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 (Jan. 7). The announcement came following a meeting of the NIU Board of Trustees.
“This is a truly exciting day for Northern Illinois University, for the NIU football program and for Huskie fans throughout the country,” said NIU President Lisa C. Freeman. “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 move will open new opportunities for our student-athletes, expand the reach and strengthen the national brand of Huskie Football as they represent NIU and compete for championships the hard way, and the right way.”
NIU, which is celebrating its 125th season of intercollegiate athletics in 2024-25, is the winningest Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program in Illinois this century. The Huskies rank among the Top 30 FBS programs in the country in wins over the last 15 seasons, with five conference championships, 11 winning seasons and 11 bowl appearances, including in 2024 when NIU posted its second consecutive eight-win season, capped by a victory over Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
“What a great opportunity for NIU Athletics as we expand our horizons, adapt to this new national model of college athletics and prepare to start a new chapter in the history of NIU Football,” said Sean T. Frazier, NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation. “We are grateful to Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez and the membership of the Mountain West Conference for this invitation and to NIU President Lisa Freeman for her support as we navigated this process. The impact of this move to the Mountain West is going to be felt throughout our entire department and university. Our fans are going to enjoy the heightened competition, the media coverage and the additional opportunities the relationship with this conference and these great institutions provides.”
The 2026 MW football season will feature the United States Air Force Academy, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Nevada, Reno, University of New Mexico, Northern Illinois University, San José State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Texas, El Paso and the University of Wyoming.
“We are excited about adding the Northern Illinois University football program to the Mountain West,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “In evaluating NIU, the MW Board of Directors and Directors of Athletics carefully considered and were impressed by its history of football success and its commitment to academic excellence. NIU shares the Mountain West’s vision of balancing academic performance with athletic competitiveness and prioritizing opportunities for an outstanding student-athlete experience both on and off the playing field.”
Since moving to the “Major College” (now Football Bowl Subdivision) ranks in 1969, NIU has spent 39 seasons (1975-85, 1997-2024) – and the last 18 consecutive – in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies were members of the Big West Conference in football from 1993-95 and operated as an independent from 1986-92 and again in 1996.
“What a great opportunity for NIU football,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, who completed his sixth year as head coach at his alma mater in 2024. “Thank you to the Mountain West, to Sean [Frazier], President Freeman and the Board for making this commitment to our program. I think this move and the interest in NIU Football is a testament to what we’ve done in the past and what we have the capacity to do in the future. As both the head coach and as an alum, it’s extremely important to me that NIU football is able to compete at the highest level for conference and national championships. Moving to the Mountain West, especially with all the changes we’re seeing in college football right now, sets NIU up to do that.”
To ensure the NIU football program will have the resources and facilities needed to compete for Mountain West Championships beginning in 2026, NIU has launched “Huskies Ascend,” a call to action to fans, friends and supporters to show their unwavering support, be a part of this historic step and help elevate NIU Football to new heights. To make a gift now, click here.
For more on the Huskies’ move to the Mountain West for football beginning in 2026, read the Q&A below and watch the interview with Frazier on the NIU Athletics Official YouTube Channel.
NIU Football to the Mountain West – Questions and Answers
When will NIU Football begin play in the Mountain West Conference?
NIU will officially join the Mountain West as a football only member on July 1, 2026, and begin competition for the 2026 football season.
What teams will NIU compete against in the Mountain West?
In 2026, the nine football teams in the Mountain West will be: Air Force, Hawai’i, Nevada, New Mexico, NIU, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming.
Why is NIU Football leaving the MAC for the Mountain West beginning in 2026 and why now?
Over the past several years, monumental changes have come to college athletics. The NCAA House case settlement alone will result in revenue sharing with student-athletes and increased roster (scholarship) numbers. Add the transfer portal and the ability of student-athletes to profit off of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL), and everything from recruiting to the way players are developed to what schools can provide, has changed. In FBS football, the expanded College Football Playoff beginning this year, is going to continue to influence the way that teams and athletic departments operate.
In order to remain relevant and competitive in the current environment, it became imperative to examine – and to determine how to maximize every revenue stream to ensure the sustainability – and the level of excellence – for all Huskie programs. Administrators were challenged to think outside the box and to identify ways in which NIU could ensure that its student-athletes continue to excel academically and athletically. The move to the Mountain West provides multiple opportunities and benefits to our program and athletes.
During that process and once there was interest from the Mountain West in Huskie Football, we felt very comfortable with the resources that are involved. We feel very comfortable that there will be more resources for all of our programs. The financial considerations and how that will benefit NIU was a key component as we talk about sustainability in this new college athletics environment.
What made NIU and NIU Football attractive to the Mountain West at this time?
Huskie Football is a proven commodity with a national brand, built on conference championships and “Boneyard Wins” over highly resourced (i.e. “power conference”) teams. The record of success of NIU Football this century speaks for itself with 19 winning seasons, more wins than any Division I program in the state and a team that ranks among the Top 30 FBS programs in the country in wins over the last 15 seasons.
Why does a model with football competing in the Mountain West, while NIU’s other programs compete in a different league make sense?
This is something that has been done by the service academies, specifically Army West Point and Navy, in the past and we’ve seen the advantages this can have. Football, with its limited number of conference games – and fewer road games with less time spent on the road – has more flexibility to play in a league like the Mountain West. The rest of NIU’s teams are able to play a more regional schedule, develop/keep strong regional rivalries, travel in a way that makes sense for those teams and also allows fans of those teams to easily travel to support them on the road.
Where will NIU’s sports other than football compete in 2026?
NIU is committed to making the best decision for ALL student-athletes and programs moving forward. We are in the MAC for the next 18 months and we’re going to take our time, and actively review all of the options. There are multiple options available to us with several of the regionally based multi-sport conferences, including continuing discussions with the MAC. We want to be thorough; we want to ensure we have the right fit for NIU and Huskie student-athletes. At the same time, now that the Mountain West move is finalized, making sure that all our sports are taken care of is a priority. We do believe this “national” model is going to work and be a great fit for NIU.
NIU left the MAC once before and returned, what is the reasoning behind leaving this time and how is it different?
NIU has had a proud and long-standing relationship with the Mid-American Conference dating back to 1975 and, after leaving the league for a 12-year period in the mid-80s, has spent the last 18 consecutive years competing in the MAC. When NIU left the MAC in 1985, it was a very different reality as the changes that have occurred in college athletics (House settlement, transfer portal, NIL, expanded CFP) over the past three years have completely changed the landscape. How those changes affect NIU, the MAC and every student-athlete were the major factors in making this move.
Why is NIU Athletics launching Huskies Ascend at this time?
NIU Athletics is entering a new era in our history at a time of significant change in the landscape of college athletics. Increasing support for NIU Football from donors, alumni, football alumni and the local community while preparing to make this transition is important to maintaining the championship tradition of NIU Football and to set the program up for future success in the Mountain West. Huskies Ascend will address specific areas like the locker room, facilities and equipment, the 1899 Club, and involve exploring additional revenue streams, to help guarantee the sustainability of NIU Football with more details provided in the coming weeks. From a moment to a movement to the mountaintop, we hope that all Huskies will choose to be a part of Huskies Ascend.