North Dakota State to Join Mountain West, Shaking Up FCS and FBS Football Landscape

North Dakota State, the perennial powerhouse of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), is making a bold leap. Sources told ESPN that the university has finalized an agreement to join the Mountain West Conference for football only, beginning with the 2026 season. The move marks one of the most significant transitions in recent college football history, as the Bison step up to compete at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level.

This transition will see North Dakota State, winners of nine FCS national championships since 2011, leave behind its long-standing dominance in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The agreement is football-only, so the Bison's other athletic programs will not join the Mountain West at this time.

• North Dakota State has won nine FCS national titles in the last 15 years
• Move to Mountain West is for football only, starting in 2026
• Bison will compete at the FBS level for the first time in school history

The decision is expected to have broad implications for both the FCS and FBS landscapes. North Dakota State has long been viewed as a program capable of competing against FBS schools, having posted numerous wins over them in nonconference play throughout the past decade. Their entry into the Mountain West, a conference that has produced competitive teams and sent representatives to major bowl games in the College Football Playoff era, will raise the overall level of competition and national attention for both parties.

For the Mountain West, the addition of North Dakota State represents a strategic move to maintain relevance and strength amid recent conference realignment waves throughout college sports. The conference already features well-known programs like Boise State, Fresno State, and San Diego State. The Bison’s arrival will add another perennial contender to the mix and could increase the conference’s profile in the expanded College Football Playoff era.

For FCS football, the loss of North Dakota State is seismic. The Bison have been the division’s most dominant force, routinely producing NFL talent and drawing national TV audiences for playoff runs. Their departure will open the door for other Missouri Valley and FCS programs to rise, but will also leave a competitive vacuum at the top of the subdivision.

North Dakota State’s transition will come with challenges. The jump from FCS to FBS means higher scholarship counts, more demanding schedules, and increased recruiting competition. However, the Bison’s infrastructure, fan base, and tradition suggest they have the foundation to be competitive quickly in their new league.

As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on Fargo to see how the Bison adapt to their new conference and what ripple effects this move has across the college football landscape.