North Dakota State has spent 15 years terrorizing the FCS. On Saturday, October 31, it finds out how that dynasty translates against an actual FBS opponent for the first time.
Bush’s Picks
UTEPNDSU
UTEPNDSU
OverUnder
Best BetNorth Dakota State
Betting against North Dakota State's program pedigree feels wrong even in year one at this level, and the Fargodome atmosphere for a program's first taste of FBS ball should be electric. UTEP is still finding its footing under a new quarterback and two first-year coordinators, which is a lot of newness to trust on the road. Lean Bison to get the program's first FBS win at home.
UTEP
+Top-3 ranked Mountain West 2026 recruiting class
+Transfer QB Colson threw 16 TDs at Incarnate Word
+Walden entering year 3, program building momentum
−Finished 2-10 last season, no bowl
−Lost 61-31 to Delaware, exposed defense
−Two brand-new coordinators still installing systems
North Dakota State
+10 FCS national titles in last 15 seasons
+Polasek won a title in his first year as HC
+Fargodome crowd for program's first FBS game
−Lost 12 seniors including starting QB, RB, WR
−29-28 quarterfinal upset loss snapped 15-year streak
−Zero games of experience against FBS competition
This one carries more weight than a typical late-October tilt. Both UTEP and NDSU jumped to the Mountain West this year, so the Fargodome hosts a real conference game between two programs still figuring out who they are at this level. UTEP is doing it with a 2-10 record fresh in the rearview and a new quarterback under center. NDSU is doing it with 10 national titles in the trophy case and zero idea yet how that pedigree holds up against FBS speed.
UTEP's answer at quarterback is transfer EJ Colson, who threw for over 2,100 yards and 16 touchdowns last season at Incarnate Word before Scotty Walden brought him in to replace Malachi Nelson. Walden is entering year 3 in El Paso with brand new coordinators on both sides of the ball, which means this game doubles as an early gut-check for how fast that new staff can get the Miners playing competent football. A 61-31 loss to Delaware last year is the kind of number Walden is trying to erase.
Show fees
2:30 PM CT
Spread
ML
Total
UTEP UTEP
NDSU North Dakota State
NDSU's cupboard looks different but not necessarily fuller. Quarterback Cole Payton, running back Barika Kpeenu and receiver Bryce Lance are all gone after using up their eligibility, leaving head coach Tim Polasek to plug 12 transfers and a 34-man recruiting class into the machine. The Bison also enter off a stumble — a 29-28 quarterfinal loss to Illinois State that snapped a 15-year run of at least reaching the FCS quarterfinals. Whether that roster overhaul and that gut punch have healed by Halloween is the real story here.
UTEP Miners
Oct 17?vs San José State—
Oct 9?vs Nevada—
Oct 2?@ New Mexico—
Sep 26?vs Oregon State—
Sep 19?@ Michigan—
Sep 12?vs Texas Southern—
Sep 4?@ Oklahoma—
North Dakota State Bison
Oct 17?vs Nevada—
Oct 10?@ UNLV—
Oct 3?vs Wyoming—
Sep 19?@ Sacramento State—
Sep 12?@ Air Force—
Sep 5?vs Fordham—
Aug 29?vs Jacksonville State—
Recent form.
Nobody's arguing about program pedigree. NDSU has won 10 FCS titles in the last 15 seasons, and Polasek delivered one himself in his first year on the job. That kind of infrastructure — recruiting pipeline, coaching continuity, a rabid home crowd inside the Fargodome — doesn't evaporate just because the level of competition changed. But pedigree built beating FCS programs is an unproven currency against a team that, even at 2-10, spent its fall lining up across from Texas and Oregon State-caliber talent.
UTEP Miners
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
North Dakota State Bison
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
The other wrinkle: UTEP's 2026 class was ranked among the best in the Mountain West, a sign Walden is building something even if the win total hasn't caught up yet. If Colson and that new-look offense find rhythm early, this Fargodome crowd could get an uncomfortable reminder that FBS jumps cut both ways. If NDSU's transfer-heavy roster clicks the way Polasek's teams usually do, the Miners are in for a long trip north.
