North Dakota State is moving closer to joining the Mountain West as a football-only member starting in the 2026 season, sources tell Yahoo Sports, with a deal potentially finalized as soon as this weekend.

The Bison have been in discussions with the league for over a year, and the move would come with a substantial entry fee, a common requirement for programs seeking FBS affiliation. Sacramento State and other recent FBS entrants have offered similar financial commitments, while SMU, Cal, and Stanford previously agreed to forgo portions of conference revenue as incentives for ACC invitations.

If completed, the Mountain West would field 10 football-playing members in 2026, including two football-only programs, North Dakota State and Northern Illinois, along with Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, Wyoming, Hawaii, and UTEP.

North Dakota State is among the most successful FCS programs in recent history, winning 10 of the past 15 national championships and capturing 10 Missouri Valley Conference titles since 2011. Athletic director Matt Larsen has said the program aims to compete at “the highest level” of Division I football, and the Mountain West invitation offers that opportunity.

The financial obligations include a separate $5 million NCAA FCS-to-FBS transition fee, increased dramatically in recent years to slow FBS expansion. Other sports at North Dakota State would remain in the Summit League.

The Mountain West is negotiating the move amid a new media rights package with CBS, Fox, The CW, and Kiswe, as well as ongoing legal disputes with the Pac-12 and departing member schools, with the league seeking over $100 million in damages.