I work with the NDSU football team as a student equipment manager! Would love to see us in the FBS. But we just had a renovation proposal that while it wouldn’t give us a translucent roof, it would give us more standing room areas and even an attached convention center!

My how they have improved. North Dakota State and South Dakota State were D-II powerhouses 20 years ago. To now dominate FCS and possibly make it to FBS, WOW!

I love the Fargo dome ! I crossed the finish line last year in the Fargo marathon at 2:48:59 and the atmosphere was electric even for a marathon race!

Sacramento State could be a possibility too. There’s no FBS team in that area, only in the SF Bay Area (Cal, Stanford, San Jose State). Plus the TV market for Sacramento is much larger than any of the schools you mentioned in this video (except Villanova). They could be a rival to a school like either Nevada (based in Reno, NV) or San Jose State. Their field Hornet Stadium would have to add in another 10K seats to get it to over 30k seats in total capacity. Sacramento area would back another team, especially a local college program as they only have the NBA’s Kings.

NDSU and SDSU would be slam dunk additions. I cant wait for colorado vs north dakota state in August

I question the ACC, that if you want a West Wing, why not admit Oregon State and Washington State? I’d say 4 is good enough, no? If they want 6 in the west then SDSU and UNLV are probably the MW teams, based on market size. SDSU and NDSU replace in the MW.

Eastern Washington showed a lot of interest on promoting their football program but their stadium has just about more than 8000 seats so they would have to upgrade their stadium, Idaho is also an interesting one, they are former WAC and Sun Belt members who before the Sun Belt's possible collapse they downgraded their football program, so I see them moving back up

Honestly Ferris State and Grand Valley out of D2 could be here eventually. Dominant programs and should be at least FCS soon

The in thing I will say that is West Georgia just moved up and is in the same conference as Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Southern Utah, etc. should be interesting to see D2 schools move to FCS and FCS to FBS. Gotta love college football

College Football became NIL money simulator and pay recruits millions of dollars to play for the team. You just gotta have lots of money for you to compete.

As a delaware fan, I'm familiar with all of these teams and the only one that I think is viable is Montana NDSU and SDSU are great teams, but they feast in the FCS and arent interested in giving up program success, otherwise they would have moved up already by now. They also just don't have the money to make travel worth it, if you look at the mountain west, both of those schools are closer to big 10 and big 12 schools than any of the mountain west schools. I think Dalukes had a good video on why NDSU and SDSU wouldn't join the mountain west where he looks at the program finances. There is no major airport near either of these schools. Villanova is an interesting case, you would think that due to their basketball success and built in rivalries with Delaware and James Madison, (former CAA conference-mates with both and history with playing Delaware since 1895) and less so Temple, (just because of proximity to philadelphia), it's a good fit, but an interesting tidbit is that Radnor Township where Villanova is based has a law about how "average building height" can't be over a few stories tall (I don't remember the exact height) but it's why their basketball stadium looks so strange, it's got those tall peaks on the corners and sinks down in the middle, it's because of the township law on average building height. I would like to see Villanova join the FBS so maybe down the line UD, JMU, Villanova, maybe UConn, Navy, Army, UMass, Temple and Boston College could all be in a conference together, but that would require Villanova either getting around the Radnor Township laws OR building a michigan-style in-ground stadium which doesn't go a certain height above ground level, which would be insanely expensive and couldn't happen on the land they use currently due to footprint. Montana is close enough to the Mountain West schools to make their addition viable and I think is the most likely of these schools to move up, they share a border with Boise State and are close enough to Wyoming, Washington State, and other schools in the area. They also don't make an insane amount of money per year and there also isnt a major airport near Missoula (I tried to go to the Delaware @ Montana FCS Playoff game but it wouldve taken so much money and time to go because of their location) but of these four schools I think Montana would be the most prepared to make the jump if they wanted to

The only question is would these schools would want to leave and move from being big fish in a small pond to minnows in an ocean. There chances of winning national championships goes to slim to none with the weight being on the none side. But I think they all including Villanova play great football and would be great additions to FBS.

