2025 Non-UND FCS News/Scores Thread

[FSSD]

It is already posted on the USD Athletics website.

[TwamleyShuffle]

NDSU in talks to join Mountain West

[cowboys5xsbs]

1 hour ago, TwamleyShuffle said:

NDSU in talks to join Mountain West

Sounds like it's pretty much a done deal.  The real question is will Sdsu or the Montana schools follow.

[Wildfan]

4 minutes ago, cowboys5xsbs said:

Sounds like it's pretty much a done deal.  The real question is will Sdsu or the Montana schools follow.

I'm not too sure about SDSU ability to afford to go up, entry fee alone. Sounds pretty hefty for NDSU. Montana schools I think have a higher likelihood. But unless the UM coaching change was a indication I don't think that happens this year with NDSU. For as much as it seems to be partially best available options, and willingness to spend a considerably higher entry fee then what those in recent history had to pay. Still ironic that Sac State is publicly screaming about willingness to throw money to lose, and no takers. 

[Kab]

I think Montana's know something

why else does vigen  stay and Hauck is retiring

again Chaves is doing ?

 

 

[1972]

I might be in the minority, and a bit nieve,  but what is the appeal in playing in the mountain west?  They are most definitely never playing for a championship again, so why move?

[AJS]

1 hour ago, 1972 said:

I might be in the minority, and a bit nieve,  but what is the appeal in playing in the mountain west?  They are most definitely never playing for a championship again, so why move?

They’d say FCS today = D2 of early 2000s.

It’s hanging on by a thread. For UND’s sake, it’s the S Dakota & Montana schools. You cannot get left behind. 

[1972]

13 minutes ago, AJS said:

They’d say FCS today = D2 of early 2000s.

It’s hanging on by a thread. For UND’s sake, it’s the S Dakota & Montana schools. You cannot get left behind. 

I get that, but some of the smaller schools that have made the jump, are starting to rethink that decision, and have moved back.  I know NDSU is a big fish in the FCS, I just don't see how they financially can make it work

[90siouxfan]

Bye Felicia 

[Hawkster]

30 minutes ago, 1972 said:

I get that, but some of the smaller schools that have made the jump, are starting to rethink that decision, and have moved back.  I know NDSU is a big fish in the FCS, I just don't see how they financially can make it work

The only FCS school to drop back that I can think of was Idaho and that was only because the Sun Belt kicked them out and they couldn't find a difference FBS conference.   The only other school that really needs to drop back is UMass, and of course Sac State assuming they actually move up.

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, 1972 said:

I might be in the minority, and a bit nieve,  but what is the appeal in playing in the mountain west?  They are most definitely never playing for a championship again, so why move?

Increases revenue streams and marketability. Increased attention, coverage and publicity. Ultimately, in doing it, you have to win or it means nothing, but need to learn from the past. NDSU will likely win. What will UND do? 

The narrative in 2004 when NDSU went up to division I (FCS) and UND stayed behind in division II was “good riddance” and “NDSU will fail”. Ultimately it started the hockey-only emphasis for UND; UND athletics has been playing catchup to NDSU athletics ever since.

UND needs to be very strategic here. They need partners (South Dakota, South Dakota State, Montana, Montana State) and they need to be aggressive. They need to be willing to spend aggressively (unprecedented) athletically or risk being mitigated completely within their own state. 

Grand Forks is a hockey town, but North Dakota is a football state. UND needs to make the next move here, of which being patient is the likely one, but it’s not the guaranteed right one. Next move by UND is an important one. 

[Dustin]

Im glad Eric is HC for this moment and not Bubba.  

[Und246]

A huge if. If the South Dakota schools and the Montana Schools stay pat I say good riddance. If those schools move then it is a totally different situation. We will see what happens. 

[Wilbur]

Assuming this move means we likely don't see the Bison in Grand Forks for some time.  Sucks, but we go forward.

