Reports: North Dakota State joining Mountain West

North Dakota State University (NDSU) is set to join the Mountain West Conference for football, according to multiple reports. The Bison, a dominant force in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with 10 national titles over the past 15 years, will transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The move involves a payment of approximately $12 million to the Mountain West Conference and $5 million to the NCAA. NDSU will be ineligible for bowl games or the College Football Playoff until 2028. The Mountain West Conference has been actively seeking new members following the departure of five schools to the Pac-12 in 2024. North Dakota State will become the conference's 10th football team for the 2026 season, joining Northern Illinois (football only), UTEP, Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, and Wyoming. NDSU last secured the FCS national championship in 202