I am stunned you didnt mention Idaho. All 4 dakotas are travel outliers and dont wanna move up, and while the Montana schools are more likely, MSU had to help fund UMs marching band to be able to play at the national championship. Idaho is the FCS school who is most likely, they were FBS barely a decade ago and have been fighting like absolute hell to get back

Winning a couple bowl games with in couple years could payed off the $5 Million. Also MW T.V. dealis $3M after a couple years too

I feel the Mountain West with Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, UNLV and Nevada are going to get poached by the Pac 12. Possibly with Wyoming and Colorado State. So I see MW adding all 4 Dakota Schools with Eastern Washington, Montana, Montana STate and Sacramento State.

Fargo just held a vote in December to renovate and add a convention center to the FARGODOME. It ended up falling which is a big shame. I regularly shoot the football games there and it needs some serious upgrades

Its so weird being from South Dakota and seeing important sport stuff happening. Not just Mount Rushmore anymore 😂

Unfortunately these aren't the only factors. On average travel is ~10% of an athletic budget, and that would balloon quickly being in such remote areas. The Montanas could get away with the MWC maybe, but the Dakota States have no realistic options. Personally I like UC Davis, Sac State, Missouri State, Chattanooga, or Eastern Kentucky.

I could definately see South Dakota State Jumping.. since they just went back to back FCS Nattys... NDSU would be a great addition as well....

Will Tarleton State ever go into FBS? I only ask as I go there but I think eventually they will, maybe in a couple decades but it’ll happen eventually. Already off to a good start in first four seasons of FBS & the stadium averages over the minimum required average of 15k. I’m pretty sure we had the third highest average attendance in FCS last season at around 20k

Furman would be an awesome team to bring to the FBS

🤔 Considering That Boise State and Nevada Came From The Big Sky Conference (and that has worked out well) - and Wyoming and Hawaii Are Among the Teams That Have Scheduled The Montana Schools in Football - Their is a Good Relationship Between the Teams and Conferences! I Think This Would Be the Best Fit of These Options! 🥳

Kennesaw St was the last school to move up for 5k. They join CUSA in August this year. Delaware joins in August 2025.

Honestly I think Idaho is more likely to move to FBS. They probably won't win a national championship in FCS in a while and now that they actually have a stable head coach and athletic director they most likely won't fall apart. Also if Montana moved to FBS Idaho definitely would because of their rivalry and besides Montana State it's Idaho's only real conference rival

Montana and the Dakotas are a glaring hole on the FBS map, and the tv appeal isn’t any less than Wyoming. It will be interesting to see how the dust settles with the Pac2 still trying to figure things out and the ACC about to take a hit. Some doors will be opened, no doubt, but it might not make sense to jump up to FBS is that means joining a national footprint without much more in revenue.

Villanova would half to be independent like UConn cause to join a conference in football fbs wise means that is also your basketball conference

Correction: College GameDay has never been to the University of Montana. They HAVE been to Montana State University in Bozeman, which host Rece Davis named as his top location of their 2022 season.

My FCS school (Butler) plays in a conference (the Pioneer League)that doesn't offer football scholarships. So, we aren't even competitive with most FCS schools at football.

Hey Ging. I got a fun ranking you could do. It would be political related. Why not do a ranking of state capitol interiors. I can tell you will have a blast with it

Just a wild thought: With NIL nuttiness, Is it possible a few FCS teams move the other direction? Perhaps FCS teams go no scholarship like the Ivy League & Pioneer League? This is the academic wing of D1 & these players get tons of academic $ so they are fine etc.

Kennesaw State made the jump.

Calford will go “kicking and screaming” not wanting to invite San Diego State or any other Mountain West schools, I don’t feel Calford would want Oregon State or Washington State either.

Based on program success, how does it make sense for UNLV or SDSU to get to make the jump before Boise?? Unless there are reasons that aren’t based on program success. There has to be other reasons right?

