Northern Illinois football to join Mountain West

NIU football officially joins the Mountain West Conference
The university officially announced it would join the Mountain West Conference in a football-only capacity starting in 2026. The move puts the Mountain West Conference at nine teams: NIU, Air Force, Grand Canyon, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming.
NIU football joining Mountain West Conference
DEKALB (WREX) — Northern Illinois University has accepted an invitation for the Huskies to join the Mountain West Conference as a football only member beginning in 2026, NIU and the Mountain West announced Tuesday. The announcement came following a meeting of the NIU Board of Trustees.
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 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 Huskies’ remaining sports will either remain in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) or will move to another conference in the future.
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 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 t
Mountain West Adds Northern Illinois As A Football-Only Member
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (PRESS RELEASE) – The Mountain West Conference today announced the addition of Northern Illinois University as a football-only member beginning July 1, 2026.
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.
Tuesday's college football: Northern Illinois to leave MAC for western-based conference
The Huskies will go from the MAC to a league in which the easternmost school is in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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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 made any decisions on where its other sports will play but remains in ...