Mountain West, Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois becomes football-only member of Mountain West, leaving MAC
Northern Illinois confirmed on Tuesday that it is joining the Mountain West in 2026 as a football-only member.
Northern Illinois set to join Mountain West for football only in 2026
Northern Illinois has accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West for football only in 2026, the school and conference announced Tuesday. The Huskies will go from the Midwest-based MAC to a conference in which the easternmost school is in Colorado Springs,
Northern Illinois to vote Tuesday on football-only Mountain West invitation
Northern Illinois’ board of trustees will meet Tuesday to discuss and vote on the acceptance of an invitation to join the Mountain West as a football-only member in 2026.
Northern Illinois football pays $2 million to join Mountain West
Northern Illinois football is heading to the Mountain West Conference in 2026. The school announced Tuesday it's paying $2 million to join.
Northern Illinois football joins Mountain West Conference
The Northern Illinois Huskies’ football team will be joining the Mountain West Conference, leaving the Mid-American Conference that it had been a member of for nearly 30 years.
Top MAC football program to join Mountain West
Mountains are exactly what comes to mind when you think of Illinois, but one of the state’s football programs has officially made the move to the Mountain West Conference. The league announced the addition of MAC powerhouse Northern Illinois as a football-only member on Tuesday. The Huskies will join the conference on July 1, 2026.
Northern Illinois will join Mountain West as football-only member in 2026
The Mountain West has been rebuilding since Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State agreed to join the Pac-12.
Mountain West officially adds Northern Illinois as football-only member for 2026 season
The Mountain West Conference will have nine football-playing members for the 2026 season. Northern Illinois was officially introduced as the latest member of the conference on Tuesday. The Huskies compete in the Mid-American Conference and are still considering options for all non-football sports,
Mountain West adds Northern Illinois as a football member
The addition of Northern Illinois gives the Mountain West nine football members. With it comes the ability to play a full 8-game conference slate. It also expands the MW footprint into Illinois and the coveted Chicago market. NIU is located 65 miles west of Chicago and currently plays in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Mountain West Conference Announces Northern Illinois as Football-Only Member
The Mountain West Conference on Tuesday announced the addition of Northern Illinois University as a football-only member beginning July 1, 2026.
Report: Mountain West to add Northern Illinois as football-only member for 2026 season
DeKalb, Illinois isn’t known for its mountains, but that isn’t stopping Northern Illinois from sending its football program out West.  According to Brett McMurp
Northern Illinois to join Mountain West as football-only member
Another football program is set to join the Mountain West. The conference announced on Tuesday that Northern Illinois (NIU) ...
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NIU to Mountain West: Reasons for move, NIU’s value in MWC, future for other sports
Northern Illinois’ leaders took the podium Tuesday to discuss the football team’s groundbreaking move to the Mountain West in ...