FCS giant North Dakota State will be moving up to the FBS ranks for the 2026 season, according to a report.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to share that news on Sunday afternoon, confirming that NDSU has agreed to a deal to join the Mountain West as a football-only member.
Per Thamel, the deal comes with a steep financial price for NDSU. The program will pay an entry fee of nearly $12 million to the Mountain West and another $5 million to the NCAA, per Thamel’s reporting.
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The Mountain West will now be at 10 teams for the 2026 campaign following significant realignment moves this offseason. Air Force, Hawai’i, Nevada, New Mexico State, Northern Illinois, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming are the MWC’s other football programs beginning in 2026.
North Dakota State will bring an unmatched tradition of winning to the Mountain West from its time in the FCS ranks. The Bison have won 10 of the last 15 FCS National Championships with 4 different coaches leading the program over that span.
An official announcement is expected on Monday.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
