North Dakota State faces rival schools like James Madison and Sam Houston who are already FBS programs. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
North Dakota State, the Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse, is in discussions to join the Mountain West as a football-only member this upcoming season, a person briefed on the conversations told The Athletic.
NDSU has won 10 FCS national championships since 2011 and has long considered a move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, especially as longtime FCS rivals such as James Madison and Sam Houston moved up to FBS over the years. However, NDSU’s location had always made it a more difficult geographic fit.
The Mountain West is set to split this summer, as Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State are set to join the rebuilt Pac-12. In response, the MW is adding UTEP as a full member and Northern Illinois as a football-only member, along with non-football members Grand Canyon and UC Davis.
The league’s remaining members include Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming.
The potential addition of NDSU would give the Mountain West 10 football-playing members.
Yahoo Sports first reported the discussions.
This story will be updated.
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