This is a post from BN:
Look at the economics of this decision and see how it was an no-brainer:
For MSU to go to Fargo on charter (bus not feasible due to distance):
loss of $85,000 (just chartering and the wait time are the largest expense)
vs.
paying $100,000 for buyout
A loss of $15,000 for doing the buyout with NDSU
For MSU to go to Dallas
-$100,000 for charter and hotels
but receive
+$350,000 for guarantee (+/-) $50,000
A gain of $250,000 to go to SMU
Net gain: $235,000 (+/-) $50,000
Should Fields have gone to Fargo and paid out $85,000 for travel, or should he have not chose SMU, whereby he forfeits a likely $235,000 gain?
Then takes that gain, uses it to get an FCS non-conference opponent to come to Bozeman, likely schedules the Bobcats an additional win. With a better record, MSU hosts at least one playoff game, something that nets Montana State profit.
Unless Montana State has the money from the FBS payout, they don't have the money to pay an FCS opponent to come to Bobcat Stadium. You play NDSU, you still end up having to play an FBS, you start 0-2 and you don't host a playoff game