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!
South Dakota Stare was never really competitive when they they D2. Only when they moved up. I don’t want to see the them move to FBS and I went to school there.
I don't know why fcs teams let South and North dakota state dominate fcs. But they should move up to FBS. Villanova should join ACC . Richmond and Rhode inland should join MWC. Pac 12 will take 10 teams from MWC. MWC will take high value from all fcs conferences. Mark my words
We(SDSU) weren't even "mid" as a D2 team. NDSU was always great. We have a way better stadium that is built to add seating, huge advantage. I'm fine staying in the FCS unless there is a G5 playoffs and national championship.
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!
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
I see Idaho moving back up too because they got a stable head coach and athletic director along with an FBS (33-6 over Nevada) and have kept it within one score with Wazzu and 2 scores with Indiana under their new head coach.
I was really disappointed when Oregon had to cancel their game against NDSU in 2020 it would’ve been a great game. Hopefully they try to schedule it again in the next few years
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.
I wish this could happen but unfortunately the problem is things are ten times more expensive to build in California they would need minimum 250 Mil for stadium improvements, another 100 million for facilities and another 50 million for all the additional scholarships they would need to give out on top of the new 5 million dollar entrance fee. In a blue NIMBY city like sac I highly doubt those funds would be allocated unless donated
UC Davis and Sacramento St would be good adds. Are large Enough Schools and the Sacramento Media Market is 20th in the country both have been good recently
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.
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.
@@zachellenburg5738This isn’t true at all. Both as brands are as larger than SDSU (maybe besides SDSU basketball) and UNLV. TV rights is about adding new states to increase the number of new cable packages you can package the sports networks in. SDSU is redundant to the Bay Area schools, and Nevada is smaller than both Oregon and Washington. The only benefit of those schools is they are easier to fly to which is only beneficial for olympic sports.
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.
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
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
@@KanyeTheGayFish69 I can see that for sure. I wonder how much money it would take, in the grand scheme they aren’t big schools where football makes a ton of money. Their fanbases are super passionate though!
@@xXx3OOOv2 yes! first season is 2025, that’s why I said I’m familiar w these teams :) last few years it’s been playoff games w NDSU SDSU Montana and conference championship games w Villanova
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.
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
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
They also destroyed MW nevada 33-6 this season and last season kept it within one score with Wazzu and 2 scores with Indiana. They also definitely would if Montana moved up, plus I believe they have the most money to fund and FBS move over any other bigsky team
@@jamesshively I honestly think a football Big Sky/MW merger of sorts could work decently well. Snag the two former PAC schools left, grab the Big Sky and have a mega conference or potentially try out the relegation and promotion idea I've seen thrown around(or take a few Big Sky schools and see what sticks)
Idaho was one of the worst fbs teams in history when they were there. They are meant to be FCS forever. Sorry to break it to you but they have a losing culture and history. Two decent seasons in FCS doesn’t mean they should be fbs
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
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.
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?
@@KanyeTheGayFish69 I mean agree to disagree on that one man. Other than this year, UNLV fishishes mid tier to the back half of the Mtn west every single year… regardless of the city they play in. Why would they want to ass another team to make their conference even less competitive than it already is? Doesn’t make sense. Also, UNLV does not have a stadium of their own…. Like cmon.
@@taylorpetrillo3243 there we go, an actual potential viable reason. I have ZERO idea if this is accurate but I’m sure as hell not going to research it and find out🤣🤣 just tired of hearing the “too small of a school” cop out argument lol.
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.
🤔 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! 🥳
Both Boise State and Nevada played WAC before going to the Mountain West though. Unless the MWC gets raided and loses half their teams, I doubt they look at FCS schools. More likely schools like NMSU and Texas State.
🕵️♂️ Money and Established and Recent Success Are More Important! Also, Travel Location Will Matter Too! A 43,500 Seat Stadium is a Respectable Size Too! 🥳
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
@@PlexybloxYT Montana maybe could, but their academic side is a huge mess right now. I highly doubt they could even foot the 5 mil to get into an FBS conference.
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.
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?
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
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.
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.
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
Idaho just got demoted to the fcs. Wouldn’t make sense to go back up. Hate to say it but they were easily the worst team I ever saw from 2000-2017. I think they had like one winning season. Always got blown out. They are much better for fcs
@@Mountaindwell4 They were one of the worst teams ever by far, they did have a couple bowl wins but petrino killed us. Especially if teams like Montana move up then we really have no reason to stay fcs as our main rivals would go up (which is one of the many reasons we went fcs). Idaho does have the money and theyre doing really well now (56-0 half time lead over a conference rival, 33-6 win over a MW team, lead wsu and indiania by 10 and cal by 17) but it definitely wont happen for a few more decades at least, of ever
🕵️♂️ 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)! 🤔
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.
