North Dakota State No. 2 in USA Today’s College Football Preview Magazine

The Bison were one of two Missouri Valley Football Conference teams listed in the top 10 which included No. 10 Northern Iowa.

 

 

 

 

The Bison were one of two Missouri Valley Football Conference teams listed in the top 10 which included No. 10 Northern Iowa.

Patrick Coleman for USA Today wrote, “North Dakota State took a risk in jumping from Division II, where it had been successful, to Division I. But after going 6-5 and 3-8 in its first two years of full D-I eligibility, it seemed the Bison had a breakout year in 2010, beating D-I FBS Kansas and reaching the national quarterfinals, finishing 9-5.

"When that improved to a 14-1 mark and the national title in 2011, however, it helped validate everything that had happened, including the suspension or end of longstanding rivalries and the breakup of the venerable North Central Conference," Coleman continued.

"In order to win a second FCS title, the Bison will have to rely even more on a defense, which held Sam Houston State will below its average in last season’s 17-6 FCS title game win.”

North Dakota State won the program’s first NCAA Division I Football Championship with a 17-6 win over Sam Houston State on Jan. 7 and also claimed the program's first Missouri Valley Football Conference title. The Bison were 14-1 overall and 7-1 in MVFC.

The Bison open the 2012 season against Robert Morris at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

USA Today College Football Preview FCS Preseason Top 10

1. Sam Houston State

2. North Dakota State

3. Georgia Southern

4. James Madison

5. Montana State

6. Montana

7. Old Dominion

8. Wofford

9. Delaware

10. Northern Iowa

 

GoBison.com

   

© 2012 KFGO-AM  |  1020 S. 25th Street Fargo, ND 58103