According to the Grand Forks Herald, NIU will be taking on the mighty University of North Dakota in the future.

“In addition to Montana, UND is tentatively scheduled to play Division I FBS games at Idaho and Northern Illinois,” according to the Grand Forks Herald article.

There’s just one thing: the Sioux have been a part of the FCS for one year. That’s right: one, in like single, a lone candle on the birthday cake or how many noses you hope to have.

It’s no wonder why FBS schools schedule FCS schools: They’re looking for an easy win. At NIU that’s usually been the story. In the past 10 years the Huskies are 8-2 against FCS teams,
outscoring them 346 to 135 points.

So why make UND spend all that money and time to come to Illinois for a game they will most likely lose? I mean, the drive from Grand Folks to DeKalb is 679 miles – too far for a road trip.

There’s no problem with playing FCS opponents. Heck, they can be great games. Remember when NIU held on to beat SIU in 2004 (or when SIU came back to crush the Huskies in 2007)?
But why play FCS schools that are so far away?

NIU should stick to playing local FCS programs like Western, Eastern and Southern Illinois, or Illinois State. This way intra-state rivalries are formed.

And hey, think of it as a charity – we’re giving the FCS team a shorter bus ride home.

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