MWC would have teams in four time zones! Dakotas are in central, and Hawaii has their own time zone. If you do divisions, it may not work. I think the Pac2 will add 6 to 10 teams, but not all from the MWC. The MWC will lose at least 4 schools. When that happens,the first thing the Mountain West should look too is adding New Mexico State and UTEP. They are already FBS, in the Mountain time zone, and UTEP has a history with some of the MWC schools, as they were in the WAC together. Then add FCS schools. Media markets, Portland St and Sac St are in top 50 media markets! But people in those cities do not follow those schools! Plus both lack money, FBS stadium or both. On field success- the four named on this video. I know times change, presidents change, ways of thinking change. But people have been talking about the Montanas moving up. Yet, they are still FCS. People talk about San Diego becoming scholarship football. Yet they still are non scholarship.
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.
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.
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.
Bruh Citadel don't recruit in Savannah. Most of the students go to Savannah State. Walk-ons at Georgia Southern, or Georgia State. The only recruits that go to Citadel are the 2* players if they have any at Benedictine Military academy. Nobody wants to go there😂😂😂😂😂
🕵️♂️ 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!!! 🤑
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
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 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
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
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).
UM/MSU will have to figure something out within a few seasons time because of the threat of both the Big 12/PAC larger TV/NIL deals will outbid the Montana programs for their best talent.
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.
Montana is not Idaho. Montana and Montana state are both arguably bigger programs in more attractive locations than Idaho, which went up alone, and never improved their stadium and facilities.
@@maxminelli1159 The FBS is Money hungry & doesn't care about what the fans want & not to mention not all teams can compete for the National Championship & not to mention fans have been complaining about how bowl games are kind of pointless while in the FCS as long as You have a good record You can compete for a Championship & People who watch it don't have to worry about their favorite team being left out the only reason to go to the FBS is Money
@@DogWarrior1010 THATS WHY WE WATCH THE FBS because the regular season has actual meaning, and you dont just get a free pass to the playoffs. you have to earn it
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
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!
South Dakota Stare was never really competitive when they they D2. Only when they moved up. I don’t want to see the them move to FBS and I went to school there.
As an SDSU fan we made the D2 playoffs like once lol we were nothing spectacular until we moved up
I don't know why fcs teams let South and North dakota state dominate fcs. But they should move up to FBS. Villanova should join ACC . Richmond and Rhode inland should join MWC. Pac 12 will take 10 teams from MWC. MWC will take high value from all fcs conferences. Mark my words
We(SDSU) weren't even "mid" as a D2 team. NDSU was always great. We have a way better stadium that is built to add seating, huge advantage. I'm fine staying in the FCS unless there is a G5 playoffs and national championship.
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!
i'll see you @ illinois state this season (i'm an eq as well xD)
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!
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
I see Idaho moving back up too because they got a stable head coach and athletic director along with an FBS (33-6 over Nevada) and have kept it within one score with Wazzu and 2 scores with Indiana under their new head coach.
Lol Eastern has almost lost there football program because of lack of funding
NDSU and SDSU would be slam dunk additions. I cant wait for colorado vs north dakota state in August
me too go bison
I would laugh soooo hard if they crushed CO. Like I did during the Oregon game lol.
It's not gonna happen
I was really disappointed when Oregon had to cancel their game against NDSU in 2020 it would’ve been a great game. Hopefully they try to schedule it again in the next few years
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.
I wish this could happen but unfortunately the problem is things are ten times more expensive to build in California they would need minimum 250 Mil for stadium improvements, another 100 million for facilities and another 50 million for all the additional scholarships they would need to give out on top of the new 5 million dollar entrance fee. In a blue NIMBY city like sac I highly doubt those funds would be allocated unless donated
UC Davis and Sacramento St would be good adds. Are large Enough Schools and the Sacramento Media Market is 20th in the country both have been good recently
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.
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.
If you look at the numbers, adding Oregon State and Washington state really doesn’t bring in much money.
Vegas doesn't care for college ball. There is much more support for Nevada.
@@zachellenburg5738This isn’t true at all. Both as brands are as larger than SDSU (maybe besides SDSU basketball) and UNLV. TV rights is about adding new states to increase the number of new cable packages you can package the sports networks in. SDSU is redundant to the Bay Area schools, and Nevada is smaller than both Oregon and Washington. The only benefit of those schools is they are easier to fly to which is only beneficial for olympic sports.
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.
That’s kind of true but look at teams like TAMU or Miami. Spending a shit ton and still getting nothing in return
well it looks like the same teams who have been good for years are still good today
You need an elite coaching staff and culture.
@@OregonMan07Oregon definitely isn’t one of them lol
@@DEEZ_CLANGamingI’m an Ohio state fan but ur crazy if you don’t think Oregon is good
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
speaking of that conference, the United Athletic Conference has expressed intentions on becoming an FBS conference eventually.
