The rule that barred teams transitioning from FCS to FBS from postseason play in their first year appears to be on its way out.
On Thursday, the Division I FBS Oversight Committee introduced legislation to eliminate the two-year transition penalty, effective with the 2026 season, provided they finish with a 6-6 record and can fulfill one of their conference’s bowl commitments.
The timing is significant for North Dakota State and Sacramento State, both of which make the jump to the FBS in July. If the proposal is adopted when the Division I Cabinet meets in June, the programs could play their way into postseason eligibility in Year 1. That includes a path to conference championship games and the College Football Playoff.
NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen has spent months building the infrastructure for the Bison’s move to the Mountain West, which was announced in February. He vowed to campaign to change the NCAA’s rule on postseason play for first-year FBS teams.
“It’s huge,” Larsen said of the committee’s proposal on Friday. “It’s good for NDSU, but it’s good for any transitioning programs, especially given the changing landscape of college athletics.”
The implications extend beyond bowl games. If approved, the legislation provides NDSU and Sacramento State immediate eligibility for the College Football Playoff — a scenario that would have been unthinkable under the old rules — should they qualify on the field.
It’s not a far-fetched possibility. Bison administrators believe they are positioned to compete immediately at college football’s top level. NDSU has won 10 FCS national championships in the last 15 years, one of the most dominant runs in modern college football. The school also quietly secured $25 million in donor commitments…
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