The Mountain West Conference announced Monday it’s adding North Dakota State as a football-only member starting in 2026. The FCS powerhouse will make the jump to FBS after dominating the lower division for decades.
North Dakota State will pay $12.5 million to join the conference, according to athletic director Matt Larsen.
The payment structure spreads the fee over six years but front-loads most of the cost. According to CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello, the Bison will pay $7 million in the first year with the remaining $5.5 million spread across five years.
North Dakota State’s entry fee into the Mountain West is $12.5 million, spread over the next six years and front-loaded in Year 1, @CBSSports has learned.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) February 10, 2026
That’s on top of the $5 million North Dakota State owes the NCAA for moving to FBS.
The Bison won’t be eligible for bowl games or the College Football Playoff until 2028. That’s standard NCAA policy for schools transitioning from FCS to FBS.
But the move gives North Dakota State a chance to prove itself against bigger programs. The team that many FBS schools avoided scheduling will now face them in conference play.
“The Bison bring a championship mindset and a bold vision for growth that aligns with the unwavering commitment to the excellence of the Mountain West,” commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement. “Their dedication to elevating the student‑athlete experience — on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the community– will energize the Mountain West and help propel our football profile to new heights nationwide.”
North Dakota State has won 10 of the past 15 FCS national championships. That’s the kind of sustained success rarely seen at any level of college football.
The timing works perfectly for the Mountain West. The conference lost Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State to the Pac-12 over the past year. Adding North Dakota State brings the conference back to 10 football members for 2026.
Whether this jump helps North Dakota State in recruiting remains unclear. The move to FBS typically opens doors with prospects who want to play at the highest level.
“One of the concerns was, ‘Will NDSU be competitive?'” interim university president Rick Berg said. “I think we will. Unlike others, we’ve been preparing for this moment for years and years, and I think they’re going to be surprised when NDSU hits the Mountain West.”
The Bison have built one of college football’s most successful programs at the FCS level. Their transition to FBS will test whether that success translates against bigger schools with larger budgets and recruiting advantages.
