College Sports Established
1890
Location
Fargo, North Dakota
College Name
North Dakota State University
Collegiate History
2007 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2007 - Present / Summit League
Nickname
Bison - The North Dakota State Bison is a beloved college football team with an iconic mascot, but many people don't know the origin of their nickname. The history behind this name is quite interesting and goes back to the late 1800s when settlers first arrived in North Dakota.
At that time, bison were plentiful on the Great Plains and served as a significant source of food for Native Americans living in the area. As more settlers moved into North Dakota, they began to hunt these animals for sport and sustenance. This caused a sharp decline in bison populations throughout much of America's Midwest region by 1900.
Despite this decline, however, there was still enough evidence remaining that made it clear how important these animals had been to those who lived here before them – so much so that when it came time for students at what would become North Dakota State University (NDSU)to choose their school’s mascot in 1922 they chose “Bisons” without hesitation!
In addition to honoring local heritage through its choice of mascot name, NDSU also paid tribute with its logo design, which features two crossed tomahawks above an American Indian chief wearing a traditional headdress - further reinforcing why "Bisons" was such an appropriate choice given all historical context surrounding them at that point-in-time!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
- 2007
- 2009
- 2017
- 2022
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2007 Championship Triumph
In 2006 the Bison posted a 10–1 record that included a win over FBS Ball State. During a 2006 game against FBS Minnesota, NDSU led for much of the game, but a last-second field goal attempt was blocked by Minnesota, resulting in a 10–9 loss. The following season, the Bison won their first Great West Football Conference championship and achieved ... -
Summit League Champions
On February 28, 2009, the Bison men’s basketball team captured the Summit League regular-season championship, the school’s first at the Division I level, by defeating Oral Roberts 75–72 in Tulsa, OK. Two weeks later, NDSU earned its first men’s basketball NCAA berth by winning the Summit League Tournament played at Sioux Falls, SD. The Bison defeated Centenary 83–77 in the ... -
Bison’s Perfect Season
In the 2017 season, NDSU would return to the title game and avenge their loss the previous season, defeating James Madison in Frisco 17-13. The 2018 season would see one of the Bison’s most dominant seasons, especially since 2013, when the team went 15-0 for the second time in program history. The team only played one team in a one ... -
Bison Football Dominance
The Bison football team, which since 1993 played their home games at the Fargodome, was a dominant force in Division II. Through January 2022, they have won 17 NCAA National titles. Eight were at the Division II level (1965, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1990) before moving up to Division I-AA (now FCS) in 2004 where they have ...
History of the Bison
The history of the North Dakota State Bison dates back to 1890, when they were founded as an agricultural school for farmers and ranchers. Over time, they developed into a football powerhouse with multiple national titles under legendary head coach Craig Bohl from 2003-2014. During that time, NDSU won three straight FCS championships from 2011-2013 before winning four more consecutively from 2014-2017 — an unprecedented feat at any level of college football!
In addition to their success on the gridiron, NDSU has also seen great success in other sports such as basketball and track & field, where they’ve earned numerous conference championships over the years, including two Summit League men's basketball tournament titles (2009 & 2010). The university is also home to some impressive athletic facilities, including Gate City Bank Field at FargoDome, which opened its doors in 1997 and serves as a home stadium for both football games and concerts alike!
NDSU continues its legacy today with solid teams across all significant collegiate divisions while providing fans with unforgettable experiences every year through exciting victories on game day or thrilling performances by student-athletes within various varsity competitions throughout campus life — it's no wonder why so many people proudly call themselves "Bison!"
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