NDSU finally moving up soon? How would it affect us?

[rfischer94]

I just want to beat the bizen before they go.

[catscat]

I just want to beat the bizen before they go.

That would be great, but maybe we also beat them after they go.

[rfischer94]

I just want to beat the bizen before they go.

That would be great, but maybe we also beat them after they go.

Even better!

[Bobcat Sig]

I just want to beat the bizen before they go.

Sir, it's biSon. Hard S. I'm told the NDSU faithful love it pronounced correctly.

[rfischer94]

I just want to beat the bizen before they go.

Sir, it's biSon. Hard S. I'm told the NDSU faithful love it pronounced correctly.

I don't care what they like. I'm mad at them!

[85CatGrad]

Recent FCS to FBS Move-ups:

Western Kentucky (2009) 114-95 Highlight: 2015, 12-2 Won Miami Beach Bowl
Texas State (2012) 56-102 Highlight: 2023 and 24, 8-5, Won First Responder Bowl each year
UMASS (2013) 25-111 Highlight: None
UTSA (2012) 87-75 Highlight: 9-4, Won Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
South Alabama (2013) 65-83 Highlight: 10-3, Lost R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Georgia State (2013) 55-92 Highlight: 8-5 Won Tax Act Camelia Bowl
Appalachian State (2014) 100-41 Highlight: 13-1 Won R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Georgia Southern (2014) 76-66 Highlight: 10-3 Won Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Old Dominion 2014) 51-72 Highlight 10-3 Popeyes Bowl Win
Charlotte (2015) 37-78 Highlight: 7-6 Lost Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
Coastal Carolina (2017) 58-42 Highlight: 11-2 Won Tailgreeter Cure Bowl
Liberty (2018) 61-27 Highlight 10-1 Won FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl
James Madison (2022) 28-9 Highlight 9-4 Won Boca Raton Bowl
Sam Houston (2023) 13-12 Highlight: 10-3 Won New Orleans Bowl
Jacksonville State (2023) 18-9 Highlight: 9-4 Won R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Kennesaw State (2024) 2-10 Highlight: None

If you'd be chock full of vim with a Bobcat season culminating in the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl, or the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl, then moving up to FBS is for you.

If you'd much rather a Bobcat season ending in an FCS championship game, then, like me, you'd rather maintain the current course. It's a no brainer for me.

Agree with that. Let's win some Natty's first.

[msusig]

They probably don’t need to worry about moving up after losing today

[Bobcat Sig]

They probably don’t need to worry about moving up after losing today

I took great pleasure in watching that upset.

[MSU01]

James Madison may well be a FBS Playoff team if Duke holds on in the ACC Title game. It's such a flawed argument to say that all MSU would ever have to play for at the FBS level is a 7-5 record and the Pop Tarts Bowl.

[BlueAndGoldNation]

James Madison may well be a FBS Playoff team if Duke holds on in the ACC Title game. It's such a flawed argument to say that all MSU would ever have to play for at the FBS level is a 7-5 record and the Pop Tarts Bowl.

Since joining the FBS, James Madison is 28-8

2022: 8-3 (6-2 Conference) – Won the Sun Belt East.
2023: 11-2 (7-1 Conference) – Sun Belt East Champs, lost the Armed Forces Bowl.
2024: 9-4 (4-4 Conference) – Won the Boca Raton Bowl.
2025: 11-1 (8-0 Conference) – Won the Sun Belt Championship Game, first Top 25 ranking, unbeaten conference year.

Them possibly making the FBS playoffs in only 4 years is insane!
Proves that not everything is always doom and gloom while moving up. It is, however, very rare to be this good after the move up. If and when the Group of 6 has their own playoffs, JMU will be one of the premier programs.

[aucat]

Moving to FBS would be the death knell of Bobcat football as we know it. If you enjoyed our game against Oregon this season, imagine how much fun such games would be in a half full Bobcat Stadium as we strive to win 4 games a year.

[Bobcat Sig]

Moving to FBS would be the death knell of Bobcat football as we know it. If you enjoyed our game against Oregon this season, imagine how much fun such games would be in a half full Bobcat Stadium as we strive to win 4 games a year.

Our team, our fans, and our boosters are better than that

[BlueAndGoldNation]

Moving to FBS would be the death knell of Bobcat football as we know it.

With its current layout, yes it likely would.

Things are changing though. The whole playoff situation and the splitting off of the Power 4 will change everything. The Group of 6 will likely become the "new" FCS with playoffs completely separate from the P4... that changes the whole outlook of the move up. I'm sure Leon knows all of what might go down and I trust him to do what is best for the program.

[Prodigal Cat]

If your team “ Cats need to be G5 and play like institutions but want there to be a national champion to play for” you want JMU and Tulane to get blown off the field in the CFP. It will put pressure on the committee to exclude them. If you like where the Cats are currently you want them to be competitive so the G5 continues to get a place at the table and there won’t be any impetus to do their own thing.

