Mountain West in “serious dialogue” to add North Dakota state

The Mountain West Conference is in ‘serious dialogue’ to bring North Dakota State University (NDSU) into the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a football-only member starting this upcoming season, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported Friday. The deal could be finalized as early as this weekend, ending more than a year of negotiations between the Bison and the conference.

If the move becomes official, NDSU would join Northern Illinois as the second football-only member in the Mountain West, increasing the league’s football membership to 10 teams for 2026. Regular members will include Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV, San Jose State, Wyoming, Hawaii and UTEP. This expansion comes amid a period of significant realignment, with Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State all recently leaving for the Pac-12.

North Dakota State has been the benchmark for excellence in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for the past 15 years, with 10 state championships between 2011 and 2024. During this span, the Bison have won 90 percent of their games and won 10 Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) titles. In postseason play since 2008, NDSU holds a 51-6 record, the most wins in FCS playoff history. Last season, the Bison finished 12-1 overall and 8-0 in conference play, entering the playoffs as the No. 1 seed before a narrow second-round loss to Illinois State. Illinois State then advanced to the title game, where it fell to Montana State.

The Bison also have a respectable record against FBS opponents. Since moving up from Division II in 2004, they are 9-5 against FBS teams. Between 2010 and 2016, NDSU posted six straight wins over FBS programs, including Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado State, Kansas State, Iowa and Iowa. Their last FBS games were close losses to Arizona in 2022 and Colorado in 2024.

North Dakota State is expected to pay a significant entrance fee to join the Mountain West, on top of the $5 million NCAA entry fee required for any school moving from the FCS to the FBS. While compensation negotiations are ongoing, Mountain West presidents have reportedly agreed in principle to extend the call, supporting the Bison’s move to the FBS.

NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen confirmed the program’s intent to compete at the highest level in Division I football, saying directly that the school would explore the opportunity if presented. Other North Dakota State sports will continue to compete in the Summit League.

The Mountain West recently unveiled a new media rights package, including CBS Sports, FOX Sports, The CV and Kiswe, which comes as the conference deals with legal battles over realignment. Adding North Dakota State would be another win for the conference’s football profile.