North Dakota State’s Bison are set to enter a new chapter as they join the Division I FBS Mountain West Conference for the upcoming season, bringing a fresh wave of excitement to college football fans across the country.
Starting July 1, a dedicated streaming platform called MW+ will go live, delivering live coverage of every Mountain West contest, including all NDSU football games, to a wide array of devices.
The service will be accessible on iPhone, Android phones, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and even through Amazon Prime Channels, ensuring that viewers can tune in at home or on the go.
Ten of the Bison’s twelve games are slated for national television, with broadcasts arranged by CBS Sports Network, The CW, and FOX Sports, while the remaining two home matchups will rely on a local partnership.
A notable exception is the September 19 road game at Sacramento State, which will be carried on an ESPN network, adding another high‑profile slot to the schedule.
Fans can also stream the action directly at watch.themw.com or via the league’s website at themw.com, providing a convenient alternative to traditional cable.
Local broadcast bid could broaden access
If a pending bid by WDAY‑TV and Forum Communications succeeds, the two home games against Fordham on September 5 and UTEP on October 31 could be aired on the state‑wide ABC Network and on the MW+ app, extending the reach to viewers in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and beyond.
The potential local broadcast arrangement would not only give regional audiences a familiar over‑the‑air option but also integrate those games into the MW+ platform, creating a hybrid viewing experience.
A new era for Bison football
WDAY‑TV, a longtime Forum Communications station, has submitted a proposal to produce the two home games, a move that would place them on the ABC Network’s statewide feed and on the MW+ app, thereby offering a seamless transition between traditional TV and streaming.
If approved, the arrangement would mark a significant shift for the conference, blending legacy broadcast infrastructure with modern digital distribution, and could set a precedent for other mid‑major programs seeking wider exposure.