North Dakota State jumping to FBS is great for everyone
The Bison have earned the right to call their shot.
For those reading on e-mail: click 'view in browser' to see the full contents of today's post
North Dakota State jumping to FBS is great for everyone
How you choose to react to FCS powerhouse North Dakota State jumping to FBS and joining the Mountain West (in football only) is a matter of perspective.
One is that it's another sign of how off the rails this whole thing is, and that we're in the final days of big-time college athletics. North Dakota State –like other schools in previous rounds of realignment– selfishly jumped ship on their rivals and contemporaries in FCS for an opportunity to sit at a table with more money. That's a harsh way of viewing this particular situation, but I understand if certain FCS fans feel that way.
College football content, sent to you all-year round. Subscribe to 2StripesCPD 👇
The other is that it's the best program in the sport over the past 15 years betting on itself, while giving everyone an answer to the question we've asked for over a decade: Could these guys win big at the highest level of college football?
However you feel about it, North Dakota State making this move is logical from a football standpoint. They've won 10 of the past 15 FCS national titles, and have a 9-5 all-time record against FBS opponents. They've produced plenty of high-end talent, with 13 NFL Draft picks since 2010 - three of them first-rounders. We have more than enough evidence at this point pointing to the Bison being hypothetical top-tier G5 competitors, at the very least. Now we actually get to see it happen in reality.
The larger question regarding their potential success is how they navigate the off-field differences in being a FBS member compared to FCS. Starting this year, FBS programs can hand out a maximum of 105 scholarships, compared to 63 in FCS. The Bison have been awesome at identifying talent (and maximizing it) in a smaller pond. Can they continue doing that with 40 more scholarships available, plus ever-looming roster movement in the portal? How will a school with fewer than 10,000 undergrads and a 18,700-capacity stadium located in North Dakota generate the money needed to succeed at the highest level - especially when they won't fully receive conference or playoff revenue until 2032? Make sure to account for the combined $17.5 million they owe the Mountain West and NCAA for the move, too! All that's before we even start talking about the money required for NIL, recruiting, a larger coaching/support staff, and heightened travel expenses while playing in the Mountain West. How the hell will they make all this work?