Northern Illinois University announced on Tuesday that their football team will be joining the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member in July 2026. The move follows the approval of a $2 million membership fee by the school’s board of trustees. This decision will see NIU football departing from the Mid-American Conference and joining a league with members primarily located in the western part of the United States.
NIU’s other sports are expected to move to a different Midwest-based conference that has yet to be determined. The addition of Northern Illinois to the Mountain West will bring the league to a total of 11 members. The move was met with excitement and confidence from both NIU officials and Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez, who stated that the league will pause its expansion efforts for now.
NIU’s football program has been dominant in the MAC, with five titles since 2010. They have also had notable victories against Power 5 teams, including Notre Dame. The move to the Mountain West is expected to provide new opportunities for the Huskies to compete at a higher level and potentially secure more lucrative TV deals.
While the MAC expressed disappointment at losing NIU as a member, Mountain West officials believe that adding the program will strengthen the league’s football offerings and revenue potential. The move will also help the Mountain West maintain its status as a recognized FBS conference with a sufficient number of football-playing members.
Source
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
