North Dakota State, Winner of 10 FCS titles, Jumps to FBS Mountain West

North Dakota State University (NDSU) will transition from the FCS to the FBS level and join the Mountain West Conference for football, as announced by the university and the conference. This move will take effect starting in 2026, bringing the Mountain West to 10 football members. NDSU, a dominant force in the FCS with 10 championships in the past 15 years, finished the 2025 season with a 12-1 record.

Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez highlighted NDSU's championship mindset and commitment to excellence as key reasons for their inclusion. The Bison will play a full eight-game conference schedule but will not be eligible for the Mountain West title game or the College Football Playoff until 2028. They can qualify for bowl games if there are insufficient eligible teams.

The Bison's transition involves financial commitments, including payments of nearly $12 million to the Mountain West and $5 million to the NCAA. NDSU previously moved all athletic