“The Flagship”: 2026 NDSU FBS Football PRE SEASON

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GET TO KNOW THE OPPONENT:

Jacksonville State - NDSU

• Established: 1883 - 1899

• Campus: Suburban small city - Urban

• Type: Public University - Land Grant Research University

• Location: Jacksonville, AL (112,349 MSA) - Fargo, ND (129,990 City)

• Enrollment: 9,955 - 11,110

• Endowment: 57M$ - 528M$

• Nickname: Gamecocks - Bison

• Colors: Red/White - Yellow/Green

• Stadium: AmFirst 22,500 - Fargodome 18,900

• Football Budget: 13.5M$ (2024) - 12M$ est.

Jax State, former normal school, is a good MVFC team in the CUSA. Expect USD quality. FCS teams don’t seem to have the resources to fill rosters with first pick type guys. The FBS does. The Gamecocks will be a good look at the run-of-the-mill FBS/G6 type team.

Current Sagarin rank: NDSU 40, Jax 110, USD 109, SIU 108, SDSU 99, UND 95, ISUR 87

It doesn’t mean a lot. All Bison fans know AGS a Sagarin 87 can beat a 40.

Game Date Aug 29, 2026 @ Fargo.

Early game prediction: NDSU -4. Total 52. Mythical Score Bison 28-24

https://jaxstatesports.com/sports/footb ... edule/2026

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The 2026-27 CFP format and Bowl Affiliations for non CFP participants will remain the same as 2025.

The Mountain West has chances vs. CUSA/AAC/Sun Belt/MAC. There is a MWC championship too.

https://fansided.com/ncaaf/college-foot ... onnections

If rumors are true the NCAA is going to grant NDSU permission to participate. A post season game is possible.

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G6 playoff idea doesn’t go away. Latest concept includes one spot reserved in the CFP for the top ranked G6 squad.

Not sure what this tournament would prove, as much as the FCS playoff I guess. It would generate some great games. Top G6 teams are very good football teams. If the P4 couldn’t buy up the talent every year G6 could be the best.

The idea is covered here:

https://www.footballscoop.com/2026/05/0 ... e_vignette

[JBB2]

KNOW THE OPPONENT:

Fordham Sept 5, 2026 Fargo

FORDHAM - NDSU:

• Established: 1841 - 1899

• Forbes List of 500 Top Universities: #133 - #368

• Tuition: $67,452 - $21,915

• Campus: City - Urban

• Type: Private Research- Land Grant Research

• Location: New York City - Fargo

• Enrollment: 10,582 - 11,110

• Endowment: 1.05B$ - 528M$

• Nickname: Rams - Bison

• Colors: Maroon/White - Yellow/Green

• Stadium: MOGLIA STADIUM AT JACK COFFEY FIELD - FARGODOME

• Capacity: 7,000 - 18,900

• Football Budget: Private - 12M$ est.

Great Tradition with the 1929 National Championship marking a high. The Los Angeles Rams were a namesake paying homage to Fordham.

2007 Patriot league champions FCS Fordham has never played the Bison.

Current Sagarin rank: NDSU 40, Fordham 258 Similar Teams: Murray State 220, Indiana State 208, St Thomas 188, USD 109, SIU 108

Early Prediction: NDSU -55 Total 69. Mythical Score 62-7

Fordham won one last season and hope to do at least as well in 2026. Here’s a link

https://fordhamsports.com/sports/football/schedule/2026

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Haven’t heard anything about ESports at NDSU. Don’t know much about this emerging “sport”. My first computer game was chess, still play the computers. Then I got a hand-held pinball in the game boy era. that’s my ESports history.

I was surprised to see the MWC sponsors ESports. It may be a good place for NDSU next move?

Here’s the link to MWC ESports:

https://themw.com/news/2026/05/01/mount ... M3JGwwJGgw

For the curious here’s a list of many of the countries ESports arenas:

https://esportstripper.com/usa/

[User1]

My opinion.....That's a hobby, it's not a sport. If that can be considered a sport then I could be an olympic medalist in 70's rock music.

