NDSU director of athletics Gene Taylor has announced the completion of the 2009 football schedule. The Bison will have an 11-game schedule with five home dates in the Fargodome.
NDSU opens at Iowa State University on Sept. 3 in Ames. NDSU has played one current member of the Northeast Conference. The Bison defeated Central Connecticut State 50-14 at the Fargodome last season.
The Bison open Missouri Valley Football Conference play against Southern Illinois on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. in Carbondale. NDSU hosts Illinois State for Homecoming on Oct. 3 at 1 p.m., University of Northern Iowa on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m., Missouri State University for the Harvest Bowl on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. and Youngstown State University on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m.
Other Missouri Valley Football road games include South Dakota State University for the Dakota Marker on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m., Western Illinois University on Oct. 31 at 1:05 p.m. and Indiana State University on Nov. 14 at 12:05 p.m.
NDSU averaged 18,032 spectators at six home dates in the Fargodome and placed sixth in the 2008 Division I Football Championship Subdivision attendance figures released by the NCAA.
The Bison have put together back-to-back 18,000-plus seasons. NDSU attracted a school record of 18,141 fans at five home dates in 2007. The football program has enjoyed seven sellouts during the past three seasons including a school record of 19,053 against SDSU in 2006. The Bison are 29-5 in the Fargodome during the past six years under head coach Craig Bohl.
NDSU completed the 2008 season with a 6-5 record including a 4-4 mark to tie for fourth place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.