North Dakota State Pushes to Change NCAA Rule Ahead of FBS Move

The Bison won't be eligible for the FBS postseason until the 2028–29 season under current NCAA rules.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After capturing 10 national championships in the last 15 years at the FCS level, North Dakota State football is making the leap to the FBS, announcing a move from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Mountain West in time for the 2026 season. However, the school is challenging the NCAA's rule that requires a team to complete two transitional seasons at the FBS level before being eligible to play in the postseason.

Why it matters

The current NCAA rule has been in place since the early 2000s when the two levels were still known as Division I-A and I-AA. North Dakota State athletic director Matt Larsen argues the rule is 'very antiquated' and doesn't reflect the modern era of college athletics, with the advent of NIL, revenue sharing and the transfer portal.

The details

North Dakota State will challenge the NCAA's rule that requires a team to complete two transitional seasons at the FBS level before being eligible to play in the postseason—both the College Football Playoff and bowl games. Larsen says recent programs to make the same jump as the Bison have proven that the transition period is no longer necessary, and that if a team is good enough, they should be able to compete for championships immediately.

  • North Dakota State announced its move to the FBS and Mountain West Conference in time for the 2026 season.
  • The current NCAA rule has been in place since the early 2000s when the two levels were still known as Division I-A and I-AA.

The players

Matt Larsen

The athletic director at North Dakota State University.

Charlie Baker

The president of the NCAA.

Curt Cignetti

The former head coach of the James Madison Dukes football team.

Bob Chesney

The current head coach of the James Madison Dukes football team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's a very antiquated rule. A lot of things have changed in our industry, and you could argue that's an overly punitive rule now.”

— Matt Larsen, Athletic Director, North Dakota State University (CBS Sports)

“Our student-athletes have done everything the right way, and they view the postseason prohibition in this instance as inexplicable punishment in light of the NCAA's stated priorities.”

— James Madison Officials (ESPN)

What’s next

North Dakota State is expected to continue pushing the NCAA to change the rule that requires a two-year transition period before being eligible for the FBS postseason.

The takeaway

The NCAA's longstanding rule requiring a two-year transition period before FCS programs are eligible for the FBS postseason is facing renewed scrutiny as North Dakota State and other schools argue it is an outdated policy that does not reflect the modern landscape of college athletics.