North Dakota State has officially made its statement.
In its first season as an FBS program, NDSU has started the year 3-0, and the latest victory might be the biggest one yet. The Bison went on the road and took down Air Force in Colorado Springs, giving them a perfect record through the opening three games of their historic transition to the FBS.
NDSU entered the season with plenty of questions. After years of dominating the FCS, could the Bison actually compete against FBS opponents on a weekly basis?
Three games into the season, that answer is becoming very clear.
The Bison opened the year with a 33-7 win over Jacksonville State before shutting out Fordham 38-0. Then came their first Mountain West matchup against Air Force, a team known for its physical rushing attack and difficult-to-defend offense.
NDSU didn’t back down.
The victory over Air Force gives the Bison a 3-0 record to begin their first FBS season and immediately puts the rest of the Mountain West on notice.
This isn’t simply a team trying to adjust to a higher level of competition. NDSU looks like a program that already belongs.
The Bison brought the same identity that made them one of the most dominant programs in FCS history: physical football, disciplined defense and a willingness to make games uncomfortable for their opponents. That formula has carried over perfectly to the FBS.
Even more impressive is the way NDSU has started this new era. The Bison have now won three straight games while allowing just seven points in their first two contests before taking down Air Force.
There is still a long way to go, and the Mountain West schedule will only get tougher. But NDSU has already accomplished something special.
Three games into its FBS era, North Dakota State is undefeated.
The Bison aren’t just making the jump.
They’re making noise.
