http://www.grandforksherald.com/even...cle/id/262919/

The Big Sky Conference is looking for a travel partner for UND.


It shouldn’t be looking too far.


An ideal addition sits just 75 miles away — UND’s longtime rival, North Dakota State.


The Big Sky Conference denied NDSU admission about 10 years ago, but times and circumstances have changed (and, in hindsight, adding both NDSU and UND a decade ago probably would have been a good move for the league).


Adding NDSU would immediately give UND a true travel partner. It would give the conference a school that is institutionally like others in the league. It would add to the league’s strength in both football and men’s basketball.

But it’s doubtful that NDSU is comfortable in the Summit League right now. It’s a league where nobody seems particularly content. In the last 23 years, 21 teams have jumped ship. It’s a nice stopping spot, but nobody outside of Western Illinois stays.


There’s no sign of it slowing down, either.


Four teams have left the league in the last three years. Several reports say Oakland University will join that group and take a spot in the Horizon League soon — a move that Oakland has publicly wanted for a decade.


If Oakland does leave, the Summit is down to eight teams. With the remaining squads surely looking at other opportunities, it doesn’t leave the league in a strong position.
I don't see the BSC admitting NDSU as a full member. But NDSU could be in a corner if the choices were either leave the MVFC and join the BSC as a full member or stay put in the MVFC and remain in the Summit where you could lose AQ status in basketball and baseball. Most logic choice would to ask NDSU to join as an associate member and remain in the MVFC.