North Dakota State University Joins Mountain West Conference in FBS

The Bison football program will transition to the highest level of Division I college football.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After months of negotiations, North Dakota State University (NDSU) has officially announced that it will join the Mountain West Conference and transition its football program to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of Division I college football. The move will take effect immediately, with NDSU joining the Mountain West this fall and playing FBS games starting in 2026.

Why it matters

This is a significant move for NDSU's athletics program, which has dominated the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level in recent years, winning 10 of the last 15 national championships. Joining the Mountain West and FBS will provide NDSU's football team with greater exposure and the opportunity to compete against higher-profile opponents, while also requiring the university to pay substantial fees to the NCAA and conference.

The details

As part of the move, NDSU will pay the Mountain West Conference nearly $12 million to join, in addition to a $5 million fee to the NCAA to transition to the FBS level. The Bison will become the 10th member of the Mountain West, joining schools such as Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, and Northern Illinois.

  • NDSU will join the Mountain West Conference this fall.
  • The Bison will begin playing FBS games starting in the 2026 season.

The players

Matt Larsen

NDSU Director of Athletics, who stated that this move is a "historic day for NDSU Athletics" and an "exciting new opportunity" for the football program.

Pete Thamel

ESPN reporter who reported that NDSU will pay the Mountain West Conference nearly $12 million to join the conference.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a historic day for NDSU Athletics. Our football program has earned this opportunity through the sustained success and leadership of our student-athletes and coaches past and present. Joining the Mountain West is an exciting new opportunity for our team to compete at the highest level, for our fans to see FBS opponents coming to Fargo, and for Bison football to reach a wider national audience through expanded television coverage.”

— Matt Larsen, NDSU Director of Athletics (KFYR)

What’s next

NDSU will begin playing in the Mountain West Conference this fall, with the first FBS games scheduled for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

NDSU's move to the Mountain West Conference and the FBS level represents a significant milestone for the university's athletics program, which has dominated the FCS in recent years. This transition will provide the Bison football team with greater exposure and the opportunity to compete against higher-profile opponents, while also requiring substantial financial investments from the university.