The Mountain West Conference has announced to the MAC that NIU and Toledo will join the league as football-only members, Action Network’s Brett McMurphy revealed in a social media post Thursday night. The company has notified them that it is interested in the company.
The Mountain West has notified the MAC of its interest in NIU and Toledo as football-only members in 2026, officials said. @ActionNetworkHQ. This adds a central time zone to MW, potentially increasing the value of future media rights. NIU and Toledo have combined to win seven of the past 13 MAC titles. MW…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 27, 2024
NIU Athletic Director Sean Frazier could not be reached for comment late Thursday night. A school spokesperson said he was already with a group of students in Raleigh, North Carolina, ahead of Saturday’s football game against North Carolina State University, but it was unclear whether he would be able to participate Friday.
Five Mountain West schools announced Thursday they will join the Pac-12, while the remaining seven will remain in the league until 2032, but will need eight full members to qualify as an FBS conference under NCAA rules. signed a memorandum of understanding.
Current regular members are Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Wyoming, and Hawaii is a football-only member.
The Huskies and Rockets have played in 11 MAC Championship games since 2010, with NIU winning five times and Toledo winning twice. With the division abolished this year, both teams could theoretically face each other for the league title, but the Huskies started the league game with an 0-1 record after losing to Buffalo.
NIU participated in the Big West Conference for three years from 1993-1995. At the time, UNLV, New Mexico State and San Jose State were members. The Huskies were 3-3 in conference play each year and 11-22 overall on the season under coach Charlie Sadler.
The team became independent in 1996 with new coach Joe Novak and returned to the MAC in 1997.
It is unclear what will happen to NIU’s other sports and whether it will be allowed to remain in the MAC or join another conference such as the Horizon League or Missouri Valley Conference.