North Dakota State Maximizes In-Game Adjustments with GameStrat in 2025 FCS Championship Season

 The North Dakota State Bison have long been the gold standard of success at the NCAA Division I FCS level, consistently competing at the highest level in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). Since moving to Division I in 2004, the Bison have built a dynasty, compiling an outstanding 239–48 record (.833) and cementing their reputation as one of the most dominant programs in college football. In 2025, under first-year head coach Tim Polasek, NDSU continued its winning tradition, finishing 14-2 and securing another FCS National Championship.

The 2025 season also introduced a major shift in college football, as in-game video replay was approved at the NCAA level for the first time. Recognizing the importance of quality in-game video technology, the MVFC became one of the first conferences to partner with GameStrat on a conference-wide deal. This ensured that MVFC programs, including North Dakota State, had access to the most reliable and efficient in-game video technology, allowing them to make instant, data-driven adjustments throughout the season. To better understand how GameStrat impacted NDSU’s success, we sat down with Offensive Analyst Brett Bostad, who played a key role in operating GameStrat’s sideline replay system during the Bison’s 2025 National Championship season.

At a program like North Dakota State, where every detail matters, having access to instant video on the sideline was a game-changer in how the coaching staff made in-game decisions. With GameStrat’s in-game replay system, the Bison could review plays immediately after they happened, allowing for real-time adjustments rather than waiting until halftime.

It’s been huge. The speed at which we can access the plays on the iPad is critical to us making adjustments. With GameStrat, we’re able to counter what the defense is giving us based off what we see.

Gone were the days of relying solely on memory and verbal communication to diagnose what the defense was doing. With instant replay on the sidelines, NDSU coaches could confirm alignments, blitz tendencies, and coverage schemes on the spot, ensuring that mistakes or missed opportunities didn’t carry over into the next series.

In a high-stakes conference like the MVFC, where every snap can determine the outcome of a game, the ability to adjust on the fly with instant video replay became a key component of NDSU’s success.

GameStrat has been very crucial for our success. Being able to diagnose what the defense is doing in real time and having that clear picture allows us to be much more efficient as a coaching staff.

Efficiency was the biggest difference with GameStrat’s sideline replay system. Instead of waiting until halftime to review plays, NDSU’s coaching staff was able to show players exactly what needed to be corrected as soon as they came off the field.

With GameStrat, you can go straight to the player with a visual after a play or a drive is finished.

For a team that prides itself on preparation and execution, having instant replay on the sideline gave them an undeniable edge over teams not using GameStrat’s technology.

When competing for an FCS National Championship, every adjustment, every play call, and every game plan refinement matters. The Bison coaching staff relied on GameStrat’s sideline video technology throughout the season to ensure their players were executing at the highest level possible.

I 100% think you have a competitive advantage with GameStrat. It takes away from having to memorize & recall what the other team is doing. GameStrat gives you that clear picture instantly after a play is done, and you can pull up any play you may need at the click of a button.

For a program with a championship mindset, having the best in-game video technology made a difference when it mattered most. With GameStrat providing real-time insights, NDSU’s coaching staff could make quick, informed decisions that played a pivotal role in their postseason success.

Want to see how GameStrat’s sideline replay system can impact your program? Book a free demo today and see why championship-winning teams trust GameStrat for their in-game video replay needs.