The University of North Dakota has made it official that it will leave the Big Sky Conference and rejoin some familiar foes in two other leagues.
University of North Dakota President Mark Kennedy and Athletics Director Brian Faison announced Thursday that the University of North Dakota has accepted an invitation to join the Summit League beginning with the 2018-19 academic year and the Missouri Valley Football Conference beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year.
“This is an important move for UND Athletics and for our fans,” Kennedy said. “We have appreciated our time in the Big Sky Conference and we thank our friends in that conference for their hospitality and the opportunity to have competed against some excellent teams. But we are excited to renew long-treasured rivalries in joining many of our former conference companions in the Summit League and the Missouri Valley Football Conference.”
Wednesday, President Kennedy formally announced to Summit League Commissioner Tom Douple and Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito that UND had accepted those invitations. UND will officially join the Summit League on July 1, 2018, and Missouri Valley Football Conference July 1, 2020 but will begin working immediately with the current membership on scheduling, marketing, and other conference matters.
