Imagine a college football powerhouse, a team that’s dominated its division for over a decade, finally making the leap to a higher level of competition. But here’s where it gets controversial: North Dakota State (NDSU), the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) juggernaut with 10 national titles since 2011, is reportedly in talks to join the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member in 2026. This move, if finalized, would shake up both the FCS and FBS landscapes, raising questions about the future of smaller programs and the financial viability of such transitions.
According to a source familiar with the discussions, NDSU has been eyeing a move to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for years, especially as former FCS rivals like James Madison and Sam Houston have already made the jump. However, the Bison’s remote location has always complicated this transition. Currently, NDSU competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference for football and the Summit League for most other sports. Despite these challenges, NDSU’s football program has proven it can hold its own against FBS opponents, boasting a 9-5 record since 2004, including notable wins over Iowa, Iowa State, and Minnesota—twice.
And this is the part most people miss: The Mountain West itself is undergoing a seismic shift. This summer, the conference will lose five key members—Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State—to the rebuilt Pac-12. To counter this, the Mountain West is adding UTEP as a full member, Northern Illinois as a football-only member, and non-football members Grand Canyon and UC Davis. Meanwhile, the Mountain West and Pac-12 are locked in a bitter legal battle over $150 million in exit and poaching fees, adding another layer of complexity to the realignment saga.
With the potential addition of NDSU, the Mountain West would return to 10 football members, joining Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, and Wyoming. Coached by Tim Polasek, the Bison are coming off a 2024 FCS championship and a 12-0 start to the 2025 season before a playoff upset. While no deal is final, negotiations are reportedly deep and expected to continue into next week.
Such a move wouldn’t come cheap. NDSU would face a substantial entry fee to join the Mountain West, plus a $5 million NCAA fee to transition from FCS to FBS. If completed, the FBS would expand to 137 members, further diluting the division’s competitive landscape—a point of contention among fans and analysts alike.
Adding to the intrigue, the Mountain West recently finalized a new TV deal spanning from fall 2026 to summer 2032 with Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and The CW. This deal could provide NDSU with unprecedented exposure and revenue, but it also raises questions about whether smaller programs can sustain the financial demands of FBS competition.
Here’s the bold question: Is NDSU’s potential move a step toward greater opportunity, or does it signal the end of FCS dominance for the Bison? And what does this mean for the future of college football realignment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Feb 7, 2026
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