North Dakota State University (NDSU) has demonstrated its capability to compete against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams, highlighted by a significant victory in Week Zero. The Bison, known for their dominance in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), showcased their confidence ahead of their matchup against Jacksonville State.
Senior wide receiver Mekhi Collins shared his thoughts on the challenges of playing FBS teams in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Bryan Fischer. Collins noted that NDSU has a solid track record, boasting a 9-5 record against FBS opponents over the last 22 seasons. He recalled the Bison's most recent encounter with a Power Five team, which took place in 2024 against Colorado, resulting in a narrow 31-26 defeat.
“From our perspective, there’s no difference playing FBS, which, truthfully, I don’t think there should be,” Collins stated. He emphasized that while FBS teams may have faster athletes at certain positions, the overall strength and speed of players are comparable. Collins believes that many of his teammates could seamlessly transition to any FBS program and perform at the same level.
This sentiment reflects a broader reality for the Bison, who have faced challenges with player retention due to the transfer portal. Despite losing key players to higher-level programs, NDSU has continued its tradition of winning FCS championships, underscoring the urgency of moving up to FBS competition.
Collins, who has spent his entire college career with the Bison, has accumulated impressive stats, including 23 receptions for 473 yards and five touchdowns. In NDSU's recent 33-7 victory over Jacksonville State, he contributed with an 11-yard reception, marking a significant moment for the team.
This win against Jacksonville State was particularly noteworthy as it marked NDSU's first victory over an FBS opponent since 2016. For a program that has claimed 10 FCS championships in just 15 years, this gap in FBS competition is surprising. The Bison's struggles to secure games against FBS teams stem from a reluctance among higher-level programs to schedule them, especially following NDSU's upset of No. 13 Iowa in 2016.
Since that landmark victory, NDSU faced a drought in FBS matchups, with their only games against FBS opponents coming in 2022 against Arizona and in 2024 against Colorado. Both contests were closely contested, with NDSU falling short in the final moments. The Bison's absence from FBS competition would have been shorter had the COVID-19 pandemic not canceled a scheduled game against Oregon in 2020, which would have showcased a team fresh off an undefeated 16-0 season in 2019.
Looking ahead, NDSU is set to face Oregon in 2028 after the game was rescheduled. While the Pac-12 has been open to scheduling the Bison, teams from the Big Ten have avoided playing them, following losses to Minnesota and Iowa in previous years. The Big 12 has not scheduled NDSU since 2014, when the Bison defeated Iowa State. Historically, NDSU has had success against teams from the Mountain West and Mid-American Conferences, further solidifying their competitive pedigree.
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