Play for Keeps: Wyo and NDSU make football rivalry a trophy series

Coaching familiarity adding juice to Bison, Wyoming football clash

FARGO — The Battle of the Basins trophy was revealed Tuesday afternoon in the North Dakota State football team room, a traveling award that goes to the winner of Saturday’s Wyoming and North Dakota State football game. It’s a 21-inch high, 28-pound replica of an oil drill bit. The elephant in the room in Bison head coach Tim Polasek’s weekly press conference, however, had the potential to weigh more. Is there more juice in Saturday’s game becaus…

NDSU, Wyoming Lands Head-Turning Numbers Nationally

North Dakota State versus Wyoming is making waves nationally, as a new FBS rivalry takes shape this week in Fargo.

Play for Keeps: Wyo and NDSU make football rivalry a trophy series

LARAMIE, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming’s newest football rival, North Dakota State University, is, in many ways, a kindred spirit. Besides sharing legendary coach Craig Bohl, the two schools equally celebrate their states’ connection to the petroleum industry. To honor their newly kindled feud, the programs will now compete for a trophy. The series, […]

N.D. Petroleum Council unveils ‘Battle of the Basins’ rivalry in college football

North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness on WDAY Radio’s Midday program [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2329/2026/09/28134200/ron-ness-battle-of-the-basins-9-28-26-midday.mp3"] FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota State University and the University of Wyoming are kicking off a new football tradition this Saturday, competing for a newly created traveling trophy in a rivalry dubbed the “Battle of the Basin…

Cowboys Classics: North Dakota State

Choosing a game to write about in this edition of the Cowboys Classics series was particularly easy—that’s because Wyoming and NDSU have only met once on the gridiron. Still, these two schools are not without quite a few connections to one another. Former UW head coach Craig Bohl began his head coaching career with NDSU, leading the Bison to three consecutive FCS national championship wins from 2011 to 2013 before taking over the Cowboy program …

Wyoming Football Game Dubbed "Battle of the Basins"

FARGO, N.D. – The football teams at North Dakota State University and the University of Wyoming will play for a new traveling trophy, the schools announced Monday, Sept. 28.