North Dakota State joins Mountain West for 2026

FCS powerhouse North Dakota State will join the Mountain West as a football-only member for the 2026 season, the conference announced Monday.

North Dakota State will pay nearly $12 million to join the league and an additional $5 million to the NCAA to make the jump from FCS, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. The Mountain West conference will now have 10 football schools, with Northern Illinois also joining next season.

"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," Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement.

"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."

North Dakota State will play a full eight-game conference schedule starting in 2026, but it won't be eligible for the conference title game or the College Football Playoff until the 2028 campaign.

The Bisons are one of the most dominant programs in FCS history, claiming 10 of the last 15 national championships. The program was the No. 1 seed in the playoffs this year before being upset by Illinois State in the opening round.

North Dakota State has won at least 11 games in every season since 2011, outside of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, when it posted a 7-3 record.

Adding the Bisons is a key move for the Mountain West, which is losing Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State to the new-look Pac-12. The conference also recently announced a media rights deal with Fox Sports and CBS Sports.