{
  "id": 10078876,
  "title": "Can North Dakota State Make the College Football Playoff in Its First FBS Season?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/can-north-dakota-state-make-the-college-football-playoff-in-its-first",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T22:35:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/north-dakota-state-college-football-223526936.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In North Dakota State's inaugural FBS season, the Bison have made a stunning start, achieving a 4-0 record after just four games. They have defeated three FBS opponents, won twice on the road, and secured their first Mountain West game victory. This remarkable performance has sparked a question: Can North Dakota State make the College Football Playoff in their very first season?\n\nThe answer is yes, due to a recent NCAA rule change that eliminated the two-year transition period for FCS programs moving to FBS. Consequently, North Dakota State and fellow FBS newcomer Sacramento State are immediately eligible for the Mountain West championship game, bowl games, and the College Football Playoff.\n\nNorth Dakota State's path to the playoff is very much within reach. They simply need to win the Mountain West conference championship and then outperform the champions of the other six Group of Six conferences. The Bison's current 4-0 record, coupled with the fact that their opponents have collectively been 0-4, suggests they are well on their way to achieving this goal.\n\nTheir path is narrowed down, but not impossible. The Mountain West championship game is scheduled for December 4th, at which point North Dakota State must defeat the highest-ranked team in the conference. With a favorable schedule that lacks powerhouse opponents from other conferences, the Bison have a realistic chance to win the Mountain West and secure their place in the College Football Playoff.",
  "summary": "The FCS powerhouse is 4-0 after moving to the FBS and Mountain West, and an NCAA rule change has opened […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}