FARGO -- Instead of a Saturday afternoon showdown, it's Friday night lights for the North Dakota State football team. It's good for national exposure, but not so good for some fans and graduating seniors.
The Division I Football Championship Subdivision semifinal game against Georgia Southern has a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome -- or three hours after the start of NDSU's mid-term graduation at the Bison Sports Arena. Bison athletic director Gene Taylor said the school may encourage graduation participants to park south of the BSA on campus.
ESPN makes the decision on what semifinal game is Friday night and which one is on Saturday. NDSU requested a Saturday matchup, but Taylor said producers at ESPN probably figured the Bison game would make for the best Friday primetime ratings.
The game will air on ESPN2.
NDSU has had Thursday night home openers before in the past, the last in 2008 against Austin Peay University (Tenn.). But a Friday night game in December is unique to a fan base that has packed the dome all season on Saturdays.
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"It could be a challenge for folks who have to drive across the state," Taylor said.
NDSU has season ticket holders from all corners of North Dakota and many areas of Minnesota who make the drive every game. About 1,500 available tickets on Sunday sold out fast. Season ticket holders, over 12,000 of them, have until 5 p.m. CDT on Tuesday to claim their seats. Any unclaimed tickets will go on sale Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. CDT.
The winner of the NDSU and Georgia Southern game plays the winner of Saturday's matchup between Eastern Washington and Sam Houston State (Texas) for the national title. NDSU is the defending champion.
Tailgating lots will open five hours before kickoff as usual.
"I imagine people will still find a way to attend a semifinal game," Taylor said.
