North Dakota State Football

skb124

Redshirt
Jul 20, 2008
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While watching this KSU-Michigan game, it got me thinking about NDSU since they beat KSU in the opening game of the season. My question is where do yall think they would stack up in FBS? I ask because they are going for their third straight FCS national championship next Saturday and have only lost 2 games in the past 3 years with wins over Minnesota, Colorado State, and Kansas State. Obviously they would not compete in a BCS conference, but could y'all see them being competitors in a smaller conference like the C-USA or Sun Belt?
 

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
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When USM was at full stride they wouldn't lose to FCS teams. NDSU loses to FCS teams. Beating a KSU team coached by an 80 year old man who just lost his 4 year starting QB to eligibility, a CSU team that has sucked for the last decade, and a Minnesota team that Brewster ran into the ground isn't spectacular. When they start beating BCS teams without any kind of excuse I'll give them their due.
 

QuaoarsKing

All-Conference
Mar 11, 2008
5,925
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There really isn't much difference in the bottom 2 or 3 FBS conferences and the top 2 or 3 FCS conferences. North Dakota State probably would have won the Sun Belt this year, may have won the MAC, and would have at least gotten a bowl in CUSA.
 

skb124

Redshirt
Jul 20, 2008
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I understand what you are saying, but Southern Miss also has never played a full schedule of FCS teams in one year. The most they ever have played is 1 in a season. I doubt USM would have gone undefeated every year playing a full FCS schedule. Just for argument's sake, Florida, Kansas State, Oregon State, Iowa State, San Diego State, UCONN, South Florida, and a few others have lost more games to FCS teams than North Dakota State has this year.

Also, how many small conference teams beat BCS teams on a yearly basis? That's a pretty tall measuring stick you have there, especially if you are going to discount all of the wins they have had against FBS teams.

However, I asked a question and you answered with your opinion, so I respect your opinion.
 

57stratdawg

Heisman
Dec 1, 2004
148,409
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I agree there isn't much difference between the FBS schools and FCS except the 20 or so scholarships.
 

WayboDawg

Redshirt
Jun 7, 2013
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Assuming Southern Miss doesn't show much if any improvement next year (2-3 wins) I cant see why dropping to FCS wouldn't be beneficial for them. The C-USA is a complete joke right now, and will actually be worse next year with Tulane, East Carolina, and others leaving for larger conferences. Just about any USM fan right now will tell you they are completely ashamed of the conference schedule they have going forward. And as bad as the C-USA is, Southern only manage 1 win in 2 seasons.
 

engie

Freshman
May 29, 2011
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Assuming Southern Miss doesn't show much if any improvement next year (2-3 wins) I cant see why dropping to FCS wouldn't be beneficial for them. The C-USA is a complete joke right now, and will actually be worse next year with Tulane, East Carolina, and others leaving for larger conferences. Just about any USM fan right now will tell you they are completely ashamed of the conference schedule they have going forward. And as bad as the C-USA is, Southern only manage 1 win in 2 seasons.

They would be giving up between $1-2mil in tv revenue by dropping down -- as well as at least $1.5mil/yr from the new bowl structure(the "league of 5" conferences get around $95mil/yr to divide among themselves from the college football playoff). They've got plenty of reasons to scratch and claw to stay in the FBS..
 

mount lefroy

Redshirt
Feb 10, 2013
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Yea. I cannot fathom a team going down unless the school has some financial reason to make them.
 

skb124

Redshirt
Jul 20, 2008
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I did some research (googled it) about the FCS vs FBS scholarships because I didn't really know how FCS does it. FBS as we all know allows 85 full scholarships. FCS allows 63 scholarships, but players can receive partial scholarships. Up to 85 players can receive financial aid, but with a total of 63 full scholarships divided amongst them. So while every FBS player is required to be on full scholarship, many FCS players are on partial scholarships. They both can have 85 scholarship players, however. Also of note, FCS teams are able to bring in 30 scholarship players each year where FBS can only bring in 25.