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
Montana is only going up if Montana state comes with them
@@KanyeTheGayFish69 I can see that for sure. I wonder how much money it would take, in the grand scheme they aren’t big schools where football makes a ton of money. Their fanbases are super passionate though!
Isn't Delaware about to move up soon? Sorry if I skipped over if you said it.
@@xXx3OOOv2 yes! first season is 2025, that’s why I said I’m familiar w these teams :) last few years it’s been playoff games w NDSU SDSU Montana and conference championship games w Villanova
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.
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
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
They also destroyed MW nevada 33-6 this season and last season kept it within one score with Wazzu and 2 scores with Indiana. They also definitely would if Montana moved up, plus I believe they have the most money to fund and FBS move over any other bigsky team
@@jamesshively I honestly think a football Big Sky/MW merger of sorts could work decently well. Snag the two former PAC schools left, grab the Big Sky and have a mega conference or potentially try out the relegation and promotion idea I've seen thrown around(or take a few Big Sky schools and see what sticks)
That would be really fun, we could have a southern and northern division or something like that too@@tnkl_4254
Idaho was one of the worst fbs teams in history when they were there. They are meant to be FCS forever. Sorry to break it to you but they have a losing culture and history. Two decent seasons in FCS doesn’t mean they should be fbs
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
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
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.
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?
Because they play in big cities. Boise would fit in more with other schools in the region like Montana schools and Idaho schools
@@KanyeTheGayFish69 I mean agree to disagree on that one man. Other than this year, UNLV fishishes mid tier to the back half of the Mtn west every single year… regardless of the city they play in. Why would they want to ass another team to make their conference even less competitive than it already is? Doesn’t make sense. Also, UNLV does not have a stadium of their own…. Like cmon.
Not only the tv market but also Boise will never be invited to the ACC because the academics aren’t good enough
@@taylorpetrillo3243 there we go, an actual potential viable reason. I have ZERO idea if this is accurate but I’m sure as hell not going to research it and find out🤣🤣 just tired of hearing the “too small of a school” cop out argument lol.
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.
🤔 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! 🥳
Both Boise State and Nevada played WAC before going to the Mountain West though. Unless the MWC gets raided and loses half their teams, I doubt they look at FCS schools. More likely schools like NMSU and Texas State.
🕵️♂️ Money and Established and Recent Success Are More Important! Also, Travel Location Will Matter Too! A 43,500 Seat Stadium is a Respectable Size Too! 🥳
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
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....
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.
Furman would be an awesome team to bring to the FBS
Go apps
Proud NDSU alum! Great video 🤘🏾
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.
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.
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.
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
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
i really hope those 4 really get brought to fbs eventually the rivalrys they’ll bring too
Kennesaw St was the last school to move up for 5k. They join CUSA in August this year. Delaware joins in August 2025.
GameDay came to Montana State in Bozeman. I believe you got the two confused as the Cats blew the Griz out 55-21 in that game
Montana should still move up
@@PlexybloxYT Montana maybe could, but their academic side is a huge mess right now. I highly doubt they could even foot the 5 mil to get into an FBS conference.
Villanova would half to be independent like UConn cause to join a conference in football fbs wise means that is also your basketball conference
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.
Who had Missouri State for next?
would love to see a montana vs boise state rivalry
I wanna see the Idaho vs Boise state rivalry back, adding montana would make a cool 3 way rivalry
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?
If the ACC goes west again wouldn't they take Oregon St and Washington St? They're both power 5 schools.
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.
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.
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.
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
Idaho just got demoted to the fcs. Wouldn’t make sense to go back up. Hate to say it but they were easily the worst team I ever saw from 2000-2017. I think they had like one winning season. Always got blown out. They are much better for fcs
@@Mountaindwell4 They were one of the worst teams ever by far, they did have a couple bowl wins but petrino killed us. Especially if teams like Montana move up then we really have no reason to stay fcs as our main rivals would go up (which is one of the many reasons we went fcs). Idaho does have the money and theyre doing really well now (56-0 half time lead over a conference rival, 33-6 win over a MW team, lead wsu and indiania by 10 and cal by 17) but it definitely wont happen for a few more decades at least, of ever
🕵️♂️ 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)! 🤔
Kennesaw State made the jump.
It's About Time.
I could see Villanova joining the AA conference.
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.
MWC would have teams in four time zones! Dakotas are in central, and Hawaii has their own time zone. If you do divisions, it may not work.
I think the Pac2 will add 6 to 10 teams, but not all from the MWC. The MWC will lose at least 4 schools.
When that happens,the first thing the Mountain West should look too is adding New Mexico State and UTEP. They are already FBS, in the Mountain time zone, and UTEP has a history with some of the MWC schools, as they were in the WAC together.
