The last College Football Playoff field has led to a new FBS program in North Dakota State challenging the NCAA’s transition rules.
NDSU recently announced a move to the FBS on Monday and will challenge the two-year waiting period on postseason play required by the NCAA for moving up, according to CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello. The Bison previously dominated the FCS with 10 national championships and 11 title game appearances overall between 2011 and 2025. One of the Bison’s fiercest FCS rivals, James Madison, made the College Football Playoff last season.
“It’s a very antiquated rule,” NDSU athletics director Matt Larsen recently told CBS Sports. “A lot of things have changed in our industry, and you could argue that’s an overly punitive rule now.”
The Mountain West, NDSU’s new conference, is on board with the Bison’s waiver request, according to a conference spokesperson via CBS Sports. If NDSU receives its request, the Bison can compete for the Mountain West championship game, a bowl game, and a College Football Playoff appearance.
Two Group of Six teams made it into the College Football Playoff field last season with JMU and Tulane. The Bison and Dukes met for two FCS championship games, and JMU upset the Bison during the 2016 playoffs in the Fargodome.
JMU had to go through the waiting period after joining the FBS in 2022, despite an 8-3 record that year. The Dukes were able to get into a bowl game in year two amid an 11-2 season in 2023.
North Dakota State AD Sends Clear Message on NCAA Rule
Larsen, who has been the athletic director since 2014, has been adamant about the postseason rule, especially considering the amount the program is spending to move up.
“I would argue whether I’m spending $5 million on football or $50 million on football, if my team is good enough, that shouldn’t matter,” Larsen told CBS Sports. “… If you’re truly trying to allow that program to be the most successful they can be, well, let them compete for championships. That’s going to help keep your players and maintain your roster.”
NDSU has to pay $5 million for NCAA reclassification and $12.5 million to the Mountain West for entry, Marcello wrote.
Another Way in For North Dakota State
The Bison could still get into a bowl game even if the NCAA denies the waiver, because a new team could be selected for a bowl game if there aren’t enough bowl eligible teams.
That happened for both FBS newcomers in 2025 — Delaware and Missouri State. Delaware beat the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 20-13 for the 68 Ventures Bowl. Missouri State fell to Arkansas State, 34-28, in the Xbox Bowl.
Teams declining bowl games were a big help to both the Blue Hens and Bears coming out of the FCS. Notre Dame refusing to play in a bowl game after getting snubbed by the College Football Playoff committee was the highest-profile case, but numerous Power Four schools opted for no bowl game, too.
That included Auburn, Baylor, Florida State, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Rutgers, and UCF. NDSU could easily land a bowl game if that trend continues in 2026, but the Bison likely aren’t satisfied with a bowl game appearance in the program’s first FBS season.
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