Fargo ND (VNL) – North Dakota State and Sacramento State can now compete for bowl games in their debut Football Bowl Subdivision seasons after the NCAA Division I Cabinet voted to eliminate the two-year postseason transition penalty for schools moving from the FCS to the FBS.

The decision, announced this week, clears a major hurdle for both programs as they prepare for their inaugural FBS campaigns. Previously, the NCAA imposed a two-year ban on postseason play for transitioning schools, a restriction that would have sidelined NDSU and Sacramento State from bowl eligibility through the 2027 season.

“I think if you ask our players, coaches, we just want the opportunity to earn,” said Matt Larsen, NDSU’s athletic director. “We’re not guaranteed anything yet, but we have the opportunity to earn some postseason competition, so that was really important.”

The Path Forward

Both programs will need to finish with a 6-6 record or better to qualify for a bowl game and fulfill one of their conference’s bowl commitments.

The opportunity is particularly significant for the Bison. According to ESPN’s 2026 projections, NDSU is projected to win at least 8 games in their debut FBS season, including non-conference matchups against Jacksonville State, Fordham, Sacramento State, and San Jose State, plus an eight-game Mountain West Conference schedule. With that level of projected success, a College Football Playoff berth in their FBS debut is not out of the question.

“Anytime we’ve recruited kids, it’s about coming here and competing for championships,” Larsen said. “So now we can speak that directly. If we’re recruiting somebody to come in next year, we have the opportunity to compete for a championship, where two days ago that wasn’t guaranteed.”

NDSU arrives at the FBS level with a decorated FCS pedigree, having won 10 of the last 15 FCS national championships.

A Broader Rules Overhaul

The Cabinet’s decision to eliminate the transition penalty came as part of a larger modernization of Division I eligibility rules. On Tuesday, the Cabinet unanimously approved sweeping changes that will allow student-athletes up to five years of eligibility if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday.

The new eligibility framework eliminates season-of-competition limits, sport-specific eligibility rules, redshirt restrictions, and eligibility extension waivers.

“With these changes, the Cabinet has taken decisive action for the benefit of student-athletes and the system of NCAA Division I athletics,” said Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and chair of the Cabinet. “For many student-athletes who enroll in college immediately after high school, these changes will result in the opportunity to potentially compete for an additional season in their chosen sport.”

NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized that the reforms align athletics eligibility with broader enrollment and graduation patterns.

“While previous NCAA rules have served college sports well for a long time, we heard loud and clear from NCAA members and student-athletes that eligibility rules should be easier to understand,” Baker said. “This change to an age-based model eliminates aspects of the rules that have proven difficult to administer in the current litigious environment.”

What It Means for NDSU

For North Dakota State, the elimination of the transition penalty removes significant uncertainty in roster management and recruiting. The Bison can now plan for postseason competition without the two-year waiting period that could impact their ability to retain and recruit top talent.

“You’re never sure until it happens and so if that was the case and we had to manage our roster the next two years without, we would’ve had to figure that out, just like anything else,” Larsen said. “But really glad that we don’t have to do that, we’re in a position now where we can focus on competing on the field.”

The decision also heightens the stakes for every game on NDSU’s schedule.

“Fans knowing now every game matters,” Larsen said. “They always used to matter but I think now more so than anything because we’re playing for something meaningful, that every game matters. That’s the part that I’m most excited for.”

The new eligibility rules will take full effect for prospects enrolling in fall 2027 or later, though current and incoming student-athletes through 2026-27 can choose whichever eligibility model is most beneficial to them.

For NDSU and Sacramento State, the immediate opportunity to compete for postseason success marks a crucial moment in their transition to the FBS, and a chance to prove they belong at college football’s highest level.