North Dakota State joining the FBS via the Mountain West isn’t just another top-tier FCS program looking to cash in at the game’s highest level.
The Bison expect to compete and follow in recent College Football Playoff team James Madison’s footsteps sooner rather than later. While the Bison can’t do anything with the postseason during the two-year transition, FCS insider Matt Zimmer of Sioux Falls Live believes NDSU will break into the postseason before the NCAA-sanctioned waiting period.
“The Bison’s appeal for immediate eligibility will be granted, and they will play in a Bowl game in 2026 or 2027. Maybe both,” Zimmer wrote.
The NCAA does have a caveat on bowl eligibility where the Bison could land a bowl game bid if there aren’t enough teams eligible for bowl games. Last season, multiple bowl-eligible teams opted out and a 5-7 Appalachian State team got into the Birmingham Bowl. Numerous 5-7 teams turned down bowl games, and teams with losing records aren’t eligible in general.
Teams that turned down bowl games in 2025 most notably included Notre Dame, which argued getting snubbed from the College Football Playoff. Other teams that declined bowls included Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor, Rutgers, Florida State, Auburn, Temple, Central Florida, and Kansas.
If that trend continues in 2026, NDSU could easily get into a bowl game over a lack of teams. As Zimmer pointed out, NDSU “will be immediately one of the best teams in the Mountain West” in 2026.
North Dakota State Fan Base Needed a Jolt
Zimmer, who covers NDSU’s old FCS conference, made multiple predictions on what things will look like for the Bison joining the FBS ranks. NDSU dominated the FCS with 10 national championships in 15 seasons, hosted College GameDay three times, and sent many talented players to the NFL, including two quarterbacks who went in the top three of the draft.
“The Bison are an incredible program, and they’ve accomplished all they can at the FCS level,” Zimmer wrote. “Their fans had lost interest. The rest of the subdivision (outside of maybe South Dakota State) was sick of them.”
NDSU and SDSU had a big rivalry as the top two teams in the FCS for years, and the Jackrabbits hosted College GameDay once when the Bison came to Brookings. Zimmer anticipates the Jacks will eventually follow the Bison to the FBS.
“The move will immediately re-energize the Bison fan base,” Zimmer wrote. “Ticket sales will surge.”
“NDSU fans will not regret the move or miss the FCS, even when they’re playing in the Cure Bowl while one of their old Dakota rivals is hosting three playoff games in December and winning another FCS title,” Zimmer added.
Predictions For North Dakota State
Among Zimmer’s predictions, many — if not all — are achievable for the Bison. Here’s a breakdown of his main predictions.
“The Bison will qualify for the CFP after the field is expanded to 24 teams and not before,” Zimmer predicted.
While the College Football Playoff may not expand to 24 teams, NDSU’s longtime ex-FCS rival James Madison made it into the 12-team field this year. A Group of Six bid will likely continue to exist with the 12-team field despite the fact that JMU, Tulane, and Boise State all got blown out the past two years.
“The Bison will get a P4 school to come to the Fargodome within five years, if not sooner,” Zimmer predicted.
NDSU could pull this off as the brand grows and if the school expands the 19,000-seat Fargodome.
Insider Makes Bold Prediction For North Dakota State in FBS