With several of its members departing for the Pac-12, the Mountain West Conference is eyeing a pair of teams from the Mid-American Conference.
Per Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, the Mountain West Conference notified the MAC of its interest in Northern Illinois and Toledo as football-only members in 2026.
Along with NIU and Toledo, the Mountain West is eyeing Texas State out of the Sun Belt, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The Bobcats would be an all-sports addition, unlike Toledo and NIU.
NIU and Toledo have consistently found success in the MAC, winning seven of the last 13 conference championships. Last year, NIU finished 7-6 with an appearance in the Camellia Bowl while Toledo went 11-3, reaching as high as No. 23 in the AP Poll and playing in the Arizona Bowl.
NIU has had a strong start to the 2024 season, knocking off No. 5 Notre Dame in Week 2 to earn a spot in the AP Top 25. The Huskies are 2-1 after losing to Buffalo in Week 4. Toledo is 3-1 to start the year, picking up a signature win over Mississippi State in Week 3.
Texas State struggled for much of the past decade since its move to the FBS level in 2012, but the Bobcats have had a resurgence under new head coach G.J. Kinne, going 8-5 a year ago with a win in the First Responder Bowl.
Texas State is 2-1 so far this season with its only loss coming to Arizona State.
Over the past few weeks, the Mountain West has lost Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State to the Pac-12, leaving it with just seven teams. Even if the Mountain West can add NIU and Toledo, it would still need two more all-sport members to meet NCAA requirements.
Bringing in Texas State would be one step in the right direction as the Mountain West looks to avoid crumbling due to conference realignment.
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