In a significant development for college football, sources have confirmed that North Dakota State University (NDSU), renowned for its dominance in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), will join the Mountain West Conference exclusively for football beginning in 2026.
The agreement marks a major step for NDSU as it transitions to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), aiming to compete at a higher level and increase its national profile. The move is expected to bring a new level of competition to the Mountain West, which has been seeking to strengthen its roster of teams.
North Dakota State has built a formidable reputation over the years, winning multiple FCS national championships and producing numerous NFL prospects. Their success in the FCS has made them a perennial powerhouse, and their entry into the FBS is seen as a strategic move to elevate their program and expand their recruiting reach.
The decision to join the Mountain West exclusively for football allows NDSU to maintain its commitments in other sports within its current conference affiliations, while focusing on elevating its football program to compete against FBS teams. This move is also expected to generate increased revenue and exposure for the university's athletic programs.
Sources indicate that the formal announcement is imminent, and discussions with other conferences and stakeholders have been ongoing to facilitate a smooth transition. The inclusion of NDSU is viewed as a positive development for the Mountain West, which aims to bolster its competitiveness and national presence in college football.
As the college football landscape continues to evolve, NDSU's move to the FBS and the Mountain West underscores the shifting dynamics of conference realignment and the increasing ambitions of successful FCS programs to make the leap into the top tier of college football.