A much-expected move by a football powerhouse has arrived with North Dakota State's decision to step up to the college game's highest level, jumping from the FCS Missouri Valley Football Conference to the FBS Mountain West.

On Monday, North Dakota State announced the move on its website, settling a hot topic on social media over the weekend.

In a story published Sunday by the Fargo-Moorhead Forum, NDSU Athletic Director Matt Larsen told the newspaper that the school signed a contract last week with the Mountain West, a Football Bowl Subdivision league. The Missouri Valley is a Football Championship Subdivision conference, a notch below FBS.

Larsen told the newspaper on Sunday that NDSU signed an agreement that same day with the Mountain West. The school will pay the NCAA a $5 million transition fee for FBS membership, and $12.5 million to the Mountain West, the Forum reported, with private donors expected to cover those costs.

NDSU won 10 FCS titles between 2011 and 2024.

The Bison's jump follows their 8-0 record in MVFC play last season and a 12-1 overall record. NDSU's lone loss came in the FCS Playoffs to conference foe Illinois State. The Redbirds ended up advancing to the national championship game in Nashville where they fell in double overtime to Montana State of the Big Sky Conference.

MVFC commissioner Jeff Jackson lauded the departing Bison's performance as a Valley member.

"North Dakota State University has been a distinguished and esteemed member of the [MVFC] for the past 18 seasons, significantly contributing to the conference's unparalleled success. We extend our best wishes to the Bison in their future endeavors and know that the MVFC will continue to maintain its position as the preeminent FCS conference."

As far as the impact on next season's MVFC schedule, Mike Kern, the Valley's senior associate commissioner, confirmed to the Tribune-Star on Monday that the league schedule will be adjusted so all nine teams will play a complete round-robin schedule of eight games. Indiana State was set to play at NDSU on Nov. 7. With the schedule change, that means ISU will now play Northern Iowa. However, dates, times and locations for a new schedule are to be determined, Kern said.

The all-time MVFC series between ISU and NDSU ends with the Bison in control 12-1 with ISU's lone victory in the series coming back in 2012 in Fargo when the Sycamores slipped by NDSU 17-14 in the Fargodome. Last season's matchup saw the Sycamores lose 38-7 in Terre Haute after a tight battle early was interrupted by a thunderstorm delay, and the Sycamores' initial momentum faded.

On Monday, ISU declined comment beyond the Missouri Valley's statement.