Defending FCS champ NDSU heads South to open football season
Top-ranked Bison travel to Charleston, South Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, to begin the year.
Defending NCAA Football Championship Subdivision champion NDSU are scheduled to open the 2025 season with back-to-back road games in two of the South’s most welcoming cities – Charleston, South Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee – giving fans a perfect reason to combine football with a memorable travel experience.
The Bison kick off the year Saturday, Aug. 30, at 11 a.m. against The Citadel at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston. The game will be televised on ABC North Dakota and streamed on ESPN+, with radio coverage on the Bison Sports Network.
Charleston offers plenty for traveling fans to enjoy beyond game day. Visitors can explore the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter, take in the pastel beauty of Rainbow Row or learn about history at Fort Sumter. Local dining favorites such as Husk or Poogan’s Porch serve up Lowcountry flavors, while carriage rides and harbor tours showcase the city’s charm. Downtown hotels like The Vendue and the Mills House put fans within walking distance of both the stadium and the city’s attractions.
The following week, the Bison travel to Nashville to face Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1:30 p.m. in Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. The game will be available on ESPN+ and the Bison Sports Network. With a 69,000-seat capacity, there should be plenty of room for green and yellow in the stands.
Nashville’s famous hospitality and music scene make it a destination for anyone who loves to watch live bands play in a lively atmosphere. Fans can spend their weekend visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame, touring the historic Ryman Auditorium or enjoying live performances in the honky-tonks along Broadway. Hotels like the Omni Nashville and Renaissance Nashville offer convenience and comfort within walking distance of both the stadium and the city’s vibrant nightlife.
Join fellow Bison fans at the NDSU Foundation’s Nashville Fan Fest on Sept. 5 from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Nashville at 128 2nd Ave. N. the event is free to attend, and the first 2,000 drinks ordered will be served with a commemorative Kickin’ Nash mug. Get your Bison merch from the NDSU Bookstore, which will be setup on Sept. 5 during Nashville Fan Fest and Sept. 6 at Nissan Stadium.
Adding to the excitement of this early-season road doubleheader is NDSU’s national standing. The Bison open the year ranked No. 1 in both the Stats Perform media poll and the American Football Coaches Association preseason coaches poll. In the media poll, NDSU claimed 54 of 56 first-place votes and it swept all 26 first-place votes in the coaches poll. The Bison return 12 starters from last season’s 14–2 national championship squad and five players earned preseason All-America honors.
From the historic beauty of Charleston to the high-energy rhythms of Nashville, NDSU’s first two games offer an invitation to celebrate Bison Pride while exploring two of the country’s most dynamic cities.