Jeff Choate, the former head coach of Montana State, is familiar with North Dakota State, having faced them in the final two seasons of his tenure. The Bison, who have won nine of the last 13 FCS championships, defeated Choate’s Bobcats in both 2018 and 2019. Now, there are talks of North Dakota State potentially making a move to the FBS, specifically to join the Mountain West Conference.
While Choate believes the Bison are more than capable of competing at the FBS level, he expressed concerns about the financial implications and the potential loss of their dominance in the FCS. The cost to transition from FCS to FBS is significant, with a buy-in of around $11 million. Despite having the financial means to do so, Choate questions whether North Dakota State would want to sacrifice their regular national title contention for a shot at competing in a higher division.
However, Choate also believes that North Dakota State, along with other FCS powerhouses like South Dakota State, Montana State, and Montana, have the potential to make the leap to the FBS due to their strong fan bases. He is confident in the Bison’s ability to compete in the Mountain West Conference, citing their history of defeating power-conference FBS schools.
Ultimately, the decision lies with North Dakota State and whether they feel the benefits of moving to the FBS outweigh the costs. Choate acknowledges the challenges but believes that the Bison have the talent and resources to make a successful transition if they choose to do so.
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Photo credit nevadasportsnet.com