As an South Dakota State alum, I do not want to see them or anyone in the Missouri Valley Football Conference move up. Would rather see them all compete than play in FBS purgatory.

NDSU is almost at a point where they will have to move up to the FBS in the very near future, because the FCS is becoming so watered down and is no longer sustainable for long-term with all the NIL deals and transfer portal activity. After NDSU goes to the FBS, South Dakota State and Montana State will follow behind the Bison.

would love to see a montana vs boise state rivalry

If the ACC only loses two schools, they will stay pat at 16 Olympic sports members. The ESPN contract states that there must be at least 15 Olympic sports members to avoid a renegotiation. If they lose four or more, USF and UConn would be the first two off the board. OSU and WSU got left behind for a reason.

I could see more of an idea of bringing washington state and oregon state to the mountain west vice them poaching FCS schools. For villanova I could see them in the american as a Football only member Like army and navy are now And what you whicita state is a basketball only member

Montana, NDSU & SDSU are legit. Love their small stadiums as well.

Missouri State is talking with SBC in joining. Chattanooga, Utah Tech, ACU, Tarleton State, Long Beach State, UTRGV, McNeese State, SE Louisiana, Central Arkansas, North Alabama, Northern Iowa, Youngstown State, North Carolina A&T, Tennessee State, Jackson State, Austin peay State, Lamar and Stony Brook all mentioned about going FBS. East tennessee State, Mercer, UC-Davis, Sacramento State, Cal Poly, Weber State, Northern Arizona, Illinois State, Indiana State, SE Missouri State, Lindenwood, Western Carolina, Towson, Florida A&M, Texas Southern, Albany, Maine, and William & Mary all could go FBS as well. Villanova is a school that needs to spend cash on their football, and then they would be a target for the ACC for the likes of Duke and Wake Forest to satisfy them. I would keep an eye on North Florida to add football and would be taken in by SBC. Central Oklahoma and West Florida out of D2 would be also targets as well for their tv markets.

you also have to take into account that the entire United Athletic Conference(FCS conference) has intentions to become an FBS conference.

I could see Villanova joining the AA conference.

Why wouldn't the MWC look to expand into Texas? There was a push this past cycle from schools to expand into Texas. Pair with NMSU and UTEP if they need members, who would be invited before any FCS schools

IDAHO, NEW MEXICO, NORTH COLORADO, SAN JOSE STATE IN ACC WEST WING. VILLANOVA, UCONN, UMASS TO ACC EAST

It's About Time.

I thought FCS, FBS division 1, 2,3 ect was all based on School size. not how well they are playing? or how good their program is

Weber state would be good for the mwc rivalry with utah state plus great basketball.

If the ACC goes west again wouldn't they take Oregon St and Washington St? They're both power 5 schools.

if the MW loses two members they won't add any FCS schools. They only need 10 members to have a conference championship game, and while South Dakota St, North Dakota State, Montana, and Montana St are good programs they are also located in sparsely populated States with low populations, small markets, and bad recruiting grounds. The MW already has enough schools in states like that... they don't need anymore. The MW would go for Utep or any Texas G5 school before they went for FCS schools. FCS additions would be an absolute last resort for the MW.

NDSU, South Dakota, Northern Iowa would be held back by the domestic they play in. They would need new stadiums. You are required to have a 30000 seat stadium for FBS now. No way to almost double the capacity of these domes.

Eastern Wahsington would be good

College Game Day did not go to the University of Montana, they want to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana last year. College Game Day has never been to the University of Montana in Missoula.

Gonna be a buzz kill, Montana already turned down going FBS in the 2000’s. They were a powerhouse house then. The cost is expensive and they would move away from being able recruiting Montana kids to stay competitive. They have already looked at the cost and it was a big no. Washington Griz is the top stadium in FCS and the 10th loudest stadium in the country(not just FCS).

