As college football schedules are trimmed due to coronavirus concerns, Kansas State has decisions to make.
As a member of the Big 12, Kansas State and other league schools are being asked to play a conference schedule and one non-conference game.
Kansas State has two non-conference games remaining on its schedule -- UND (Sept. 12) and Buffalo (Sept. 5).
Gene Taylor, the athletic director at Kansas State and the former AD at North Dakota State, says UND would be a great fit but uncertainty around the FCS 2020 season is clouding the decision.
Buffalo is an FBS program.
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Taylor made the comments Wednesday afternoon to Jack Michaels, the voice of UND football and the host of a radio show on 740AM The Fan in Fargo.
Kansas State is coached by former NDSU coach Chris Klieman.
"It's something we've talked about with Coach Klieman," Taylor said. "Chris doesn't want multiple weeks between (the non-conference game and conference play). He would prefer to play on the 12th, which is good for North Dakota, because that's the date already on the schedule. But there are uncertainties with the FCS right now.
"We have talked to both schools and both are interested in coming. They have to follow our protocols in testing and all that, but we're waiting to see what happens with both (UND's and Buffalo's) conferences."
If UND and Buffalo don't work out to play Sept. 12, Taylor said there are opponents out there to schedule but the optimal route is to play one of the two programs in which his school already his an agreement.
UND was scheduled to open the season Sept. 5 against Valparaiso, but the Pioneer League has called off non-conference play for 2020.
The Fighting Hawks currently have a bye week after the Sept. 12 matchup at Kansas State. If the game doesn't pan out, that would mean UND's season opener is scheduled for Sept. 26 at Youngstown State. The home opener is now scheduled for Oct. 3 against South Dakota State.
Leading up to the season, UND was originally scheduled to start fall camp Aug. 5. Earlier this week, however, UND pushed back the start of fall camp to Monday.
