Fear the Bison indeed.
Saturday afternoon in Ames, North Dakota State beat -- note the lack of the word “upset” -- the homestanding Iowa State Cyclones, walking out with a 34-14 beating and/or woodshedding of ISU. A few years ago, such a win would’ve been seismic. Now? Just another day at the football office for the Bison.
The season-opening win marks the fifth straight season that NDSU, the FCS champions the past three season, has knocked off an FBS team. In fact, it’s the fourth win against a team from one of the so-called Power Five conferences in that span.
The growing list of slain FBS victims is as follows:
-- a season-opening 24-21 win over Kansas State in 2013.
-- a 22-7 win over Colorado State in 2012.
-- a 2011 win over Minnesota by the score of 37-24.
--a 6-3 win over Kansas in the 2010 opener.
Memo to FBS football programs, especially those lower-level Power Five conference teams: Stop. Scheduling. The Bison. You’re welcome.