North Dakota State University Joins Mountain West Conference In 2026

The Mountain West Conference announced Tuesday that NDSU will join the league as a football-only member beginning July 1, 2026, launching the program’s move from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision after more than a decade of sustained dominance at the FCS level.

“This is a historic day for NDSU Athletics,” Director of Athletics Matt Larsen said. “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.”

Located in Fargo and founded in 1890, North Dakota State is a public land-grant research institution classified as an R1 university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a designation reserved for institutions with “Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity.”

On the field, the Bison have built one of the most accomplished dynasties in modern college football. NDSU has won 10 of the last 15 FCS national championships and compiled a 198-22 record during that span, a .900 winning percentage. The program most recently finished in the top five of both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.

The Bison have also proven competitive against FBS competition, posting a 9-5 all-time record against programs from college football’s highest subdivision.

The success has extended beyond Fargo. Over the past 10 NFL drafts, North Dakota State has produced 13 selections, including three first-round picks.

The move to the Mountain West begins a two-year transition to FBS. NDSU will play a full Mountain West schedule in 2026 but will not be eligible for the Mountain West Football Championship Game or postseason play, including the College Football Playoff or a bowl game until 2028. The Bison could still be selected for a bowl game during the transition if there are not enough bowl-eligible teams nationally.

Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said the addition strengthens the conference’s football profile.

“We are thrilled to welcome North Dakota State University’s football program to the Mountain West,” Nevarez said. “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. 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.”

Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, the Mountain West will operate under a comprehensive membership model that includes full-time, all-sport institutions alongside sport-specific affiliates. North Dakota State will compete as a football affiliate member.

For NDSU, the shift represents more than a change in classification. It is the culmination of a generation of success and the beginning of a new challenge, one that places the Bison on a broader national stage while asking the same question they have answered for years: What happens when North Dakota State moves up?