Overview
- ESPN reports NDSU has finalized a football-only agreement with the Mountain West for 2026, with a public announcement expected Monday.
- NDSU will pay nearly $12 million to the conference plus $5 million to the NCAA to complete the FCS-to-FBS reclassification.
- NCAA transition rules will bar the Bison from bowl games and conference championships in 2026 and 2027, with exceptions possible if there are not enough eligible teams.
- The shift applies only to football, with NDSU’s other sports expected to remain in their current conferences.
- Adding NDSU gives the Mountain West 10 football members for 2026 as the league reshapes after losing five programs to the Pac-12, creating a late scramble to finalize schedules.