Northern Illinois will join Mountain West

Northern Illinois joins Mountain West: Huskies will compete as football-only member beginning in 2026 season
The Mountain West Conference has announced the addition of Northern Illinois in football after the school's board of trustees approved the move on Tuesday. Northern Illinois, which will begin competing in the conference in 2026,
Mountain West Conference and NIU Football Announce Huskies' Membership For 2026
The Northern Illinois Huskies' football program is officially joining the Mountain West Conference for the 2026 season. NIU's board of trustees approved the MWC
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.
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.
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 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,
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).
Northern Illinois agrees to join Mountain West as football-only member
The conference will expand to the Central Time Zone as it welcomed Northern Illinois as a football-only member on Tuesday. The Huskies, whose Board of Regents voted to accept an invitation that comes with a $2 million entry fee, will officially join the Mountain West on July 1, 2026.
Top MAC football program to join Mountain West
We are extremely pleased to accept the invitation for the Huskie football program to join a prestigious group of universities to compete in the Mountain West Conference. This m
Northern Illinois joining Mountain West and the 3 weirdest moves of conference realignment
There have been seismic shifts in college football and by the end of it all the landscape will be unrecognizable.
Dominant Group of 5 Team Set to Join Air Force Falcons in Mountain West
A team that handed a current College Football Playoff participant its only loss is set to join the Air Force Falcons in the Mountain West in 2026.
Northern Illinois Coach Thomas Hammock Is Rooting For Notre Dame In CFP Championship
Northern Illinois is the only football team to defeat Notre Dame this season. On Jan. 20, NIU coach Thomas Hammock will be ...
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18 NIU Huskies wind up in college football’s Winter Transfer Portal
The window closed on college football’s Winter Transfer Portal over the weekend. The final tally shows 18 Northern Illinois ...
Northern Illinois becomes football-only member of Mountain West
Northern Illinois confirmed Tuesday that it is joining the Mountain West in 2026 as a football-only member. The school hasn't ...
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Northern Illinois to join Mountain West as football-only member in 2026
NIU will officially join the Mountain West on July 1, 2026 and will compete in the conference as a football-only member. The ...
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Jim O’Donnell: Freeman, Irish need a chunk o’ Northern Illinois at the CFP title game
EVERYTHING'S COMING UP IRISH for Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Still, that ...
Northern Illinois visits Mobley and Akron
Akron, Ohio; Wednesday, 6 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Akron hosts Northern Illinois after Alexus Mobley scored 23 points in Akron's 74-54 loss to the Toledo Rockets. The Zips have gone 5-3 in home games.