For multiple reasons, it was a good time for North Dakota State to make the jump to the FBS.
The Bison won 10 FCS national championships since 2011. They are 9-5 against FBS teams. They’ve produced 10 NFL Draft picks since 2019 and several more before that, including quarterback Carson Wentz, who went second overall in 2016.
It’s clear they were ready for this. But it’s going to be expensive. Here’s a look at how much it’ll cost for NDSU to make the move up to the FBS:
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How Much Is NDSU Paying To Move Up To The FBS?
North Dakota State will have to pay $17.5 million to become a football-only member of the Mountain West in the FBS.
That money is going in different directions, and that doesn’t factor in the long-term costs of becoming an FBS member.
How Much Is NDSU Paying To The Mountain West?
North Dakota State will pay the Mountain West $12.5 million to join the conference.
That number was negotiated over some time. NDSU is also not receiving money from the conference’s media rights for six years, according to Nevada Sports Net.
What’s NDSU’s FCS-To-FBS Transition Fee?
North Dakota State is paying $5 million to make the move from the FCS to the FBS. That money will go to the NCAA.
That standard fee increased drastically from $5,000 to $5 million within the past few years.
North Dakota State’s College Football Playoff Revenue Access
North Dakota State will not receive any revenue from the College Football Playoff until 2032.
Teams in Group of Six conferences are set to receive about $1.8 million each from the CFP.
The Big Ten and SEC will earn about 58% of the revenue from the CFP, about 29% each. That equates to more than $21 million per program.
Meanwhile, the ACC will earn 17%, which means $13 million for each school, and the Big 12 will earn 15%, or $12 million per team.
The G6 conferences will get 9% in total, or $1.8 million per program. Washington State and Oregon State, the only two teams that were in the Pac-12 three years ago that haven’t switched leagues, will earn $3.6 million.
Can North Dakota State Afford The FBS Jump?
North Dakota State has already “tentatively” raised $25 million for the move to the Mountain West, according to InForum. More still needs to be raised, but this indicates the Bison are indeed in a position to make this move.
There’s a lot more costs to consider than the $17.5 million just to get to the Mountain West, though. The Bison will have to pay for more staff and travel. They will also have somewhere around 85 full scholarship players to account for, which is an increase. The FCS maximum is 63.
The Bison won’t have to pay the Missouri Valley an exit fee, unlike some FBS programs that had to pay their old leagues for changing conferences.
NDSU’s annual football budget is between $7-8 million, but that’s expected to vastly increase.
