The North Dakota State football team is 10-0 and ranked #1 in the FCS (formerly I-AA) coach’s poll.
They are ineligible for the FCS postseason play-offs because they are in their fifth and final year of Division I reclassification. Thus the team is hoping for a invitation to an FBS (formerly I-A) bowl game.
According to a story written in the Fargo Forum, NDSU athletic director, Gene Taylor “wonders if a 10-1 or 11-0 team would make for a better story and be more attractive to a bowl committee than a 6-6 team that finished in the lower half of its league.”
Although it may sound farfetched that, here is some food for thought:
- NDSU is ranked #1 in FCS coach’s poll.
- An undefeated record
- Two wins versus FBS opponents including:
- A road win versus Minnesota – a Big Ten opponent.
- A 30-point road win versus Central Michigan – the MAC West champions.
- Lots of parity among top FCS and lower level FBS teams. Think Appalchian State over Michigan, Northern Iowa over Iowa, and NDSU over Minnesota.
- Great fans – NDSU brought 30,000 fans to the Metrodome, when the team played Minnesota.
- Last year Boise State went undefeated and even though they are in a non-BCS conference, they earned an invite to a BCS bowl. The game between Boise State and Oklahoma turned out to be one of the greatest football games of all-time.
What do you think about a FBS team getting a bowl invite?
North Dakota State University will take on the University of Minnesota in football this Saturday in Minneapolis. The Bison faithful are flooding the phone lines on the Twin Cities local talk radio stations. Other media local media outlets are paying close attention, as well. This much I figured, but with a number one ranking in FCS football (formerly I-AA) the team is also receiving some well deserved national attention.
