Grand Forks, ND (Sports Network) - The University of North Dakota will join the Big Sky Conference next year, but its football game against Portland State on Sept. 8 will be considered a non-conference game.

UND director of athletics Brian Faison announced on Wednesday that the Sept. 8 match-up at the Alerus Center will replace the Fighting Sioux's game against Central Arkansas. The Fighting Sioux already have their eight allotted Big Sky games scheduled.

This is the third game between the programs. They split two games in the early 1980s.

12/07 16:57:37 ET