CFB Most Influential Programs
#25 North Dakota State Bison
School: North Dakota State Bison
First Game: 1894
Winning Percentage: .668
Appearances in AP/Rank: N/A, have received votes multiple times after FBS upsets.
Average AP Ranking: N/A
National Titles: 17 (9 FCS Division 1)
Claim to Fame: North Dakota State completely took over the FCS landscape of college football in the 2010’s, winning 8 out of a possible 10 National Titles from 2011-2020.
Why I have them in my Collection: What can you say about North Dakota State that hasn’t already been said? Every level they are at, they perform at the highest level. Even in Division II they managed to rack up 8 National Titles.
Their fame really started once they moved to FCS though. As mentioned, they dominated the subdivision for well over a decade in a way that has really never been seen in college football. They were so dominant that schools in their conference and around the country had to adopt their own playing styles if they hoped to beat the Bison. The only school able to do so between 2011-2019 was James Madison in 2016 when they beat the Bison in the always hostile Fargodome.
Speaking of the Fargodome, it is one of the loudest and craziest places to play a football game. Decibel levels often exceed 100, and playoff teams just don’t win there if they have to visit, plain and simple. JMU was absolutely an outlier. It is one of the more unique venues in college football not because it’s a dome, but because of the atmosphere inside of it.
NDSU also has a knack for beating FBS teams, like a lot. From 2010-2016 the Bison had a 6-game winning streak against FBS opponents. Overall, their record against the FBS is 7-4 with their worst loss only being by 17 points. There’s a lot of “reasons” why NDSU hasn’t gone FBS yet, but if conference realignment continues to still rumble, the Bison will be on the doorstep. It’ll just be a matter of who makes the call, and the Bison answer it.
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