By MATT VAUTOUR
At some point Matt Larsen is going to have to start using burner phones or caller ID blocking technology.
It’s the only way FBS athletic directors are going to answer the phone when the North Dakota State AD calls.
Larsen would have better luck keeping a Power 5 AD on the phone pretending to be offering an improved interest rate on their credit card or a time-share in the Poconos than if he asked about scheduling a football game.
North Dakota State has a Championship Subdivision football dynasty that challenges UConn women’s basketball as the most dominant program in Division I right now. It’s won five straight FCS titles.
But in addition to dominating the playoffs at that level, the Bison have beaten five straight FBS opponents, four of which play in Power 5 conferences.
The most recent trophy head on NDSU’s wall belongs to Iowa, which was ranked No. 13 before the Bison bested them 23-21 with a last second field goal. The Hawkeye head hangs next to ones from Iowa State, Kansas State, Colorado State, Minnesota and Kansas.
Iowa wasn’t anybody’s pick to win a national championship or even a Big Ten title. But at No. 13 in the country, it wasn’t that hard to envision a series of events that could have made the Hawkeyes a dark horse contender for both.
Not anymore.
FBS teams schedule FCS teams to ensure themselves a victory.
Power 5 teams have plenty of iron on their slate with conference play. Playing one Championship Subdivision foe means earning the revenue from a home game, while getting a bit of a breather.
Playing North Dakota State is the ultimate lose-lose situation. Win and your fan base gives you no credit. You were supposed to beat the FCS team. Lose and it’s an embarrassment that can put a coach on the hot seat.
North Dakota State isn’t an easy game for anybody. There’s a better than average chance the Bison are going to pull the upset and then leave with a big check. The $500,000 guarantee isn’t as much as FBS teams pay other FBS teams. UMass got $1.25 million from Florida and will get $1.5 from South Carolina. But still, it’s got to sting when the FCS leaves with a win and your money.
North Dakota State’s schedule isn’t complete for any of the next three seasons, but they don’t play an FBS opponent again until Oregon in 2020. Perhaps the Ducks are hoping the Bison’s magic will be gone by then.
But that’s what Iowa was hoping in 2011 when it signed the contract that led to last week’s upset.
GAME OF THE WEEK:No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 8 Michigan State, Saturday, noon, BTN — Because of Michigan and Ohio State’s lofty perches at No. 4 and No. 2, respectively, in The Associated Press Poll, it’s easy to miss that the Big Ten is loaded.
PLAYOFF BOUND: Alabama, Michigan, Houston and Clemson.
IF I HAD A HEISMAN VOTE — Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson did nothing to diminish his exploding candidacy with five touchdowns — four rushing, one passing — in last week’s throttling of Florida State.
FINALLY — Houston is obviously the best team outside the Power 5, but keep an eye on Western Michigan.
The Broncos have a chance to go undefeated with two Big Ten wins (Northwestern, Illinois) already under their belts.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage