North Dakota State Football Debuted on The CW Network

The Bison showcased a new mountain-themed jersey design during their first appearance on the broadcast network.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Football

North Dakota State Football Debuted on The CW Network

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North Dakota State University football made its official debut on The CW network on October 3, 2026. The program marked the milestone by debuting specialized Gold Standard jerseys during their home game in Fargo.

Why it matters

The broadcast appearance underscores The CW network's expansion into college sports following its 2022 acquisition by NexStar. For NDSU, the televised game served as a platform to highlight a unique uniform collaboration and increase national visibility.

The CW network has 13 league games scheduled for this season, with NDSU slated for five total appearances. Viewership has fluctuated, with previous games reaching between 245,000 and 417,000 viewers.

The players

Gloria Nevarez

She serves as the Mountain West commissioner and attended the NDSU Hall of Fame Ceremony and the game in Fargo.

The CW

This broadcast network has aggressively expanded its sports footprint to include Atlantic Coast Conference football and basketball.

Under Armour

Headquartered in Baltimore, this apparel giant provides uniforms and performance gear for university athletic programs.

The details

NDSU partnered with Under Armour to develop jerseys that feature mountain designs sublimated into the numbers to celebrate their home Mountain West conference game. Staff finalized the unique uniform design in June 2026 after beginning the conceptual process in March 2026.

March 2026: Discussions began regarding the special mountain-themed jerseys.
June 2026: NDSU staff finalized the jersey designs.
July 2025: NDSU contract with Under Armour took effect.
August 2026: CW and ESPN announced a streaming agreement.
October 3, 2026: NDSU football debuts on The CW network.

Roadmap

This broadcast debut follows the strategic shift driven by the 2022 NexStar purchase of The CW network, which has pivoted toward live sports to capture broader viewership. By securing college conference rights, the network is positioning itself to compete with established sports broadcasters for regional and national audience share.

The debut gives fans access to five NDSU games on The CW this season, with additional viewing options available via the streaming agreement with ESPN and YouTubeTV. The branding effort associated with the new uniforms may influence future merchandising and recruiting momentum for the class of 2027.

The takeaway

Schools are increasingly leveraging high-profile broadcast partnerships and custom uniform branding to elevate their national recruiting profile. These investments allow athletic programs to build deeper engagement with viewers and potential student-athletes across multiple digital platforms.