North Dakota State moving up to the FBS has yet to resolve a lingering scheduling issue amid the latest college football matchup announcement.
USC will host San Jose State for Zero Week on Aug. 29, a game date the Bison had an opening for amid a needed schedule overhaul in transitioning from the FCS to the FBS. NDSU hasn’t played a Power Four school in consecutive years since 2014, when the Bison beat Iowa State in Ames.
Power Four teams have shied away from playing NDSU since the 2010s after the Bison beat Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, and Kansas State in a five-year span. The Bison boast a 9-5 record against FBS schools overall in the program’s Division I era, and NDSU has a 25-26 record versus FBS teams all-time.
No Power Four teams have open dates for 2026, which means the Bison won’t have an ideal schedule as a Group of Six team with College Football Playoff aspirations. Past G6 teams to make the CFP all played at least one Power Four team.
That said, the Bison would also need a waiver from the NCAA to play in the postseason because of a two-year ban on teams moving up divisions.
NDSU’s Non-Conference Schedule Outlook Less Than Ideal
The Bison may only have FCS teams in non-conference play while the final official schedule awaits. NDSU’s conference schedule in the Mountain West at least has some significant challenges to it.
The Bison go on the road against Hawaii, UNLV, and New Mexico this season. UNLV went 10-4 last season, and both New Mexico and Hawaii went 9-4.
The rest of the current Mountain West teams had losing records in 2025. That also includes newcomers Northern Illinois and UTEP.
Potential FCS games for the Bison include Incarnate Word, Central Arkansas, and Austin Peay while the official decision awaits. All three opponents had the Bison on their official schedules as of Wednesday, but NDSU athletics confirmed the final non-conference schedule is still in the works.
The Mountain West released matchups for the season this week, but those game dates await.
NDSU’s Early Conference Outlook
As the Fargo Forum’s Mike McFeely acknowledged, “NDSU got the toughest road schedule it could get.”
Playing three winning teams from last year on the road plus a physical Air Force squad gives the Bison a chance for four quality wins. That said, McFeely expressed his displeasure with the NDSU home slate of Nevada, NIU, UTEP, and Wyoming.
“Nothing will match the juice of playing SDSU for the Dakota Marker trophy at the Fargodome — that was never going to happen — but that will be the only FCS home game Bison fans will miss this season,” McFeely wrote. “Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Illinois State and Austin Peay … not so much. Although the Illinois State game would’ve had an extra edge thanks to Dec. 6, 2025. A date which will live in infamy.”
NDSU’s final FCS season didn’t end as planned, with Illinois State stunning the Bison last minute in the second round of the playoffs. The Bison won 10 FCS championships in 15 years before the move up to the FBS this year.
NDSU Gets Bad News on Matchup Announcement