College football’s Week 0 slate saves one of its most unusual matchups for prime time in Fargo.
North Dakota State makes its long-awaited FBS debut on Saturday, hosting Jacksonville State at the Fargodome in a rematch of the 2016 FCS Championship Game, when the Bison throttled the Gamecocks 37-10. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
This one carries plenty of history. NDSU won 10 FCS national titles before jumping to the Mountain West this offseason, and the Bison won’t have to serve the usual reclassification waiting period — the NCAA enacted legislation in June 2026 making all programs moving up to the FBS immediately eligible for the postseason, so NDSU can compete for bowl games, the Mountain West title, and the College Football Playoff right away.
Jacksonville State, meanwhile, enters its fourth season at the FBS level under second-year coach Charles Kelly, fresh off a 9-5 campaign in Conference USA. Dual-threat quarterback Caden Creel returns after accounting for more than 2,500 total yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago.
Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Predictions From Our Supercomputer
Our AI-powered college football supercomputer has run the numbers on this Fargodome opener, factoring in roster continuity, level-of-competition jumps, and quarterback production to settle on its picks.
Here are the three best bets it landed on for Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State.
- North Dakota State -6.5 @ -110
- Deondre Johnson Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ +140
- Under 48.5 Total Points @ -110
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Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Prediction 1: North Dakota State -6.5
- North Dakota State -6.5 (-110)
The gap in program pedigree here is enormous, and the number still undersells it.
NDSU has won 10 FCS national titles since 2011 and went 12-1 last season in its final year in the Missouri Valley, while Jacksonville State only reached FBS status in 2023 despite three straight nine-win seasons.
The Bison also bring back a raft of skill talent even after some transfer-portal churn, and the Fargodome has historically been one of the toughest road environments in the sport regardless of division.
A touchdown and change looks fair for the more battle-tested program on its own home turf.
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Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Prediction 2: Deondre Johnson Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Deondre Johnson Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+140)
At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, Johnson is a mismatch problem regardless of what level he’s lining up against.
The senior led Jacksonville State with 724 receiving yards last season and hauled in six of the Gamecocks’ 13 receiving touchdowns, averaging a staggering 24.1 yards every time he caught the ball.
With Jax State having lost its top running back and leading pass-catcher from a year ago, Johnson projects to see an even bigger target share in 2026, and Creel has already shown he trusts him near the goal line.
Even in a game NDSU is expected to control, backing the Gamecocks’ most explosive weapon to find the end zone at some point offers value.
Fans keeping tabs on Jax State’s path through Conference USA can also check the latest Conference USA Championship odds for where the Gamecocks sit entering the year.
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Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Prediction 3: Under 48.5 Total Points
- Under 48.5 (-110)
North Dakota State is breaking in a new starting quarterback of its own in fifth-year senior Nathan Hayes, who has thrown just 63 career passes after years spent behind a pair of NFL-drafted starters.
That kind of inexperience under center tends to slow an offense down early, even one with the Bison’s talent level and program continuity.
Jacksonville State’s defense also returns a good chunk of experience from a nine-win team, and this is exactly the type of Week 0 opener, first-time starter, first-time FBS atmosphere, that often plays out sloppier and lower-scoring than the number suggests.
Bettors following NDSU’s move into its new league all season can track the Mountain West Conference Championship odds for how the Bison are being priced beyond Week 0.
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