New details emerge about North Dakota State's Mountain West entry fee

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New details emerge about North Dakota State's Mountain West entry fee

New details emerge about North Dakota State's Mountain West entry fee originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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North Dakota State finalized an agreement to join the Mountain West Conference in football only starting in 2026 on Monday. The FCS powerhouse makes the jump after several successful decades at the FCS level. 

The school will pay $12.5 million to join the conference, athletic director Matt Larsen said. But how the payment will be split up is interesting. 

According to CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello, the payment will be spread over the next six  years and front loaded with $7 million this year. The fee is in addition to the $5 million it will pay the NCAA to move to the FBS.

However, the opportunity is great for the Bison, who look to immediately play the role of spoiler early on with a possible College Football Playoff bid on the line. The team from the Dakotas nobody wanted to schedule could give traditional FBS power schools no choice. But they're not eligible for the postseason until 2028. 

"The Bison bring a championship mindset and a bold vision for growth that aligns with the unwavering commitment to the excellence of the Mountain West," commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement. "Their dedication to elevating the student‑athlete experience — on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the community– will energize the Mountain West and help propel our football profile to new heights nationwide."

The move shifts the college football landscape a bit. The Bison have won 10 of the past 15 national championships at the FCS level. What remains to be seen is whether or not this will bring a jump in recruiting for SDST or not. The Mountain West will have 10 football teams for 2026 and it couldn't come at a better time after losing Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State to the Pac-12.

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North Dakota State has been one of college football's most dominant brands at the lower level, and its transition will be an interesting one. 

"One of the concerns was, 'Will NDSU be competitive?'" interim university president Rick Berg said. "I think we will. Unlike others, we've been preparing for this moment for years and years, and I think they're going to be surprised when NDSU hits the Mountain West."

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