North Dakota State and the Mountain West Conference are engaged in deep discussions on a deal that would bring the FCS powerhouse into the conference as a football-only member starting this fall, a source familiar with the negotiations told CBS Sports on Friday.
A deal had not been finalized as of Friday night, but progress was being made toward an agreement that would elevate North Dakota State to the FBS level. Such a move would require a negotiated entry fee paid to the Mountain West, in addition to the NCAA’s $5 million FBS transition fee. The size of the Mountain West’s entry fee remains under discussion, a source said.
If completed, the move would mark one of the most significant FCS-to-FBS transitions in recent history. North Dakota State has won 10 national championships since 2011, including its most recent title in 2024. They are 9-5 all-time against FBS opponents, with five wins over power conference programs.
“North Dakota State University is regularly involved in conversations about the future of collegiate athletics, including conference affiliation,” the university said Saturday in a statement posted on X. “We are aware of media reports and will have no further comments.”
The program has publicly signaled its desire to move to the FBS level in recent months under athletic director Matt Larsen and outgoing university president David Cook, who is set to become president at Iowa State University on March 1. Cook’s final day at North Dakota State is Sunday, potentially setting the stage for a notable final act.
Larsen said last month that the school’s interest in exploring FBS membership was “as strong as it’s ever been.”
“I would say in terms of our position, I think both myself and president Cook, we want to play at the…
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