted an extra year of eligibility. Has UND discussed yet if they are going to take advantage of that, if a player so chooses to? Excited for Camp to start next week.

I'll be very interested to see the breakdown of those that are strictly Online vs those that are actually in person. As long as both of those are following the same trajectory, then it's all good.

Would much rather be playing right now, but I'm slowly starting to come around to the Spring format. Actually seeing the dates, although not much different than anyone thought, doesn't make the turnaround to the 2021 Season seem as grueling as I originally thought.

@siouxfan512 Without any inside information, I don't really have any thoughts on how the race is going, outside of I do think moving the season to Spring has mitigated the "experience" angle for Schuster. Could still very well be the starting QB, but do remember him having a year with the program as one of the highlights people used when thinking he would be the starter.

Developments that have taken place since your last post Mountain West "aggressively exploring" options to play 8-game fall season, culminating w/ Dec. 19 MW title game (via Brett McMurphy) Wheels in motion in the Pac-12 It's now looking likely that the MAC will be the only FBS conference to not be playing this Fall (who knows if that'll change either). Long story short of this post is you'd think there is at least discussions right now going on at the FCS level.

It comes down to there's a fair amount of teams that are playing this Fall, far from impossible (fully realizing your lackadaisical approach comment). I don't think UND's situation was/is unique.

Potentially, absolutely.

I think this is pretty fair. Playing this Fall had huge upside for the program, potential "shot in the arm" type of situation that it really needs. I don't think they would have won, but if they were competitive (on the better than people expected side of the outcome), $, practices, and maybe most importantly of all, for the players / fans the attitude of we want to play (i.e. really want Football to be successful). I'll go one step further, with the K-State game on the schedule you look for other opportunities. While almost every other FCS school is being complacent, there was ground that could have been made.

Chicago Tribune - Malachi McNeal Headline: Warren senior Malachi McNeal’s commitment gives North Dakota a ball hawk who might be ‘an inch away from being a legitimate Power Five linebacker’

McNeal is the highest rated UND recruit, according to 247.

Extremely disappointing. Great get for Notre Dame.