All articles tagged with #north dakota state
North Dakota State kicked off its FBS era with a 33-7 win over Jacksonville State, validating years of planning and fan fervor as the Bison join the Mountain West. QB Nathan Hayes posted 160 passing yards and two touchdowns in his first start, Reis Kessel caught the first-ever FBS TD for NDSU, and the defense dominated the Gamecocks, giving the program a strong start at the higher level and a hopeful blueprint for the transition.
North Dakota State opened its transition to the FBS with a 33-7 win over Jacksonville State at the Fargodome, a game that was tied 7-7 at halftime before the Bison pulled away. NDSU outgained JSU 373-170 and continues to push forward as they integrate into the Mountain West era under coach Tim Polasek.
CBS Sports' experts say Boise State should lead the Group of Six into the revamped CFP in 2026 as the G6's best chance to crash the playoff under the new rules that auto-qualify Power Four champions and top-12 Notre Dame; North Dakota State in its first FBS year, UNLV, and South Florida are also named as contenders amid coaching changes and conference realignment.
North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round, continuing a decade-long streak of Bison QBs going to the NFL. Payton threw for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns with 777 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns as a 13-game starter for NDSU in 2025, impressed at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, and drew interest from several teams before landing with Philadelphia, where he’ll join a QB room led by Jalen Hurts.
Philadelphia selected North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton in the fifth round (No. 178), adding a dual-threat option to a QB room that already includes Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. Payton started 13 games in 2025, throwing for 2,719 yards with 16 TDs and 4 INTs on 72% completions and rushing for 777 yards and 13 TDs, while setting school records for total offense per game and yards per play; some scouts viewed him as a potential tight-end convert or a Taysom Hill‑like project.
Michigan State opened the NCAA tournament with a confident 92-67 victory over 14‑seed North Dakota State in Buffalo, aiming to ease nerves and set the tone for a potential deep run.
The Mountain West Conference announced a 10-team lineup for 2026, adding North Dakota State, NIU, and UTEP; the league will play 40 conference games across 13 weeks, with each team hosting four and visiting four conference opponents across four time zones, culminating in the Conference Championship Game with a potential CFP berth; full schedule to be released soon.
The Mountain West Conference announced that North Dakota State University will join as a football-only member beginning July 1, 2026, with a two-year transition during which NDSU will be ineligible for the MW Championship Game and postseason until 2028. The move aims to raise the conference's football profile, with NDSU's FCS program having won 10 of the last 15 national titles and maintaining strong national exposure. NDSU will play a full MW schedule in 2026 but cannot compete for the conference title or bowls until 2028, while the MW finalizes its new membership model that includes all-sport and affiliate members.
ESPN announced that North Dakota State will face Montana State in the 2027 Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium, part of a series of future college football games highlighting top FCS programs, with additional matchups planned for 2029 and beyond, emphasizing Las Vegas as a premier sports destination.
North Dakota State remains the top-ranked team in the 2025 preseason Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, receiving 54 of 56 first-place votes, as the defending national champions look to defend their title in the upcoming college football season.
North Dakota State has decided to opt into the NCAA settlement, allowing the university to phase in roster cuts over several years and manage Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities internally through a rebranded booster club, in response to recent legislation and settlement terms.
The 2024 FCS playoffs will feature Montana State as the top seed after an undefeated season, marking the first time the playoffs will run through Bozeman, Montana. The Bobcats, who last won the FCS national championship in 1984, secured the top spot following a decisive victory over Montana. North Dakota State and South Dakota State, both strong contenders, are seeded second and third, respectively. The playoffs will culminate in Frisco, Texas, continuing a 15-year tradition.
The Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll for Week 10 highlights the dominance of North Dakota State, led by first-year coach Tim Polasek, maintaining their top position. The poll also emphasizes the impact of first-year coaches, with teams like Harvard, UC Davis, and Mercer making significant strides. Harvard, under coach Andrew Aurich, entered the rankings at No. 24 after defeating Dartmouth. Nine different leagues are represented in the Top 25, with Duquesne from the Northeast Conference making its first appearance this season. The poll is determined by a national media panel.
The Los Angeles Chargers have signed quarterback Easton Stick, who has spent the last five seasons with the team and has shown promise in his limited playing time, both in the NFL and during his successful collegiate career at North Dakota State.
Oregon State University's baseball team is set to face off against North Dakota State in the third game of their series at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. The game will be live streamed and broadcast on the Beaver Sports Network, with Jacob Kmatz, the reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week, set to make his third start of the season. Oregon State improved to 9-1 for the third consecutive season after a come-from-behind 6-5 victory in the second game of the series, with notable performances from Travis Bazzana, Micah McDowell, and Tanner Smith.