Northern Illinois University has officially announced its move to the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member, starting in the upcoming season of 2026. The decision follows the approval of a $2 million membership fee and comes amid ongoing conference realignments in college football. The Huskies will depart from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as part of this transition. Both Northern Illinois leadership and the MAC expressed gratitude for the communication during this process. This shift marks a significant change in the landscape of college football, highlighting the continuous evolution of conference affiliations.