North Dakota State won’t have to wait much longer for an answer regarding eligibility for the College Football Playoff.
The NCAA Division I FBS Oversight Committee meets on Thursday morning to rule if an exception can be made on the two-year postseason ban for transitioning teams, the Fargo Forum reported. NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen spoke with the Forum, and the rest of the newspaper’s report can be read here.
When NDSU joined the FBS earlier this year, it became clear the Bison had CFP dreams in mind after former FCS rival James Madison made the CFP out of the Sun Belt in 2025. The Bison and fellow FBS newcomer Sacramento State have had to contend with the longstanding rule that transitioning teams don’t become postseason eligible immediately.
Larsen has been vocal about his desire to have the NCAA change its ruling since the Bison made the move up. The Bison and Sac State need the accommodation in order to be eligible for their respective conference championship games and the CFP.
Bowl games also require a two-year waiting period, but there’s a loophole that already exists. NDSU and Sac State could get in if there’s not enough bowl-bound teams, and there has been recent precedent for that.
Notre Dame, most notably, opted out of a bowl game last season, and several other bowl-eligible teams did that.
NDSU Wants More
NDSU likely doesn’t just want the NCAA lifting the ban for a bowl game, especially with the reality that there haven’t been enough eligible teams.
The 10-time FCS champions are arguably aiming for the CFP, and Larsen and Bison head coach Tim Polasek have said that without saying that. Polasek told On3 that “it’s all gas and no brakes” when it comes to the move up to the FBS.
The Bison coach notably passed on coaching at Pac-12 team Oregon State last year before the FBS move. NDSU has a winning record against Power Four teams since 2004, and expectations have varied from unbeaten in 2026 to major growing pains in Year One as an FBS team.
That said, the Bison have a mountain to climb for serious CFP consideration in 2026.
NDSU’s Postseason Hopes Hinge on 4 Games
If the Bison receive clearance for postseason eligibility, NDSU will need to clear its four biggest hurdles for the 2026 season.
That’s for at least an appearance in the Mountain West Conference title game and a shot — however slim — at the CFP. The Bison visit Hawaii, UNLV, New Mexico and Air Force in conference play.
NDSU will need to win all four of those games, along with the rest of its schedule to make the conference title game — a likely rematch with one of those four road opponents. The Bison will also need to win with style points for the CFP committee to seriously consider a team that won’t be playing any Power Four squads this year.
NDSU’s only remote hope of a Power Four game this year evaporated when USC chose San Jose State for a Week Zero game. The Bison will likely need to beat San Jose State by more than USC does — if the Trojans win that game — to sway the committee.
Three Group of Six teams have made the 12-team CFP field in two years of existence. Boise State, the 2024 Mountain West champion, made the first 12-team field, and the Dukes and Tulane made it in 2025.
NDSU Gets Key Update on College Football Playoff Hopes