Liam MacKenzie
Fargo, North Dakota – What a past couple of days it has been over in Fargo, North Dakota, as the discussion has been all about the North Dakota State University Bison’s Football Program. What the discussion is about, for those who are curious, is whether the program would make the leap from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) after dominating at the FCS level for a decade and a half. With this being the latest move for a team going from FCS to FBS, it is also worth noting that a little history is being made, where North Dakota State is the first team from either the state of North Dakota or South Dakota to move up to the FBS.
From FCS Powerhouse to FBS Challenger – The legacy that North Dakota State has had at the FCS level has been nothing but incredible. The Bison have set records over the past decade and a half with sustained excellence, as they have become the gold standard at the FCS level. Along with their championship pedigree, the Bison have been able to consistently produce some high-level professional talent, where you have players like Carson Wentz, Trey Lance, Christian Watson, and Greg Zabel that have been a strong reflection on the development pipeline that has been established.
Now that the move to the FBS is finally happening, North Dakota State’s success from the FCS will be put to the test as they play in a subdivision that will consist of tougher competition. The transition will become official on July 1st, 2026, when the football program will join the Mountain West Conference, as it will consist of 10 teams that stretch from the islands of Hawaii to the Midwest state of Illinois. The Bison will now most likely have conference matchups against teams that include the Wyoming Cowboys, the Air Force Falcons, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels, the New Mexico Lobos, and some other opponents as well.
Transition Rules and Challenges To Be Faced – With any transition in college sports comes rules to be followed and challenges that need to be faced. The Bison will be able to play a full Mountain West conference play schedule for the 2026 season, but will not be eligible for championship or postseason bowl games until the two-year transitional period ends in the year 2028. However, if there is a case in which there are not enough bowl-eligible teams to replace a team dropping out of a bowl game across the nation, North Dakota State could still be able to receive a bowl invitation during the transition.
For the Bison to make the jump, they agreed on a $5 million fee with the NCAA for reclassification, along with a separate entry fee to the Mountain West Conference. For the NDSU football program, this type of investment was one that was taken with significant precaution for the program’s future at a very high level of collegiate football. This is most likely why they waited for a very long time, and with NIL being a main topic in college sports, it held North Dakota State back for a lengthy period of time.
Why Leave the Missouri Valley Football Conference – Leaders at North Dakota State University said that this move is one that was very strategic, a long-term decision that will elevate the presence of the University on a national stage, increase revenue, and align with peer institutions. During the NDSU Football Mountain West Press Conference, Matt Larsen stated, “I think back to when I first started here, my first week on the job, and people were asking me when we’re going FBS football, and that’s almost 12 years ago. But this needed to take time. We needed to make sure we were ready, we were prepared.”
President David Cook also chimed in with an opening statement in which he said that “It’s a great day for North Dakota State University. Certainly, it’s a great day for North Dakota and it’s a great day for our region” along with another statement, which he said “But I’d be remiss if I didn’t also add that today doesn’t happen here without the people up here on the stage with me and all the folks in the room.” This process was certainly one that was not done overnight, but rather one that took years to prioritize both athletic and academic growth on this program.
Impact Beyond the Field – The Bison moving up a football subdivision will affect more than just their schedules and the standings in the Mountain West. With North Dakota State leaving the FCS, which will leave a spot for someone new in the rankings, they will have to find a way to put themselves in the rankings at a more competitive level which will take years of doing so. Leaving the FCS means they will have to face the challenge of having to find new rivalries along with the uncertainties of scheduling, which will not be easy for a team that everyone knows for the longstanding rivalry they have with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
Meanwhile, the Mountain West will gain a nationally recognizable team with a proven winning culture from the FCS. The Bison could be a program that could really help the conference boost incoming recruits, television viewership, and competitive balance.
What Lies Ahead – As the Bison make their way into the FBS for the fall of 2026, their journey will be watched by many fans, along with analysts who have known this team for quite some time. This is a new territory that NDSU enters, which, of course, is nothing like the FCS that they have dominated, but rather one that has high-level competition at the FBS level. What they attempt to bring with them is that championship mindset, a history full of winning, and the determination to create a new legacy on college football’s grandest stage.
This move is not just about changing conferences, but rather it is about this climb up a mountain that few programs dare to take. With every valley this team travels through to the top of the mountain that this team aims to strive for, this is just the start of the journey for the program from Fargo, North Dakota.