I think for them they had to figure out a way to get their fans bases' attention back.  Attendance way down, embarrassing in their playoff game.  I was offered free tickets to a number of games this year, healthy pass. I know a number of people that don't go to the games any more because its almost always over at half time and the tailgating is overrated (their words, not mine).

I'll enjoy the narrative changing like it did many years ago:

-Win a bunch of D2 titles, move up, act like D2 was beneath you, still claim titles.

-Best FCS team probably ever, bunch of titles again, will now act like FCS is a garbage slew of college football teams they were above, while never admitting that when they were rolling all these crap supposed D1 football teams. 

[Kab]

Montana boards don’t seem too concerned about this, one said good riddance  to their fans

one is wondering what happens to Montana state game in Vegas in 2027

[Dustin]

5 minutes ago, Kab said:

Montana boards don’t seem too concerned about this, one said good riddance  to their fans

one is wondering what happens to Montana state game in Vegas in 2027

They’re also not their in-state rival. 

[UND92,96]

Obviously this news raises a lot of questions. Title IX will be a big one if you're going to have to roughly double the football budget/add 30-40 football scholarships.

 

[tnt]

3 hours ago, Wilbur said:

Assuming this move means we likely don't see the Bison in Grand Forks for some time.  Sucks, but we go forward.

I think for them they had to figure out a way to get their fans bases' attention back.  Attendance way down, embarrassing in their playoff game.  I was offered free tickets to a number of games this year, healthy pass. I know a number of people that don't go to the games any more because its almost always over at half time and the tailgating is overrated (their words, not mine).

I'll enjoy the narrative changing like it did many years ago:

-Win a bunch of D2 titles, move up, act like D2 was beneath you, still claim titles.

-Best FCS team probably ever, bunch of titles again, will now act like FCS is a garbage slew of college football teams they were above, while never admitting that when they were rolling all these crap supposed D1 football teams. 

…and leave both times after your title runs were over and other teams surpassed you or were well on their way with new coaches and facilities.

[Dustin]

Is this official yet or still speculation?

[tnt]

3 hours ago, Dustin said:

Im glad Eric is HC for this moment and not Bubba.  

I would hope that with all the chatter, Eric has been involved and pushing the administration to be ahead of the game with donors to explore options. Is it possible to form a football only FBS conference with MVFC and Big Sky teams?  Don’t know all the ins and outs of rules and what not.

[ND-fan]

The other big question is all sports or is it football only. I can see how they fund it if only football but if it’s all sports cost of moving up will bury them financially between travel and amount of money needed to make them winning football in FBS will drain all other sports. Just look at need to come up at least 1 to 2 million to cover coaching salary increases. If they move all sports you’re going to add another 2 to 3 million in coaching salary increases. The money of guarantee money  from tv and other money coming needs to be huge. The state is not going to fund extra money to su with present cycle in state finances agriculture and oil industry is major recessions so state finances are going to be strapped for next 3 to 5 years.  Even money in Fargo and state is not endless plus there administration is transition. Will out going administration going to secure funding from state leaders.  Local media how much will they promote this because going forward very unlikely to for future access they have now in all sports but is different than there reporters are supporting a move up means it becomes like there following of professional teams followed here now. Just some things to think about especially for bottom tier FBS conference is economics there I do agree that FCS is becoming division II but bottom tier FBS conference will get very little national attention and very unlikely getting any exposure future playoff system just like we have in basketball now. 

[SIOUXFAN97]

nothing happens in the long run.....larson can say he tried....mwc can say we tried

then they call tarleton

[nodakgirl93]

What's stopping the Dakotas and Montana schools from coming together and making their own FBS conference? Add a few other schools. 

[SIOUXFAN97]

1 minute ago, nodakgirl93 said:

What's stopping the Dakotas and Montana schools from coming together and making their own FBS conference? Add a few other schools. 

not allowed...but you can always sue

[fightingsioux4life]

3 minutes ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

not allowed...but you can always sue

The NCAA is as weak as they have ever been. The threat of a lawsuit may be enough to get them to cave.