Mountaintop View 6-5-26. North Dakota State, Football Rankings, Pac-12 Predictions, Kevin Griffin Oregon State AD, Future MBB Games.

TERRE HAUTE, IN - OCTOBER 08: TaMerik Williams (22) running back North Dakota State University Bison is congratulated by teammates Cody Mauch (70) offensive tackle and Brandon Westberg (77) center against the Indiana State University Sycamores, Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Terre

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What is the story about?

Happy Friday everyone! Get to the weekend a bit quicker by catching up on the news around the Mountain West and Pac-12 as well as around the college sports world.

North Dakota State Preview

Continuing their preview series, this one looks at the Bison. As they make the jump to the Mountain West and FBS football, and figure to hit the ground running. Offensively, the running attack should be good as always, with three returning starters and depth on the OL. Nathan Hayes will need to step up and run the offense at QB and a top

WR will need to emerge as well, but neither seem like huge questions. Over on defense, they are a group skilled at forcing turnovers and getting pressure on the quarterback. Those are awesome traits, but they do cover some inexperience at linebacker and cornerback and they will need to improve in the red zone. This post thinks the Bison will go 8-4 in 2026, but with no P4 games, there are no sure losses on the schedule.

Athletic 2026 Football Rankings

Even though there is an entire summer between now and football season, preseason rankings and posts are trickling out. Stewart Mandel revising his way too early rankings into what we will consider to be early rankings. Not much in the way of G6 teams, with only Boise State at #23, and no one else even in the just missed list. Anyway, the Broncos are in this spot as the best mid-major team from last year that didn’t have a coaching change. They mention the ability to keep both stud running backs as a big plus and highlight true freshman WR Rasean Jones as an impact newcomer alongside some transfer players.

Pac-12 Predictions.

Athlon is doing preseason content of their own and recently predicted what will happen in the Pac-12. They pick Boise State to win the league, but state SDSU and Fresno State are challenging for the title as well. For their official predictions, it’s Boise State over San Diego State in the championship game. Fresno State and Washington State follow them in the rankings, with an improved Utah State and an intriguing Texas State behind them. Bringing up the rear will be Colorado State and then Oregon State.