[onceacat]

Recent FCS to FBS Move-ups:

Western Kentucky (2009) 114-95 Highlight: 2015, 12-2 Won Miami Beach Bowl
Texas State (2012) 56-102 Highlight: 2023 and 24, 8-5, Won First Responder Bowl each year
UMASS (2013) 25-111 Highlight: None
UTSA (2012) 87-75 Highlight: 9-4, Won Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
South Alabama (2013) 65-83 Highlight: 10-3, Lost R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Georgia State (2013) 55-92 Highlight: 8-5 Won Tax Act Camelia Bowl
Appalachian State (2014) 100-41 Highlight: 13-1 Won R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Georgia Southern (2014) 76-66 Highlight: 10-3 Won Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Old Dominion 2014) 51-72 Highlight 10-3 Popeyes Bowl Win
Charlotte (2015) 37-78 Highlight: 7-6 Lost Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
Coastal Carolina (2017) 58-42 Highlight: 11-2 Won Tailgreeter Cure Bowl
Liberty (2018) 61-27 Highlight 10-1 Won FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl
James Madison (2022) 28-9 Highlight 9-4 Won Boca Raton Bowl
Sam Houston (2023) 13-12 Highlight: 10-3 Won New Orleans Bowl
Jacksonville State (2023) 18-9 Highlight: 9-4 Won R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Kennesaw State (2024) 2-10 Highlight: None

If you'd be chock full of vim with a Bobcat season culminating in the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl, or the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl, then moving up to FBS is for you.

If you'd much rather a Bobcat season ending in an FCS championship game, then, like me, you'd rather maintain the current course. It's a no brainer for me.

As I was reading the list I was thinking "is this an argument for or against moving up?"

After last night, JMU should be in the playoffs.

I'm not sure why the Cats cant do it if JMU can.

[PapaG]

I've seen predictions that the FCS will go the way of the Dodo. Either move up to a FBS Tier 4 or down to DII. I sure hope that doesn't happen. I like where we're at right now.

We don't belong in the current FCS or the current G6. I think it would be ideal if the P4 finally breaks off so that the G6 can create their own championship and then our transition is a little easier. Then the 110 FCS teams that are left, after the top 10-15 move up, should probably just drop down to D2 (as long as they can stay D1 for other sports). If they aren't going to expend the money to take football seriously they should just drop down.

This is the way. Though I'd say the power conference that breaks away will be comprised of the B1G, SEC, some Big XII, and some ACC schools. This nets you a 50 - 60 school new conference playing for their own national championship.

What remains is where the Cats belong. And there too will have its own national championship.

While I understand the desire to stay in the FCS, the competition is not rising to our level. If anything, the competition and quality of schools are largely being diluted. To say another way, you'd rather play the likes of UNCU and Central Connecticut State instead of the new PAC-12 and Mountain West? I wouldn't. Give me the latter all day. We'd compete immediately.

Yale looked pretty damn good yesterday and if that MSU team shows up next Saturday, SFA will win.

I’d just like to see MSU win a national championship before this current vibe of seemingly being about most of the FCS seems believable.

There is nothing wrong with being a great program at ath FCS level over scrambling to play in a weeknight bowl game every 3rd year (at best).

[Bobcat Sig]

I've seen predictions that the FCS will go the way of the Dodo. Either move up to a FBS Tier 4 or down to DII. I sure hope that doesn't happen. I like where we're at right now.

We don't belong in the current FCS or the current G6. I think it would be ideal if the P4 finally breaks off so that the G6 can create their own championship and then our transition is a little easier. Then the 110 FCS teams that are left, after the top 10-15 move up, should probably just drop down to D2 (as long as they can stay D1 for other sports). If they aren't going to expend the money to take football seriously they should just drop down.

This is the way. Though I'd say the power conference that breaks away will be comprised of the B1G, SEC, some Big XII, and some ACC schools. This nets you a 50 - 60 school new conference playing for their own national championship.

What remains is where the Cats belong. And there too will have its own national championship.

While I understand the desire to stay in the FCS, the competition is not rising to our level. If anything, the competition and quality of schools are largely being diluted. To say another way, you'd rather play the likes of UNCU and Central Connecticut State instead of the new PAC-12 and Mountain West? I wouldn't. Give me the latter all day. We'd compete immediately.

Yale looked pretty damn good yesterday and if that MSU team shows up next Saturday, SFA will win.

I’d just like to see MSU win a national championship before this current vibe of seemingly being about most of the FCS seems believable.

There is nothing wrong with being a great program at ath FCS level over scrambling to play in a weeknight bowl game every 3rd year (at best).

You are correct about Yale and SFA. But those are small samples. The rest of the FCS isn’t great. We are in a top-heavy division with most schools nowhere near us and our peers in terms of fan support, stadiums, academics, or enrollment. With those metrics, we’re much more aligned with many of the G5 schools.

I’m glad that the Ivy League is now in the playoffs. It makes for some much better football.

[imacat]

Bizon - Illinois State playoff game drew under 10,500 fans. That has to be disappointing.

[tetoncat]

Bizon - Illinois State playoff game drew under 10,500 fans. That has to be disappointing.

About what they will be when 4-8 or 8-4 and playing to make a bowl game.

[84CatGrad]

Two other reasons I'm against moving up:
1. We typically carry around 40 Montana kids. That will go down. How much? I don't know but it will go down. No way do we get to watch an RJ Fitzgerald ever again.
2. You know all the fun we are having watching three home playoff games every year? Kiss that goodbye. Maybe we get a home conference championship game then its off to the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl on a Tuesday three days before Christmas.