Bigger stage, new challenge: Meet college football's FBS newcomers

[p]The move to the FBS brings excitement for both fanbases, along with bigger stages, tougher competition, larger stadiums, and increased pressure. For these programs, the challenge is greater than ever as they chase the ultimate prize: a national championship. [/p][p]Last season, 136 programs battled for the national crown. But the college football landscape continues to evolve. The path to the title got a tad tougher in 2026, as two new schools made the jump from the FCS and joined the FBS to compete on the big stage. [/p][p]Introducing the newbies: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/north-dakota-state/fT7coUnQ/"]North Dakota State[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cs-sacramento/SSrsZBKH/"]Sacramento State[/a]. The Bison and the Hornets are ready to earn a spot in the national spotlight. For both schools, the road ahead promises to be demanding. The expectations are higher, and every Saturday offers a chance to prove they belong. Here’s everything you need to know about the newest members.[/p][h2]North Dakota State[/h2][p]North Dakota State has dominated the FCS for more than a decade, establishing itself as a powerhouse in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Since 2011, the Bison have captured 10 national championships, cementing the program’s status as one of the most dominant dynasties in modern college football.[/p][p]After years of anticipation, NDSU’s long-awaited move to the FBS has finally become a reality.[/p][embed guid="72ca89a4-3168-4e3d-ae41-aa82fa817fcd" url="https://x.com/CollegeFBPortal/status/2019989190906409265" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Bison have joined the revamped Mountain West, where they will be one of 10 teams competing for the conference championship. Initially, NDSU was expected to be ineligible for the conference title and the College Football Playoff during its two-year transition to the FBS.[/p][p]However, recent policy changes approved by the Division I Cabinet cleared the way for both North Dakota State and Sacramento State to compete for the conference championship immediately, as well as the automatic playoff berth awarded to the highest-ranked Group of Six conference champion.[/p][embed guid="d8eaf0ef-44b9-4e45-bd24-8068a4b9655e" url="https://x.com/NDSUfootball/status/2031067744657911987?lang=cs" social-type="twitter" /][p]North Dakota State has found itself in a somewhat unique situation. Despite constantly achieving tremendous success, attendance was declining. In 2025, its average scoring margin was 28.1 points per game. That’s right – the Bison beat every team by nearly 30 points. In their season opener, they shut down The Citadel 38-0. They beat No. 2 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-dakota-state/QmLokd18/"]South Dakota State[/a] 38-7. Their closest game came against North Dakota – the Fighting Hawks kept it close but still lost 15-10.[/p][p]Simply, NDSU won [i]too[/i] much.[/p][p]The competition brought a little excitement. Top-ranked NDSU earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and welcomed No. 17 Illinois State on its home field. The Fargodome seats 19,000 people, but only 10,500 came to watch the Bison compete in the opening postseason contest. Fans expected a smooth cruise to victory.[/p][p]Instead, the unthinkable happened.[/p][p]The Redbirds stunned the Bison 29-28, bringing North Dakota State’s historic FCS run to a shocking end. It also marked the final time NDSU would take the field as an FCS program.[/p][embed guid="c29e8f58-dea1-4453-a646-26f3836fcf62" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Px7fGy4Rc" social-type="youtube" /][p][b]“I do think there's an element of our fan base of what's next we've had great success is there a next iteration at a higher level for Bison football?”[/b] said NDSU’s athletic director Matt Larsen. [b]“And so I think that's where, if you would ask me, six or seven years ago, where the fan base was, they probably weren't there yet, right? But four national championships later, and I think the majority of the Bison nation would tell you that this is the right next step, and it's the right time to do it.”[/b][/p][embed guid="8ca579f3-2c79-498b-a9bc-877664d8530e" url="https://x.com/NDSUfootball/status/2048814977822167150" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Bison didn’t just produce wins. The program also produces NFL talent - currently, there are around 20 players on active NFL rosters or practice squads. In 2016, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-eagles/dGgVhRLK/"]Philadelphia Eagles[/a] drafted former NDSU quarterback [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wentz-carson/ze3nQl4M/"]Carson Wentz[/a] with the second overall pick. In 2017, Wentz led the Eagles as a starter before injuring his knee right before the playoffs.