By Mark Pszonak
You can talk about programs like Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and Texas all you want, but the reality is that the top D1 program in the country is North Dakota State. And it isn’t even close.
With last night’s thrilling National Championship victory over previously undefeated Montana State, the Bison have won an amazing 10 FCS titles since 2011.
North Dakota State has now won 10 FCS Championships in the last 14 years 😳🏆🦬 pic.twitter.com/su9AirEtS3
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 7, 2025
Two of the schools that have also won a championship during this stretch (James Madison and Sam Houston) have made the move to FBS, while the other is their long-time rival, South Dakota State.
The Bison have dealt with some adversity through this amazing run. Last night’s championship was won by first-year head coach Tim Polasek, who took over after Matt Entz left for an assistant job at USC. Prior to that Chris Kleiman won four titles before taking the head job at Kansas State. Craig Bohl started the golden age with three titles before moving on to be the head coach at Wyoming. One can also safely assume that Polasek will get offers for a “bigger” job if he continues to win with the Bison. Through it all, the culture that the Bison have established has prevailed.
Along with the culture, the program has developed multiple NFL players, such as quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Trey Lance and Easton Stick, wide receiver Christian Watson, offensive linemen Dillon Radunz, Cordell Volson, Cody Mauch and fullback Hunter Luepke. Current players like offensive linemen Grey Zabel, quarterback Cam Miller and defensive tackle Eli Mostaert will likely join this group next season.
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Wins have come against numerous FBS schools since 2011 (Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Colorado State and Minnesota). Along the way, the Bison have been ranked in the FCS Top 25 every week since 2011 and established an FCS record for consecutive wins with 39 (2017-2021). Also, since 2011 North Dakota State has compiled a record of 186-21, while winning at least 13 games ten times.
Through it all the Bison have just reloaded. They will need to do so again in 2025 by replacing Miller, their star quarterback. But they’ve had to do this numerous times over the last 14 years and always find an answer. Expect Nathan Hayes and Cole Payton to battle it out during the off-season and for the eventual winner to excel. Because this is what happens in Fargo.
Many North Dakota State fans have patiently waited for a possible move to the FBS which has yet to happen. The most recent opportunity came with the Mountain West seriously considering the Bison, but that seems to have gone by the wayside with the Conference recently adding Northern Illinois. A move makes sense, and the program and fans deserve it, but for now the wait continues.
Whatever happens, there is no D1 program in the country on more stable footing than North Dakota State. Through numerous coaching changes, the constant need to replenish top-level talent and now dealing with the world of the transfer portal and NIL, the Bison continue to win. And not only win, but win Championships.
