The highly anticipated transition of North Dakota State into the Football Bowl Subdivision is drawing nearer to fruition.
Reliable sources have indicated that the Mountain West conference is in advanced discussions to incorporate the formidable FCS team as solely a football participant, commencing next season, with a potential agreement reached by the end of this week.
Following over a year of engagement, North Dakota State and the Mountain West are close to solidifying a lasting partnership. This transition, however, entails a financial obligation for the Bison.
The institution anticipates incurring a significant entrance charge to become a conference member, a common requirement for schools seeking an upgrade in their conference standing.
For example, Memphis put forth a $200 million joining fee for the Big 12 last summer, and Sacramento State has extended an eight-figure admission fee to various FBS conferences. Additionally, two years ago, SMU, Cal, and Stanford consented to waive a share of their conference earnings to secure an ACC invitation.
Should an agreement be finalized with North Dakota State, the Mountain West conference would feature ten football-playing institutions by 2026, comprising NDSU and Northern Illinois as two football-exclusive entities, alongside Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, Wyoming, and newly inducted full members Hawaii and UTEP.
Regarded as arguably the most desirable institution within the FCS tier, North Dakota State has claimed victory in 10 of the last 15 national titles. The Bison represent an unstoppable force in their current division, possessing infrastructure and capital comparable to numerous teams in the lower echelons of the FBS. Since the 2011 campaign, the squad has achieved a 90% win rate and secured 10 conference crowns in the Missouri Valley Conference.
During a recent discussion, NDSU’s athletic director, Matt Larsen, conveyed the university’s ambition to compete at the “peak standard” of Division I football, stating that any “prospect would certainly be considered.”
This chance has now materialized.
The presidents of the Mountain West recently consented to extend an invitation for the university to join the association. Nevertheless, the cost of admission, potentially reaching into the tens of millions, has been a point of discussion throughout the past few days.
Furthermore, the institution would be liable for an additional $5 million NCAA initiation charge. Three years prior, administrators escalated this amount from $5,000, a massive increase reflecting the intent of numerous major conference officials to curb the swift expansion of the FBS, which currently encompasses 136 educational establishments.
It is assumed that other athletic programs at North Dakota State will continue their participation in the Summit League.
The discussions between the Mountain West and NDSU occur shortly after the conference unveiled its updated media rights agreement involving CBS Sports, FOX Sports, The CW Network, and Kiswe. Concurrently, these talks are taking place amidst two ongoing legal disputes: one between the Mountain West and the Pac-12, and another between the Mountain West and the five institutions transferring to the Pac-12. The MWC is seeking over $100 million in compensation from these legal proceedings.
