Broadcast Overview for the 2026 Bison Season
The 2026 schedule for North Dakota State Bison football promises a slate of high‑profile matchups, but where fans can watch the games depends heavily on where they live.
Residents of North Dakota, western Minnesota and southern Canada can catch every Bison contest through standard television packages, as the core broadcast agreements cover that entire footprint.
The CW Network will air five of the season’s games, highlighted by contests against UNLV and Hawaii, and those broadcasts will also be streamed on ESPN Unlimited and YouTube TV for added flexibility.
CBS Sports Network contributes three games, including a Friday night showdown that is exclusive to the network, giving viewers another traditional cable option.
Streaming Options for Every Fan
A single Bison game at Sacramento State lands on ESPN’s lineup, making it available through ESPN Plus and the same YouTube TV bundle that carries the CW’s streams.
FOX Sports 1 will broadcast the game at Air Force, with coverage accessible via YouTube TV and through most cable and satellite providers, ensuring that fans with existing pay‑TV subscriptions are not left out.
For viewers outside the primary broadcast zone, the Mountain West Plus app becomes the gateway to the WDAY‑TV games that are otherwise exclusive, while also providing broader Mountain West coverage.
Choosing the right platform ultimately comes down to a fan’s existing TV service, preferred streaming bundle and willingness to add an app for out‑of‑region games, but the options span both linear television and digital services.