North Dakota State won 38-32 to open the all-time series at 1-0 and won its first conference game as an FBS program. Watch North Dakota State vs Air Force highlights on FOX Sports or stream on FOX One. The first meeting between the programs came from Falcon Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT in Week 2 of the 2026 college football season.

North Dakota State vs Air Force Highlights

North Dakota State ran 23 plays to Air Force's three in the first quarter, gained 132 yards to eight, led 8-0 in first downs and held the ball for 12:58 of the 15 minutes. Myles Mitchell's 31-yard run capped a nine-play, 75-yard opening drive and Nathan Hayes scored on a 17-yard run at the end of a 16-play, 80-yard march for 14-0. Hayes went 15-of-23 for 228 yards to eight different receivers, with a 44-yard touchdown to Mekhi Collins and a 41-yarder to Logan Conklin that made it 35-13 early in the third.

Air Force did not fold: Blake Fletcher had 14 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown, Liam Szarka ran 21 times for 88 yards, and the Falcons scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to get within 35-25. Drew Klein's school-record 56-yard field goal with 1:58 left settled it, and Air Force scored again with 50 seconds to go before failing to recover the onside kick. Crowd was 25,970.

You can stream North Dakota State vs Air Force highlights on FOX One. FOX One carries live FOX College Football plus game highlights, weekly studio coverage and on-demand FOX entertainment. Start your 3-day free trial and watch on any supported device.

Where to Watch North Dakota State Bison vs Air Force Falcons Football

FOX + ESPN College Football Schedule 2026 — Week 3

Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
Week 3 — Watch Houston vs Texas Tech — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Portland State vs Oregon — 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
Week 3 — Watch Arizona State vs Kansas — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Kent State vs Ohio State — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Akron vs Minnesota — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Buffalo vs Penn State — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Utah State vs Utah — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch UTEP vs Michigan — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Northern Iowa vs Iowa — 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Eastern Washington vs Washington — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch North Dakota vs Nebraska — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Colorado vs Northwestern — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Virginia Tech vs Maryland — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch LSU vs Ole Miss — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Fresno State vs San Jose State — 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT
Week 3 — Watch Purdue vs UCLA — 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT

FOX + ESPN College Football Schedule 2026 — Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Week 2 — Watch Missouri vs Kansas — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Week 2 — Watch Oklahoma vs Michigan — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Wake Forest vs Purdue — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Howard vs Indiana — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Arizona vs BYU — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Duke vs Illinois — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Eastern Michigan vs Michigan State — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Utah State vs Washington — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Bowling Green vs Nebraska — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch San Diego State vs UCLA — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Western Illinois vs Wisconsin — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Ohio State vs Texas — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch North Dakota State vs Air Force — 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Louisiana vs USC — 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT

North Dakota State and Air Force had never met before Sept. 12, 2026, so the Bison's 38-32 win at Falcon Stadium opens the all-time series at 1-0. It was the Mountain West opener for both schools and the first conference game North Dakota State has ever played as an FBS program, having joined the league on July 1, 2026.

The Bison brought an unusual résumé to it. They won 10 FCS national championships between 2011 and 2025 and went 9-5 against FBS opponents during their years at that level, with all nine of those wins earned on the road. Four of the five losses came by a combined 12 points. Their only previous games against current Mountain West members were a 16-13 loss at Wyoming in 2008 and a 22-7 win at Colorado State in 2012.