Bismarck State College (BSC) Interim President Dan Leingang, along with Director of Athletics Myron Schulz, announced at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that the Mystics Football program will be making its long-awaited return to campus.

“This moment has been four decades in the making and truly marks the beginning of a new era for MysticNation,” Leingang said. “It’s exciting to see former BJC players return to campus to celebrate this announcement alongside our current students.”

Football was a staple on the campus of BSC, then Bismarck Junior College (BJC), from 1946 to 1962, and then again from 1971 to 1985. The team played in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC), which at that time was affiliated with the NAIA and consisted of eight additional in-state schools the Mystics faced off against, including current Frontier Conference members Dickinson State, Valley City State and Mayville State. At that time, BJC was a two-year program competing against four-year programs. That won’t be the case for the third rendition of the program’s competition in the NAIA.

“This is a milestone moment for our athletic department and for the future of our college,” said Schulz. “We’re restoring a tradition that meant so much to our campus and will give our students, alumni and fans another team to rally behind on the weekends.”

Schulz is all too familiar with Mystics Football, as he played strong safety on the 1983-84 BJC Football teams. Accompanying Schulz at the announcement were former Mystics Football coaches Ed Hasche and Don Bigwood, along with Frontier Conference Commissioner Dr. Scott Crawford.

“Frontier Conference football welcomes the return of Bismarck State football as the conference’s 15th team and draws the entire NAIA closer to nearly 100 football programs nationally. The entire conference looks forward to having MysticNation be an integral part of game-day Saturdays each fall on the gridiron,” shared Crawford. “It will be fun to see BSC rekindle old rivalries in North Dakota and develop new rivalries across the Frontier.”

The Mystics’ first football season in the NAIA Frontier Conference will be Fall 2027. Currently, 14 schools make up the two football divisions in the conference. The program will have renewed rivalries as the fourth North Dakota team, and an opportunity to venture into uncharted territory for the college with members of the west division in Idaho, Oregon and California.

“With our transition this fall to the NAIA and Frontier Conference and now offering 13 bachelor’s degrees, BSC continues to move forward in developing well-rounded students who are prepared to lead in their careers and communities, says Leingang. “Our investment in athletics supports our mission to educate and prepare the region’s future workforce and leaders by developing characteristics such as discipline, leadership, teamwork and resilience.”

Schulz said the search for a new head football coach has now begun.