[/p][p]Philadelphia won the Super Bowl that season. Drafted at No. 5 in 2021 by the San Francisco 49ers, Trey Lance is now a backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, and his brother Bryce joined the Saints this year.[/p][p]Wide receiver Christian Watson signed a four-year, $110.5 million contract extension with the Green Bay Packers in June.[/p][embed guid="d71f0a2a-fe3f-44c2-83bf-2b4f3f698db6" url="https://x.com/NDSUfootball/status/2048100607085412496" social-type="twitter" /][p]Now, NDSU is on to a new challenge at new heights. And there’s a great wave of optimism in Fargo.[/p][p]Numerous programs - far less successful than the Bison - made the move in the past and did so seamlessly. Missouri State and Delaware were the two last teams to jump from FCS to FBS, and both programs went 7-5 on the big stage and reached bowl games in their debuts. Kennesaw State immediately struggled following the move in 2024 and went 2-10, but went 10-4 in 2025. [/p][p]James Madison transitioned in 2022 and have since gone 40-11.  [/p][p]There’s no doubt the Bison will do great as the new chapter awaits. After accomplishing everything at the FCS level, it’s time to build a legacy in the FBS. [/p][embed guid="a0ea0e80-50a1-46c2-a34f-3ca83ac842b4" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAZzvJattzw" social-type="youtube" /][h2]Sacramento State[/h2][p]The Sacramento State Hornets have a different story. The program had been trying to make the jump from the FCS to the FBS for several years, despite a stretch of relatively average results.[/p][p]They last made the FCS playoffs in 2023 and went 7-5 overall in 2025. After leaving the Big Sky in 2025, Sacramento State moved its non-football programs to the Big West while pursuing an FBS waiver that would have allowed football to compete as an independent.[/p][p]The NCAA ultimately denied that request.[/p][embed guid="247752dd-a003-4dbe-96fe-e47a05491620" url="https://x.com/CollegeFBPortal/status/2022869866923860428" social-type="twitter" /][p]After spending a year navigating that transition, Sacramento State finally found its path to the FBS. The Hornets joined the Mid-American Conference as a football-only member beginning in 2026, replacing Northern Illinois, which departed for the Mountain West.[/p][p][b]"We were presented with an opportunity to add an institution with demonstrated success in football, a record of investment and commitment to the continued growth of the institution and community. Sacramento State is ready and poised for this next step. I welcome the Hornets to the Mid-American Conference and expect they will become a competitive and contributing member to the long history and legacy of one of the oldest Division I conferences,”[/b] said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.[/p][p]The Hornets don’t boast a resume of North Dakota State’s magnitude, but they have demonstrated that they know how to win. Sacramento State captured three Big Sky championships between 2019 and 2022 and made three consecutive FCS playoff appearances from 2021 through 2023.[/p][p]Now, the program gets its chance to showcase that success at the highest level of college football.[/p][embed guid="4a8a71f2-7b03-428b-a0df-fbad6803b65f" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-mx1dWt3so" social-type="youtube" /][p]After former head coach Brennan Marion left to become Colorado’s offensive coordinator, Sacramento State hired Alonzo Carter to lead the program. Carter spent the previous two seasons as Arizona’s associate head coach and running backs coach, making 2026 his first season as a Division I head coach.[/p][p][b]"We are thrilled to welcome Alonzo Carter as our next head football coach," [/b]said athletic director Mark Orr. [b]"Coach Carter is a proven leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field. His history of success in recruiting, constructing teams, and producing results at all levels of football makes him an ideal fit for Sacramento State.”[/b][/p][embed guid="1580cd97-e004-4fb1-bfa2-fe34c0472d8b" url="https://x.com/FBSchedules/status/2036458143002042802" social-type="twitter" /][p]The MAC will certainly test the Hornets. The 13-team conference is competitive, and several programs will fight for the crown, as there is no clear favorite. Western Michigan is the reigning MAC champion, but the program won’t face the Broncos this year.[/p][p]Sacramento State opens the season at Eastern Michigan on August 29th and will then host its fellow newbie North Dakota State on September 19th. [/p][p]So far, the transition to the big stage has been relatively smooth for the newest FBS programs. Now, after years of pushing for a place at the highest level, Sacramento State finally has its opportunity to prove it belongs.[/p][p]Can the Hornets make enough noise in the MAC to contend for a winning season and potentially earn a bowl berth? The first test is almost here, and Sacramento State appears ready for the challenge.[/p]