[JBB2]

KNOW THE OPPONENT:

Air Force Academy Sept 12, 2026

@ Colorado Springs

The Air Force Academy - NDSU

• Established: 1954 - 1899

• Forbes List of 500 Top Universities: #? - #368

• Tuition: $0 (Service Commitment) - $9,868 (COA: $21,915)

• Campus: Suburban - Urban

• Type: US Service Academy - Land Grant Research

• Location: Colorado Springs - Fargo

• Enrollment: 4,094 - 11,110

• Endowment: 98.937M$ - 528M$

• Nickname: Falcons - Bison

• Colors: Blue/Grey - Yellow/Green

• Stadium: Falcon Stadium - Fargo Dome

• Capacity: 39,441 - 18,900

• Football Budget: Private - 12M$ est.

Located on the Colorado Front Range near Colorado Springs The Air Force Academy is a beautiful place to visit and watch a game.

This is a big game in Fargo. The inaugural MWC football game and the first game with Air Force.

Tickets may be hard to get. The Academy ticket office reports brisk sales. Ticket Master says only 2% left. It’s a popular venue.

Air Force Ticket Office

https://tickets-center.com/air-force-ac ... exid=&vx=0

Bruno Mars has a 2 night stand Sept 26 & 27

Current Sagarin rank: NDSU 40, Air Force 105

Similar Teams: SDSU 99, UC Davis 107, SIU 108, USD 109

Early Prediction: NDSU -5. Total 55. Mythical Score Bison 30 - Falcons 25

Air Force is coming off a 4-8 season. Here’s a schedule link

https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/schedule/

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Been a lot more G6 playoff talk. Most of it sounds like a token spot in the CFP. If included or not this article likes the idea of an exclusive G6 playoff, probably 24 teams including conference champion auto bids.

https://herosports.com/fbs-group-of-six ... lity-cpcp/

The bowls are diminishing. they might get a big boost sponsoring G6 playoff games. Home field could be run like FCS. I think it would be successful and marketable. A lot of good football games too.

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So far so good. 3-0 with victories over 2 FBS squads.

It seems too optimistic. Reviewing the numbers it may not be. Adjustments, presented earlier, were made using returning roster statistics extrapolated from total yards and TDS using 2025 rushing attempts and completions. A similar approach was used for defense based on play ending events, yds & TDS allowed.

Here is what the actual 2025 Bison look like compared to the 2026 Spring projection and 2025 MWC averages

IMG_3913.jpeg (130.92 KiB) Viewed 115 times

[JBB2]

KNOW THE OPPONENT:

Sept 19, 2026 Sacramento Ca

Sacramento State - NDSU:

• Established: 1947 - 1899

• Forbes List of 500 Top Universities: #280 - #368

• Tuition: $8,018 - $9,868

• COA: $33,256 - $21,915

• Campus: Large City - Urban

• Type: Public University- Land Grant Research

• Location: Sacramento, CA - Fargo

• Enrollment: 28,921 - 11,110

• Endowment: 96.41M$ - 528M$

• Nickname: Hornets - Bison

• Colors: Green/Gold- Yellow/Green

• Stadium: Fred Anderson Field at Hornet Stadium - FARGODOME

• Capacity: 21,195 - 18,900

• Football Budget: 7.28M$ (FCS) - 12M$ est.

Sacramento State, more formally University of California, Sacramento, played the Bison once.

The 14-0 Bison played Sac State on the way to the 1988 D2 national championship. In the FCS they were never good enough to get to Fargo.

in their Inaugural FBS seasons it’s doubtful the pecking order is going to change. But who knows? It’s a new world.

Now it’s The MWC vs The MAC.

Current Sagarin rank: NDSU 40, Sac State 128.

Similar Schools: Mercer 130, Missouri State 125, Oregon State 126, Oklahoma State 122, Jax State 110, Marshall 106

Early Prediction NDSU -12. Total 44. Mythical Score Bison 28 - 16.

In 2025 FCS Sac State racked up both yards - 5,107 - and points - 405. Had the defense been tougher who knows? Can they do as well in their first FBS season? Only sure of one thing: Bison don’t want a shoot-out.

Here’s the latest on Hornet Football:

https://hornetsports.com/sports/footbal ... h=football