NIU, Mountain West Conference

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
'Location, location, location': Behind the inspirations for NIU football move to the Mountain West
NIU football's move to the Mountain West Conference was inspired by another major college football realignment move, and it might mean more change is coming for Northern Illinois athletics.
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.
Will moving to the Mountain West help NIU?
Here's one personal memory of covering Northern Illinois University football. The school introduced new head coach Joe Novak during winter break in 1995, so the campus was deserted. But inside the
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,
NIU football leaving MAC for Mountain West Conference
Northern Illinois University’s Board of Trustees approved a football-only move from the Mid-American Conference, or MAC, to the Mountain West Conference. Peter Medlin
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.
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.
NIU accepts invitation to Mountain West Conference
Northern Illinois University accepted a formal invitation to join the Mountain West Conference, but one thing is left in the way of making it official.
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.
NIU joins the Mountain West Conference
DEKALB, Ill. (WIFR) - The Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees approved the $2 million membership fee for the school to join the Mountain West Conference. On July 1, 2026, NIU will join the ...
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NIU football leaving MAC for Mountain West Conference, pending board approval
Northern Illinois University’s Board of Trustees will vote on whether NIU's football team will leave the Mid-American ...