UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026

[ZooCougar]

I wouldn’t trade places with UMass in any way shape or form, but the cfb playoff money must be nice.

 

[uconnric]

Yeah, but there’s just a tiny bit difference between UMass and UConn basketball. It wouldn’t be permanent, but I think UConn football would have a decent base in the MAC and grow from there.

Because misery loves company?

 

[Patman]

As bad as uconn football has been with our nil program we'd be winning the mac in short order. I want to see what we can do in the next two,games but if things look the way they do we could win the mac this year

 

[Rufus]

As bad as uconn football has been with our nil program we'd be winning the mac in short order. I want to see what we can do in the next two,games but if things look the way they do we could win the mac this year

That's a bold statement. Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame. Could UConn beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame? Could UConn beat Northern Illinois?

 

[Patman]

That's a bold statement. Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame. Could UConn beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame? Could UConn beat Northern Illinois?

Uconn could beat northern Illinois. Sure. They lost to buffalo

 

[CL82]

That's a bold statement. Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame. Could UConn beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame?

Well, given that we have beaten Notre Dame at Notre Dame, I'm going with "yes."

 

[ZooCougar]

That's a bold statement. Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame. Could UConn beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame? Could UConn beat Northern Illinois?

We hung 50 on the guys that beat NIU you ding dong.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Vowelguy]

Not only best program, but their Chicago presence.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Fishy]

That's a bold statement. Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame. Could UConn beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame? Could UConn beat Northern Illinois?

Go away.

 

[UCFBfan]

I'm shocked the MAC is letting NIU keep the rest of it's sports there. Isn't that why it kicked out UMass the first time? UMass wouldn't go all in?

 

[WrenchFan69]

I'm shocked the MAC is letting NIU keep the rest of it's sports there. Isn't that why it kicked out UMass the first time? UMass wouldn't go all in?

I haven't read any reports suggesting that NIU can keep any sports in the MAC. Everyone seems to think they're going to a league like the Horizon or Ohio Valley

 

[UCFBfan]

I haven't read any reports suggesting that NIU can keep any sports in the MAC. Everyone seems to think they're going to a league like the Horizon or Ohio Valley

Northern Illinois set to move to Mountain West as football-only member

The school's board of trustees will vote to approve the move on Jan. 7.

sports.yahoo.com

It's stated in the article. Maybe it's not totally correct but the article makes it sound certain.

 

[Kolumbo]

I don't get the NIU football move to the MWC at all. NIU is the 3rd smallest enrollment in the MAC behind Akron and E. Michigan and 2nd smallest endowment behind E. Michigan. It has the smallest AD Revenue. From a very stable G5 to a rebuilding G5. Are they officially using G6 yet? I've already spent too much time thinking about it.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Maybe it's not totally correct but the article makes it sound certain.

Challenging to understand why the MAC would keep NIU for all other sports, but it is indeed stated in the Yahoo article. Runs counter to other media reports suggesting the DeKalb Huskies not so successful other sports will go to one of the Horizon, Summit or Ohio Valley conferences.

 

[Rufus]

I think the article is wrong. The MAC has a rule that you have to have all sports in the MAC. This is why UMass football was kicked out several years ago and why UMass is now joining the MAC as an all-sports member.

 

[Rufus]

Yeah, it was wrong alright.........

Report: Mountain West to add Northern Illinois as football-only member for 2026 season

DeKalb, Illinois isn’t known for its mountains, but that isn’t stopping Northern Illinois from sending its football program out West. According to Brett McMurp

www.si.com

"The school is still considering options for its other sports, McMurphy said."

 

[UCFBfan]

Challenging to understand why the MAC would keep NIU for all other sports, but it is indeed stated in the Yahoo article. Runs counter to other media reports suggesting the DeKalb Huskies not so successful other sports will go to one of the Horizon, Summit or Ohio Valley conferences.

I was also surprised when I read it. I'm wondering if the author just assumed the rest would be in the MAC and the corresponding move hasn't been announced? I dunno.

 

[ScottVib]

Corresponding move hasn't been announced. NIU fans seem to think it'll be the Horizon

 

[Kolumbo]

Yeah, it was wrong alright.........

Report: Mountain West to add Northern Illinois as football-only member for 2026 season

DeKalb, Illinois isn’t known for its mountains, but that isn’t stopping Northern Illinois from sending its football program out West. According to Brett McMurp

www.si.com

"The school is still considering options for its other sports, McMurphy said."

And I believe you have to have all sports in the same conference unless that a sport is not sponsored. UMass was in the A-10 and had football in the MAC. But then the MAC said move all sports over or get out, so UMass got out. In NIU's case it would have to move everthing over to the MWC or move olympic sports to a conference which doesn't support FBS Football. I could be wrong.

 

[Rufus]

And I believe you have to have all sports in the same conference unless that a sport is not sponsored. UMass was in the A-10 and had football in the MAC. But then the MAC said move all sports over or get out, so UMass got out. In NIU's case it would have to move everthing over to the MWC or move olympic sports to a conference which doesn't support FBS Football. I could be wrong.

That’s my understanding as well.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The MAC schools are getting hit hard by the demographic cliff, which has already been a problem in the upper Midwest for decades. There is not a need for all these big open enrollment schools in that part of the country, and I expect several to downsize or simply close in the next decade.

 

[shizzle787]

The MAC schools are getting hit hard by the demographic cliff, which has already been a problem in the upper Midwest for decades. There is not a need for all these big open enrollment schools in that part of the country, and I expect several to downsize or simply close in the next decade.

From what I have read, the enrollment cliff between 2025-2029 will be 15% less 18 year olds. There may be a few Division 1 schools that close up shop, but I suspect most of the losses will be at the Division 2 and 3 levels.

 

[Rufus]

From what I have read, the enrollment cliff between 2025-2029 will be 15% less 18 year olds. There may be a few Division 1 schools that close up shop, but I suspect most of the losses will be at the Division 2 and 3 levels.

It will basically take college enrollment numbers down to where they were around the year 2000 or so. But expenses today are higher than they were back then and state governments give much less money now than back then. But most D1 universities will be ok as you noted. It’s the small schools who might be in trouble.

Buffalo is R1 and AAU. Not going anywhere.

Miami is a public ivy. Not going anywhere.

In addition to Buffalo, Kent State, Ohio and UMass are R1. Not going anywhere.

They will adapt, but they aren’t going anywhere.