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The NDSU football team travels to Boulder this week to open up its 2024 college football season against the Colorado Buffaloes. All eyes will be on Deion Sanders’ bunch as it looks to get things started with a win over an FCS opponent.
The Bison, however, have other plans – and they’re spending the money to book an upset!
North Dakota State has reportedly purchased helmet communication technology for the season opener. That’s big news considering FCS programs are only permitted to use the system when facing FBS competition.
The cost to install that technology doesn’t change whether you’re using it for one game or for the whole year. The Bison don’t care!
Little nugget on NDSU @ Colorado on Thursday night…
The FCS level doesn’t have helmet communications but teams were allowed to do it when they play a FBS team. That means they have to make the full investment in the system just for 1 game.
North Dakota St spent the money.
-Guy Haberman / X: @GuyHaberman
Colorado, boasting that FBS status, planned from the start to utilize its helmet communication advantage. The NCAA implemented new technology rules in April of this offseason, an announcement that came in the wake of Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal that overshadowed the 2023 campaign.
“In games involving Football Bowl Subdivision teams, each school will have the option to use coach-to-player communications through the helmet to one player on the field,” the NCAA said in a statement.
“The communication from the coach to the player will be turned off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped.”
There will undoubtedly be an adjustment period, which Georgia Tech signal caller Haynes King experienced in his season opening win over FSU.
Still, it should help curb sign-stealing efforts in the 2024 campaign.
NDSU didn’t want to be at a disadvantage in its first football game against Colorado. It’s made the investment to even the playing field!
It was a decision made a bit easier by the $700K paycheck the school will receive for making the trip to Folsom Field. We’ll soon see if it pays off.
The Bison will enter as a two-score underdog when they step foot on the field Thursday night. They’ll look to shock the world in primetime!