2026 North Dakota State Bison football team

2026 North Dakota State Bison football
ConferenceMountain West Conference
Record0–0 (0–0 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDan Larson (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorGrant Olson (3rd season)
Home stadiumFargodome
2026 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Air Force   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Hawaii   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Nevada   0 – 0     0 – 0  
New Mexico   0 – 0     0 – 0  
North Dakota State*   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Northern Illinois   0 – 0     0 – 0  
San Jose State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
UNLV   0 – 0     0 – 0  
UTEP   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Wyoming   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Championship: December 5, 2026
  • * – North Dakota State is ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules
As of March 22, 2026
Rankings from AP poll

The 2026 North Dakota State Bison football team will represent North Dakota State University as a member of the Mountain West Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team will be led by their third-year head coach Tim Polasek, and play their home games at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota.

This will be the Bison's first season as a football-only affiliate of the Mountain West and will be the program's first season in the FBS after transitioning from FCS during the offseason.[1] North Dakota State will be ineligible to participate in the Mountain West championship game or in any postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules.[1]

Offseason

North Dakota State announced their inaugural FBS schedule on March 9, 2026.[2]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResult
August 29TBDJacksonville State*
TBD –
September 5TBDFordham*
  • Fargodome
  • Fargo, ND
TBD –
September 12TBDat Air Force
TBD –
September 19TBDat Sacramento State*
TBD –
October 3TBDWyoming
  • Fargodome
  • Fargo, ND
TBD –
October 10TBDat UNLV
TBD –
October 17TBDNevada
  • Fargodome
  • Fargo, ND
TBD –
October 24TBDat New Mexico
TBD –
October 31TBDUTEP
  • Fargodome
  • Fargo, ND
TBD –
November 14TBDat Hawaii
TBD –
November 21TBDNorthern Illinois
  • Fargodome
  • Fargo, ND
TBD –
November 28TBDat San Jose State
TBD

[2][3]

Game summaries

Jacksonville State

Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0–0) vs North Dakota State Bison (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Gamecocks 0 0 000
Bison 0 0 000

at Fargodome • Fargo, ND

  • Date: August 29, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics JVST NDSU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Jacksonville State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Fordham (FCS)

Fordham Rams (FCS) (0–0) vs North Dakota State Bison (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams (FCS) 0 0 000
Bison 0 0 000

at Fargodome • Fargo, ND

  • Date: September 5, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics FOR NDSU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Fordham Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Air Force

North Dakota State Bison (0–0) at Air Force Falcons (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 0 0 000
Falcons 0 0 000

at Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO

  • Date: September 12, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NDSU AF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Air Force Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Sacramento State

North Dakota State Bison (0–0) at Sacramento State Hornets (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 0 0 000
Hornets 0 0 000

at Hornet Stadium • Sacramento, CA

  • Date: September 19, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NDSU SAC
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacramento State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Wyoming

Wyoming Cowboys (0–0) vs North Dakota State Bison (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 0 0 000
Bison 0 0 000

at Fargodome • Fargo, ND

  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics WYO NDSU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Wyoming Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at UNLV

North Dakota State Bison (0–0) at UNLV Rebels (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 0 0 000
Rebels 0 0 000

at Allegiant Stadium • Paradise, NV

  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NDSU UNLV
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UNLV Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Nevada

Nevada Wolf Pack (0–0) vs North Dakota State Bison (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wolf Pack 0 0 000
Bison 0 0 000

at Fargodome • Fargo, ND

  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NEV NDSU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Nevada Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at New Mexico

North Dakota State Bison (0–0) at New Mexico Lobos (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 0 0 000
Lobos 0 0 000

at University Stadium • Albuquerque, NM

  • Date: October 24, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NDSU UNM
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
New Mexico Passing
Rushing
Receiving

UTEP

See also: 2026 UTEP Miners football team
UTEP Miners (0–0) vs North Dakota State Bison (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Miners 0 0 000
Bison 0 0 000

at Fargodome • Fargo, ND

  • Date: October 31, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics UTEP NDSU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
UTEP Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Hawaii

North Dakota State Bison (0–0) at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 0 0 000
Rainbow Warriors 0 0 000

at Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex • Honolulu, HI

  • Date: November 14, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NDSU HAW
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Hawaii Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois Huskies (0–0) vs North Dakota State Bison (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 0 000
Bison 0 0 000

at Fargodome • Fargo, ND

  • Date: November 21, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NIU NDSU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at San Jose State

See also: 2026 San Jose State Spartans football team
North Dakota State Bison (0–0) at San Jose State Spartans (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 0 0 000
Spartans 0 0 000

at CEFCU Stadium • San Jose, CA

  • Date: November 28, 2026
  • Game time: TBD
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: -
  • Referee: -
  • TV: -
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NDSU SJSU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
San Jose State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b Thamel, Pete (2026-02-08). "FCS power North Dakota State joins Mountain West for football". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  2. ^ a b Kolpack, Jeff; Izzo, Dom; McFeely, Mike (2026-03-09). "NDSU's FBS era opens with Jacksonville State at Fargodome". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  3. ^ "2026 North Dakota State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
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