🕵️‍♂️ FYI: Montana State Law Doesn't Allow Just One Team to Move to a Different Conference! So, Montana and Montana State Would Be a "Package Deal" (But, a Good Fit)! 🤔

Northern Iowa and Youngstown State to the MAC. Missouri State and Tarleton State to C-USA. Stephen F. Austin and Florida A&M to the Sun Belt. Oregon state, Washington state, Montana, North Dakota State, and South Dakota state to the Mountain West. Villanova and Dayton to the AAC.

I think The University of Central Arkansas would be a good fit for Conference USA.

Who had Missouri State for next?

Buffalo Bulls Move Out Mid-American Conference To Big Ten Conference

Six schools Montana, Montana State, Idaho, Idaho State, Nirth Dakota State, Siuth Dakota State

I just don't the either of the Dakota's wanting to move up

The Mountain West needs to add Montana, Montana State, North Dakota State and South Dakota State and needs San Jose state, Fresno state, San Diego state and Hawaii to leave to form the pac-6

Eastern Washington ??

Why would a school like South Dakota State move up to FBS? They would sacrifice their ability to play for national championships instead they would at best be able to win the conference championship?

Youngstown State to the MAC. #GoGuins

I dont know if anyone has said this but the Montana State Bobcats had Collage Gameday but the Griz should've had it.

GameDay was in Bozeman in 2023 not Missoula

We need to build back up the pac 12

Why would you want to move up and deal with the B$G and $EC and their BS? FCS is closer to what collegiate athletics should be.

The ACC will be gone my guy, everyone is going to end up in the B1G, SEC, Big 12, and the rest who are left from the ACC will be in the American, Sun Belt, and C-USA.

The pac 2 should rebrand itself to the PAC “State” conference with Oregon state Washington State San Diego state Boise State Colorado State Fresno State Utah State New Mexico State. the MW conference should add NDSU North Dakota SDSU South Dakota Montana Montana State ACC should add (if they lose FSU and Clemson) Tulane Memphis

🕵️‍♂️ Meanwhile, NDSU is a Dome Team That Has Limited Seating Capacity and SDSU Has Trouble Filling Their Stands Consistantly! But, The Montana Schools Don't Have Those Problems! Additionally, Montana Has Expansion Plans (Blueprints) to Make the Stadium 43,500 Seats and Will Fill Them!!! 🤑

I like to see UC Davis and Sacramento State 🏈 and 🏀 teams play in the PAC 12 because NorCal need more school in the PAC 12 to fill the void of losing Cal and Stanford to the ACC

Abilene Christian will be FBS one day

NDSU SDSU Montana Montana State -> MW EKU Chatanooga Missouri State (Deleware) -> CUSA EIU SIU Indiana State Youngstown State -> MAC

schools with billions+

See temple is trash. Pittsburghers deserve a true competitive phi pitt rivalry for once. I think moving villanove to the acc would be an awesome idea.

Dog there is no shot mountain west teams go to the acc

Florida A&M to the ACC

If any MWC schools leave UTEP and NM State are the two best options.

Montana doesn't want to go to fbs. We just watched the vandals go up and come back down after a decade. Montana will never go. Why would you want to be a mediocre team in the fbs and at best maybe get a no-name bowl game that nobody cares about. The fcs has the best playoff system and has for 30 years. Playoffs are fun, the stadiums are packed. Montana and montana state cannot recruit with the big boys.

I hope Missouri State South Dakota State & North Dakota State will stay in the FCS The FCS is better then the FBS

MWC schools are not getting poached by the ACC lol, especially if all the prestigious schools leave. ACC will backfill with AAC, most likely the best leftovers such as ECU, USF, Memphis, and a few more.

Montana Montana state NDSU SDSU Are possibly the best four choices to move up to FBS level. They would fit in with the mountain west conference. All four of those teams have good records against FBS level schools and regardless of money situation they can hold their own. Also Having big names university in ND, SD, and Montana will help boost the conference economics including massive in-conference rivalries: Bawl of the wild: Montana state vs Montana Battle of Dakota: SDSU vs NDSU Montana vs NDSU Montana state vs SDSU