NIU, Mountain West Conference

It’s official, NIU football is saying “Good-bye” to the MAC and racing toward the Mountain West Conference
All of the changes we’re seeing in college football from conference realignments to the transfer portal and NIL has forced Northern Illinois University to make a move to keep up or to stay a step ahead.
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
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.
'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.
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
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
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 2026.
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.
It's offical, NIU football is saying good-bye to the MAC and heading for the Mountain West Conference
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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 Conference (MAC). Peter Medlin
Marcus Freeman never forgot NIU loss as ND heads to CFP final
Listen to why the loss to Northern Illinois fueled Notre Dame's win over Penn State to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff final.
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What’s ahead for NIU football in 2025?
Something NIU football coach Thomas Hammock said after his team’s 28-20 win over Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato ...
Back-to-back bowl wins and a win over CFP semifinalist Notre Dame puts NIU in spotlight
If Notre Dame wins National Championship, NIU could reap residual benefits. Here is why and what it could do for NIU: ...
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Entz Raids NIU Staff Again. It's for a Linebackers Coach This Time
Fresno State football bolsters coaching staff with the addition of Adam Breske as linebackers coach from Northern Illinois.
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 ...
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Marcus Freeman on NIU loss fueling Notre Dame in playoff: ‘There’s great opportunities to learn from failure’
Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame remember the NIU game quite well from earlier this season. Well, since that loss, Notre Dame’s ...