North Dakota isn't really a professional sports hotbed.

That doesn't mean we don't love our college, junior, or high school sports.  In fact, it's like "religion" depending on where you are from.

According to AI technology, I decided to find out what are the 5 most popular sports teams in North Dakota based on Google searches.

No high school teams in North Dakota made the top 5

The top two teams are pretty obvious in my opinion.  They are by far the most talked about teams in the state.  From coffee shops to the water cooler at work all across North Dakota, the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks hockey and North Dakota State University Bison football teams are the talk of the towns.

I grew up watching UND hockey as a little boy.  Growing up in Grand Forks, Fighting Sioux (now the Fighting Hawks) hockey is what people plan their weekends around.

The Ralph Engelstad Arena is a palace.  It's nicer than most NHL rinks.  It holds just over 11,000 fans in a town with only 55,000 people living in Grand Forks, and it's sold out just about every weekend.

The NDSU Bison football team is just as beloved across North Dakota as UND hockey.  You don't have to go very far to see Bison flags waving outside of Bismarck, Mandan, and Lincoln homes.  Same with Bison gear, which you can see worn daily by people across the state.

These are the Top 5 most popular sports teams in North Dakota (based on Google searches).

#5 The Minot Minotauros hockey team.

Minot Minotauros Facebook Page
Minot Minotauros Facebook Page
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The Minotauros compete in the NAHL.  They are a tier 2 junior hockey team.  They play in the same league as our Bismarck Bobcats.

#4 The Bismarck Bobcats hockey team.

Bismarck Bobcats
Bismarck Bobcats
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The Bobcats have been in Bismarck now since 1997 and originally played their home games at the Bismarck Civic Center (now the Bismarck Event Center).  They now play their home games at the VFW Arena.

If you've never been to a Bobcats hockey game before you are missing out.  Not only is it great hockey, but it's a production.  The Cats do a tremendous job at providing a second-to-none fan experience.

#3 The Fargo Moorhead RedHawks baseball team.

Fargo Moorhead RedHawks Facebook Page
Fargo Moorhead RedHawks Facebook Page
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The RedHawks play their baseball at Fargo's Newman Outdoor Field.  This is the closest thing we have to a professional sports team in North Dakota.

The RedHawks have been playing ball in Fargo since 1996.  They are currently in the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official partner league of Major League Baseball.

#2 The UND Fighting Hawks hockey team.

Elsa/Getty Images
Elsa/Getty Images
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UND has won 8 NCAA National Championships in college hockey.  They won their last title in 2016 and are a regular in the National Tournament just about every year (they just missed it this year).

#1 The NDSU Bison football team.

TSM
TSM
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Even as UND alumni, it's hard for me to argue on this one.  The Bison are the most decorated sports team in all of North Dakota.  The Bison have won 17 National Championships, including 9 at the FBS level.

The Bison Football team is the most popular sports team in all of North Dakota.

 

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