North Dakota State University (NDSU), renowned for its dominance in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), is engaged in discussions with the Mountain West Conference about potentially joining as a football-only member starting in the 2026 season, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
Since 2011, NDSU has secured an impressive total of 10 national championships in the FCS and has contemplated ascending to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for some time. This ambition has gained momentum as their traditional rivals, such as James Madison and Sam Houston, have successfully transitioned to the FBS in recent years. However, the geographical challenges posed by NDSU's location have complicated this upward move. Currently, the Bison compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference for football while participating in the Summit League for other sports.
Against FBS opponents, NDSU has an impressive track record, holding a 9-5 record since it moved up to FCS in 2004. Their notable victories include matchups against teams like Iowa, Iowa State, and Minnesota—whom they defeated twice.
The Mountain West is on the brink of a significant transformation this summer, as several teams, including Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State, are set to join the revamped Pac-12. In anticipation of this split, the Mountain West is looking to bolster its roster by adding UTEP as a full member and Northern Illinois as a football-only participant, along with non-football institutions like Grand Canyon and UC Davis. Meanwhile, the Mountain West and Pac-12 are currently embroiled in legal disputes regarding $150 million in exit and poaching fees owed to the Mountain West.
Remaining members of the Mountain West include Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, and Wyoming. If NDSU's entry is finalized, it would expand the Mountain West to ten football members.
Under the leadership of coach Tim Polasek for the last two seasons, the Bison clinched the 2024 FCS championship and began the 2025 season undefeated at 12-0 before facing an unexpected defeat against Illinois State in the playoffs.
While no agreement has been finalized yet, both parties are deeply engaged in talks that are expected to extend into next week. Joining the Mountain West would necessitate a substantial entry fee and an additional NCAA fee of $5 million to elevate from FCS to FBS. If successful, this move would bring the Mountain West's membership to a total of 137.
Recently, the Mountain West secured a new television rights deal, which will run from the fall of 2026 through the summer of 2032, in partnership with Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and The CW.