Then add FCS schools.
Media markets, Portland St and Sac St are in top 50 media markets! But people in those cities do not follow those schools! Plus both lack money, FBS stadium or both.
On field success- the four named on this video.
I know times change, presidents change, ways of thinking change. But people have been talking about the Montanas moving up. Yet, they are still FCS. People talk about San Diego becoming scholarship football. Yet they still are non scholarship.
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.
NCAA does not require any certain capacity for a stadium. They only require 15000 in paid or actual attendance.
And that rule could be changing soon.
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.
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.
Weber state would be good for the mwc rivalry with utah state plus great basketball.
you also have to take into account that the entire United Athletic Conference(FCS conference) has intentions to become an FBS conference.
Its so weird being from South Dakota and seeing important sport stuff happening. Not just Mount Rushmore anymore 😂
There's literally almost an empty state.
Sioux Falls is actually the greatest city on earth!
@@TheMrPeteChannel that would be Wyoming o.O
"Nova" may be a fit for CUSA then bring in UMAss also
correction college gameday came to Montana state not Montana!!!
I think The University of Central Arkansas would be a good fit for Conference USA.
Eastern Wahsington would be good
Bruh Citadel don't recruit in Savannah. Most of the students go to Savannah State. Walk-ons at Georgia Southern, or Georgia State. The only recruits that go to Citadel are the 2* players if they have any at Benedictine Military academy. Nobody wants to go there😂😂😂😂😂
🕵️♂️ 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!!! 🤑
Montana and Montana State are a package deal.
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.
Buffalo Bulls Move Out Mid-American Conference To Big Ten Conference
Stop smoking that weed
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
Youngstown State to the MAC. #GoGuins
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.
IDAHO, NEW MEXICO, NORTH COLORADO, SAN JOSE STATE IN ACC WEST WING. VILLANOVA, UCONN, UMASS TO ACC EAST
Promote the entire big sky conference to fbs to replace the pac12
We need to build back up the pac 12
I dont know if anyone has said this but the Montana State Bobcats had Collage Gameday but the Griz should've had it.
Montana did have a game day at their place on week zero around 2016 I think when they took on North Dakota State.
@@SpitfirethedragonYeah I think your right the Griz did take on NDSU.
Big 12 should take Boise state, San Diego state, unlv, and Air Force.
Then add Ndsu sdsu to MW. Maybe even Montana.
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
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
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).
UM/MSU will have to figure something out within a few seasons time because of the threat of both the Big 12/PAC larger TV/NIL deals will outbid the Montana programs for their best talent.
@@ronelite582 that already happens happens, you’re comparing FBS to FCS, it’s apples to oranges. Ryan Leaf went to Washington
Eastern Washington ??
There stadium is to small
I just don't the either of the Dakota's wanting to move up
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.
Six schools
Montana, Montana State, Idaho, Idaho State, Nirth Dakota State, Siuth Dakota State
Villanova is more like a AAC school
NDSU
SDSU
Montana
Montana State
-> MW
EKU
Chatanooga
Missouri State
(Deleware)
-> CUSA
EIU
SIU
Indiana State
Youngstown State
-> MAC
GameDay was in Bozeman in 2023 not Missoula
Game Day was at Montana like 2016 when they took on North Dakota State on week zero. ESPN showed that game.
Abilene Christian will be FBS one day
Dog there is no shot mountain west teams go to the acc
schools with billions+
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.
Montana is not Idaho. Montana and Montana state are both arguably bigger programs in more attractive locations than Idaho, which went up alone, and never improved their stadium and facilities.
Florida A&M to the ACC
Quite a stretch in that regard.
To replace Florida State if the Noles leave. FAMU did try FBS for a few years.
@@gregsells8549but that was a flop.
I could see Florida A&M joining the Sunbelt conference which would be fun
@@MichaelBias-fw8tiagreed also throw in Stephen F. Austin as well.
I hope Missouri State South Dakota State & North Dakota State will stay in the FCS
The FCS is better then the FBS
stop trying to be different, no one in their right mind thinks the fcs is better then the fbs
No it’s not, ru ok. Nobody cares about the fcs. Fbs is what people watch
@@maxminelli1159 The FBS is Money hungry & doesn't care about what the fans want & not to mention not all teams can compete for the National Championship & not to mention fans have been complaining about how bowl games are kind of pointless while in the FCS as long as You have a good record You can compete for a Championship
& People who watch it don't have to worry about their favorite team being left out the only reason to go to the FBS is Money
@@DogWarrior1010 THATS WHY WE WATCH THE FBS
because the regular season has actual meaning, and you dont just get a free pass to the playoffs. you have to earn it
@@DogWarrior1010 also you are actually delusional if you dont think every sports league is all about money
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