It looks like North Dakota finally got their reality check and made a smart call. The school has been fighting the NCAA over the nickname dispute for some time. The eventual settlement was that the NCAA would allow the “Fighting Sioux” nickname to remain but only if it was approved by all the tribes effected. There was a tribal vote in favor of keeping the name last month.

But the holdup on the name resolution has kept North Dakota out of the immediate Summit League plans. Neighbor, South Dakota, accepted an invite in previous months.\

In setting a deadline for October 1 to have the name issue resolved, the school is less at risk that the Summit will pass them over for say, Utah Valley.