Northern Illinois appears to be headed to the Mountain West as a football-only member.
The school officially accepted an invitation from the conference and its board of trustees will vote on the move on Jan. 7.
“The University is asking the Board to approve $2 million for the membership fee required to join the MWC.” says the meeting agenda. “In intercollegiate athletics, conference membership dues and exit fees are standard.”
“Conference realignment has become a reality in intercollegiate athletics. In addition to providing the university with additional revenue, the move to MWC will allow the university to grow its strong football brand and reaffirm its commitment to the success of our student-athletes.”
If the move is approved, the school would join the Mountain West effective July 1, 2026. The school is currently a full member of the Mid-American Conference and will remain in the conference for all other sports.
The Huskies’ football move to the MWC means the MAC would have 13 teams for the 2025 football season following the arrival of UMass as a football-only member. NIU was 8-5 overall and 4-4 in the MAC this season. Their most famous win came in Week 2 over Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish haven’t lost since and are set to play Penn State in the Orange Bowl for the right to play in the national title game.
The MWC is looking for teams since the Pac-12 has taken some of its members. The conference had 12 teams for the 2024 football season and Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State will join Oregon State and Washington State in the reborn Pac-12 in 2026. Gonzaga will also join to the conference, but as a member of all sports except football. The Pac-12 is still searching for an eighth football team.
NIU would be the ninth football team for the MWC in 2026 and would allow each team in the conference to play an eight-game round-robin conference schedule.