https://x.com/i/status/2017058199497584911
https://x.com/i/status/2017090687901249940
Lots of rumblings that it isn’t much better than the MWC deal. Fans of the schools that switched are pointing to being able to keep half of their postseason take instead of splitting it evenly with conference mates as the only apparent consolation.
clt is hearing sac state to the acc
They are going to regret this….
Been in the works for a while. Per Dellenger:
North Dakota State and the Mountain West — in a courtship for more than a year now — are nearing the completion of a more permanent marriage.
Not exactly cheap to join for the one sport.
This is so dumb. They paid 17 million. Can’t play in a blow or playoffs for two years.
The MW should be paying them.
You’re paying 17 million to make much less than that per year and be in a bottom rung FBS conference rather than a top tier FCS.
I bet a lot of NDSU faithful are pissed.
Per the Sam Herder X post bellow:
NDSU is going FBS this year. It’s paying a hefty fee to get in, but football-only was the dream scenario. And it’s about time. I’ll say it again - The FCS has been good for NDSU, and NDSU has been good for the FCS. But it’s been time for a while for NDSU to go FBS. And it finally gets that invite.
There was FCS fatigue in Fargo. And Bison fatigue in the FCS. The more FCS titles NDSU won, the more Bison fans wanted to leave while other FCS fans were getting bored of the same result. That scenario wasn’t good for the FCS or for the NDSU football program. It was time.
And from Chris Vannini of The Athletic:
Leaving FCS will leave behind local rivalries against schools like South Dakota State and North Dakota, likely along with the ability to claim national championships. But NDSU has long considered the move in part because some fans have gotten bored with so many FCS blowout wins and seek a deeper challenge. They saw recent FCS member James Madison reach the College Football Playoff this year. The Group of 6 conferences are guaranteed at least one spot in the College Football Playoff for at least the next six years.
I am a bit surprised that NDSU is making the move without SDSU (the blue not the red). I think in an ideal world, they would have moved together. Today’s college athletics are far from ideal.
I’m not sure it’s smart to spend $17 million to move up to FBS right now, when FBS appears to be headed for a split in the next 4 or 5 years. Maybe it pays off, but I think I would have waited to see what happens with the next round of realignment and possible split. I believe it was mostly the P4 who recently pushed for the increased fee to move up. After the split it may cost a lot less to move up to whatever level or division the MWC will be in at that point.
Seems like a bad time to make a big decision like this.
I don’t think waiting 2 or 3 years to see how College athletics changes would hurt the program.
Go win another FCS championship while waiting.
agreed!
If that split comes they likely would be able to get into the “new FBS or new FCS” or whatever you want to call it, for free.
Why?
because the new FBS will likely be looking additional programs to strengthen their overall TV inventory and bolster their numbers
It seems highly likely that the top FCS programs would get invited with open arms and likely have to pay nothing or next to nothing.