Jumping up from FCS to FBS no longer looks like the daunting transition it once did. James Madison, Jacksonville State, Delaware and Missouri State have all finished above .500 in their first FBS seasons, despite spending the year ineligible for bowl games without a waiver.
And now the need for waivers is no more.
This week, the NCAA quietly eliminated a rule that had been meant to keep schools from rushing into a jump to FBS. The league had imposed a two-year period of bowl ineligibility on new FBS teams, making sure schools could focus on building a program first and foremost. The thought was that if a school couldn't make a bowl game anyway, that would ease the pressure on coaches to win out of the gate.
But all four schools showed that it's now possible to win immediately and build a long-term program. Thus, the NCAA has opted to modernize, which means North Dakota State and Sacramento State won't be subject to the rule. If the Bison or the Hornets win six games or more, they can play in a bowl.
There are now 138 schools in FBS, and more could make the jump. Here's a look at a few that might have their eyes on the bigger stage.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
The Jackrabbits are going to be watching carefully to see how North Dakota State fares. South Dakota State came up to Division I in 2004 with NDSU, and the Jackrabbits were long thought to be a package with the Bison. The teams' Dakota Marker rivalry is one of the fiercest in the nation, and both schools have long been powers at the FCS level.
Right now, South Dakota State doesn't have the financial muscle to move up. But if the Bison start to win in the Mountain West, the equation could change. North Dakota State going up makes it easier for the Jackrabbits to consider following suit. The Mountain West still needs to rebuild after getting raided by the Pac-12 during the conference realignment era, and Brookings, S.D. isn't that bad a trip once you've already added Fargo, N.D.
North Dakota State's football-only membership also creates a blueprint. The Jackrabbits aren't strong enough in other sports to move above the Summit League right now, and they're aware of it. But in football, they've got a good thing going and could be competitive on day one.
UC-Davis Aggies
UC-Davis made what initially looked like an unusual decision by joining the Mountain West in every sport except football. That may ultimately prove strategic, giving the Aggies a foothold in the conference should they eventually decide to elevate their football program to FBS. The biggest obstacle remains their stadium, which currently seats just over 10,000 fans.
That said, UC-Davis could expand the stadium to 30,000 seats without altering its footprint. That would bring their facilities in line with the rest of the Mountain West. Its presence in the league also saves the Aggies from having to go through the plight of rival Sacramento State.
In order to move up from FCS to FBS, a school needs a conference to offer an invitation. Twenty years ago, schools could play as an FBS independent if needed, but that's no longer possible for a school moving up. And that meant Sacramento State had to partner with the Mid-American Conference for football-only membership. For now, the Hornets' closest conference opponent is in Indiana.
UC-Davis would not have that problem. The day it's ready to head to FBS, the Mountain West would gladly give them a spot. So even though the Aggies are far from being ready, they're in an excellent position if they decide to make the leap.
Rhode Island Rams
At some point, Rhode Island is going to have to decide what it wants to do. The Rams have watched several of their long-time rivals depart for the Patriot League, and the Coastal Athletic Association is no longer one of the deepest conferences in FCS.
James Madison and Old Dominion are in the Sun Belt. Richmond, Villanova and William and Mary left for the Patriot League. The league is increasingly becoming more southern-based, and only Maine and New Hampshire remain among other New England schools.
That could make for an interesting choice. Rhode Island could join the MAC with Massachusetts, which is already in the league. With Sacramento State playing football-only in the MAC, the Rams could ask for a similar arrangement if they don't want to abandon the Atlantic 10.
Like UC-Davis, Rhode Island would need to expand its stadium before making the jump. It would also need an invitation from an FBS conference, and geographically the MAC appears to be the only realistic option. Any other league would create travel costs that would likely be prohibitive for the program.
Tarleton State Texans
Tarleton State has made no secret of its FBS ambitions, and the program checks many of the boxes schools need to make the jump. Its location, facilities, and fan support all work in its favor, while several conferences could make geographic sense as potential landing spots. On the field, the Texans have shown they're building something sustainable, reaching the FCS playoffs for the first time in 2024 before advancing to the quarterfinals a year later. With momentum both on and off the field, it feels less like a question of if Tarleton State reaches FBS and more a question of when.
Illinois State Redbirds
The biggest hurdle for the Redbirds is Hancock Stadium, whose current 13,000-seat capacity isn't quite large enough for an FBS transition.
That said, Illinois State would make a great fit in the MAC. It gets the league back into Illinois following Northern Illinois' departure, and it's an easy destination for schools like Ball State and the three Michigan schools to reach. If they decided they wanted to try FBS, the MAC would likely welcome them with open arms.
Central Arkansas Bears
Like several schools on this list, facility upgrades remain the biggest obstacle. But solve that, and Central Arkansas makes a lot of sense. The Bears have ambition and a great location outside Little Rock. They'd be an ideal fit for Conference USA, which would love to add teams closer to Missouri State and Sam Houston State.
It might be a little awkward to share the Bears nickname with Missouri State, who would become their closest rivals, though LSU and Auburn have managed the same situation for decades without issue. If Central Arkansas continues its current trajectory, it could land in the FBS within 10 years.
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