Northern Illinois Leaves the MAC

NIU will become a football only member of the Mountain West. Too good for the MAC (finished 6th last year.)

https://niuhuskies.com/news/2025/2/21/football-huskies-ascend-from-the-moment-to-the-movement-to-the-mountaintop.aspx

For other sports, they are joining the Horizon League in 2026! (Wonder if the Horizon gave them some sweet deal, but NIU certainly won't dominate that non-football league.)

https://niuhuskies.com/news/2025/2/27/general-niu-sports-moving-to-horizon-league-in-2026-27.aspx

They have always been a  football-first school. Mostly suck in the other sports.

They're hoping to be MAC affiliate members in wrestling and gymnastics. MAC might tell them to F.O.!