NIU Football competes in the Mountain West Conference

DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University has accepted an invitation from 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 across the country,” said NIU President Lisa C. Freeman. “We are extremely pleased to accept the Huskie football program’s invitation to join a prestigious group of universities to compete in the Mountain West Conference. This move will create new opportunities for our student-athletes, expand reach and strengthen the national brand of Huskie Football as they represent NIU and compete for championships the hard and right way.”

NIU, celebrating its 125th season of intercollegiate athletics in 2024-25, is the winningest Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program in Illinois this century. The Huskies are among the top 30 FBS programs in the country in wins over the past 15 seasons, with five conference championships, 11 winning seasons and 11 bowl appearances, including in 2024 when NIU is in its second season had an eight-win streak, capped off with a win over Fresno State in the famed Idaho Potato Bowl.

“What a great opportunity for NIU Athletics as we expand our horizons, adapt to this new national model of collegiate athletics and prepare to begin a new chapter in the history of NIU football,” said Sean T. Frazier, NIU vice president and director of athletics and recreation. “We thank Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez and members of the Mountain West Conference for this invitation, and NIU President Lisa Freeman for her support in navigating this process. The impact of this move to the Mountain West will be felt. “Our fans will enjoy the increased competition, media coverage and additional opportunities that the relationship with this conference and these great institutions provides.”

Taking part in the 2026 MW football season are the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Hawai?i at Manoa, the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of New Mexico, Northern Illinois University, San José State University, the University of Nevada and the University of Las Vegas part of Texas, El Paso and the University of Wyoming.

“We are excited to add the Northern Illinois University football program to the Mountain West,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “In evaluating NIU, the MW Board and athletics directors carefully considered NIU’s history of success in football and its commitment to academic excellence and were impressed by its outstanding student-athlete experience on and off the field.”

Since moving to the major college ranks (now the Football Bowl Subdivision) 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 to 1995 and operated as an independent team from 1986 to 1992 and again in 1996.

“What a great opportunity for NIU football,” said NIU head coach Thomas hammockwho completed his sixth year as head coach at his alma mater in 2024. “Thank you to Mountain West, Sean (Frazier), President Freeman and the Board of Directors for this commitment to our program. I think that step and interest. “NIU football is a testament to what we’ve done in the past and what we’re capable of in the future. As a head coach and as an alumnus, it is extremely important to me that NIU football is competitive at the highest level for conference and national championships, especially with all the changes we are currently experiencing in college football, enabling NIU to to do this.

To ensure the NIU football program has the resources and facilities necessary to compete in the Mountain West Championships beginning in 2026, NIU has launched “Huskies Ascend,” a call to action for fans, friends and supporters to be their steadfast Show support and get involved Take advantage of this historic step and help take NIU football to new levels. To make a gift now, click here.

For more information on the Huskies’ move to the Mountain West to play football starting in 2026, check out the Q&A below and the interview with Frazier on the official NIU Athletics YouTube channel.

NIU Football to the Mountain West Questions and Answers

When does 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.

Which teams will NIU face 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 starting in 2026 and why now?

There have been huge changes in college athletics in recent years. The agreement in the NCAA House case alone will result in revenue sharing with student-athletes and an increase in roster numbers (scholarships). Add the transfer portal and the ability of student-athletes to benefit from Name, Image, Likeness (NIL), and everything from recruiting to how players are developed to what schools can offer , has changed. In FBS football, the expanded College Football Playoff beginning this year will continue to impact how teams and athletic departments operate.
To remain relevant and competitive in the current environment, it was essential to examine each revenue stream and determine how to maximize it to ensure the sustainability – and level of excellence – of all Huskie programs. Administrators were challenged to think outside the box and find ways for NIU to ensure that its student-athletes continued to excel academically and athletically. Moving to the Mountain West provides numerous opportunities and benefits for our program and our athletes.
During this process and as the Mountain West became interested in Huskie football, we felt very comfortable with the resources that came with it. We are very confident that more resources will be available for all of our programs. The financial considerations and how this will benefit NIU have been a key component as we talk about sustainability in this new collegiate athletics environment.

What made NIU and NIU Football attractive to the Mountain West at that time?

Huskie Football is a proven product with a national brand based on conference championships and “boneyard wins” over deep-pocketed (e.g., “power conference”) teams. NIU Football’s track record this century speaks for itself: 19 winning seasons, more wins than any other Division I program in the state, and a team that has ranked among the top 30 FBS programs in the country for the last 15 seasons it’s about winning.

Why does a model in which football competes in the Mountain West while NIU’s other programs compete in a different league make sense?

This is something that has been done in the past by the military academies, particularly Army West Point and the Navy, and we have seen the benefits this can have. Football, with its limited number of conference games – and fewer away games with shorter away time – offers more flexibility to play in a league like the Mountain West. The remaining NIU teams are able to play a more regional schedule, develop/maintain strong regional rivalries, travel in a manner that makes sense for those teams and also allows fans of those teams to easily attend travel to support them along the way.

Where will NIU sports compete other than football in 2026?

NIU is committed to making the best decision for ALL student-athletes and programs moving forward. We will be in MAC for the next 18 months and will take the time to actively explore all options. With several of the regionally based multi-sport conferences, we have several options available to us, including ongoing 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 complete, ensuring all of our sports are included is a priority. We believe this “national” model will work and be a good fit for NIU.

NIU has left the MAC and returned once before. What is the reason for going this time and what is the difference?

NIU has had a proud and longstanding relationship with the Mid-American Conference dating back to 1975, and after leaving the league for a 12-year period in the mid-1980s, it has spent the last 18 consecutive years playing in the MAC to compete. When NIU left the MAC in 1985, the reality was very different, as the changes that have occurred in college athletics over the last three years (House Settlement, Transfer Portal, NIL, Expanded CFP) have completely altered the landscape. The impact of these changes on NIU, the MAC and each student-athlete were the primary factors in this move.

Why is NIU Athletics launching Huskies Ascend now?

NIU Athletics is entering a new era in our history at a time of significant change in the landscape of collegiate athletics. NIU Football’s increasing support from donors, alumni, football alumni and the local community as it prepares for this transition is important to maintaining NIU Football’s championship tradition and positioning the program for future success in the Mountain West. Huskies Ascend will address specific areas such as the locker room, facilities and equipment, and the 1899 Club, as well as exploring additional revenue streams to ensure the sustainability of NIU Football. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks. From a moment to a movement to the mountaintop, we hope all Huskies choose to be part of Huskies Ascend.

— NIU —

Twitter: @NIUAthletics
Facebook: NIU Huskies
Instagram: niuhuskies
YouTube: NIU Athletics