North Dakota State to Join Mountain West as Football-Only Member Beginning in 2026

The Mountain West Conference announced Monday that North Dakota State University will join the league as a football-only member beginning July 1, 2026, according to a conference press release.

“We are thrilled to welcome North Dakota State University’s football program to the Mountain West,” Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement released by the conference. “The Bison bring a championship mindset and a bold vision for growth that aligns with the unwavering commitment to excellence of the Mountain West.”

Hawai‘i’s 2026 Football Opponents

The graphic above reflects the originally announced home and away matchup matrix for the 2026 Mountain West football season, released by the conference in December 2025.

With North Dakota State now joining the Mountain West as a football-only member beginning in 2026, the conference has indicated it is reworking its football scheduling matrix to integrate the Bison into the rotation. As a result, Hawai‘i’s 2026 conference opponents — including home and away designations — could be adjusted once updated schedules are finalized.

The Mountain West is expected to announce revised 2026 football schedules in the coming weeks.

A Proven Winner Joins the League

Founded in 1890 and located in Fargo, North Dakota, North Dakota State is a public land-grant research institution designated as an R1 university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, according to North Dakota State Athletics.

On the field, the Bison have been one of the most dominant programs in modern college football, winning 10 of the last 15 FCS national championships and posting a 198–22 record (.900 winning percentage) during that span. North Dakota State has also compiled a 9–5 all-time record against FBS opponents, according to conference and school records.

Over the last 10 NFL Drafts, the program has produced 13 NFL Draft selections, including three first-round picks, according to North Dakota State Athletics.

“This is a historic day for NDSU Athletics,” NDSU Director of Athletics Matt Larsen said in a statement. “Joining the Mountain West is an exciting new opportunity for our team to compete at the highest level and for Bison football to reach a wider national audience.”

Transition to the Mountain West

North Dakota State will begin FBS competition in fall 2026, playing a full Mountain West schedule as part of a two-year reclassification period, according to the conference.

During that transition, the Bison will not be eligible for the Mountain West Football Championship Game, the College Football Playoff, or guaranteed bowl participation until 2028. However, North Dakota State could still be selected for a bowl game if there are not enough bowl-eligible teams nationally.

Mountain West Football Membership (2026)

According to the conference, the Mountain West will feature 10 football programs beginning in 2026:

• United States Air Force Academy

• University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

• University of Nevada, Reno

• University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• University of New Mexico

• North Dakota State

• Northern Illinois University

• San José State University

• University of Texas at El Paso

• University of Wyoming

The Mountain West retains access to the 12-team College Football Playoff, with the highest-ranked Group of 6 conference team earning an automatic bid beginning in 2026, according to the conference.

Travel Fun Fact: From the Islands

With Hawai‘i anchoring the western edge of the Mountain West, trips to the league’s newest football members add another layer to the Rainbow Warriors’ already unique travel reality.

Approximate distances from Honolulu:

• Honolulu → Fargo, ND (North Dakota State): ~3,700 miles

• Honolulu → DeKalb, IL (Northern Illinois): ~4,200 miles

• Honolulu → El Paso, TX (UTEP): ~3,700 miles

• Honolulu → Las Vegas, NV (UNLV): ~2,750 miles

• Honolulu → San José, CA (San José State): ~2,400 miles

From a Hawai‘i perspective, trips to Fargo, DeKalb, and El Paso add roughly 1,000–1,800 additional miles compared to traditional West Coast Mountain West travel.