The Northern Football Series was a creation of Saskatoon-based businessman L. David Dube and Vancouver-based broadcaster Jim Mullin.

The proposed model was a non-profit business with Dube investing the full-cost of television production and administrative functions.

Coupled with the existing AUS-RSEQ interlock, the competition also provided the tools for a national ratings percentage index (RPI) for all 27 teams by the end of the season.

The structure of the competition is such that it maintained the current championship formats for the four main conferences, and the national playoff system for the CIS.

[8] The AUS has stated that they would direct all efforts toward a CIS Football task force which was formed in February 2015 to address issues associated with the management of the game.

[11] Morris Dalla Costa of the London Free Press wrote; "The pressure will mount on those in the OUA who are resisting.

[12] Le Journal de Québec reported in December 2016 that the RSEQ was again interested in interlocking play with the Canada West.

Laval athletic director and RSEQ football chairperson Christian Gagnon indicated the conference was ready to talk to the N8 Group again along with the Canada West.

The RSEQ reversed their position citing they did not want to work with a third party to deliver games to television in English Canada.