The SMU Mustangs appear to be adding a home game against the Montana State Bobcats in 2013, The Dickinson Press has reported.
Montana State, which was scheduled to play at North Dakota State on Sept. 7, 2013, is buying out of that game for $100,000. Indications are that they are canceling NDSU to play at SMU on the same date.
SMU and Montana State have never met in football. The Bobcats are a member of the Big Sky Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision.
If SMU does finalize the match-up against Montana State, the Mustangs will have to cancel or postpone a game as they already have four non-conference games scheduled in 2013 (Texas Tech, Baylor, at Texas A&M, at TCU).
SMU message boards have lit up at the notion of canceling one of their four high-profile games in 2013. And most people seem to think that the game targeted for cancellation is Baylor. The Bears are slated to travel to SMU on Sept. 14.
Neither Baylor or SMU have made a statement on the status of their 2013 game. The two schools are currently scheduled to play every season through 2019.
Update (2/19/13)
Montana State athletic director Peter Fields confirmed to KBZK-7 that the Bobcats will travel to play SMU on Sept. 7, 2013 and will receive $300,000 for the game.
The contest is also listed on Montana State’s 2013 football schedule.
Football Schedules