The Mountain West Conference has notified the Mid-American Conference of its interest in the Northern Illinois Huskies and Toledo Rockets as football-only members in 2026, according to a report Thursday night from Action Network’s Brett McMurphy and Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

The MAC includes NIU, Toledo, Miami University, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Ball State, Akron and Kent State. UMass is joining the MAC for the 2025-26 school year.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Texas State also is a target for Mountain West expansion.

Toledo has been in the MAC since 1950; NIU has been a member since 1997.

Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State and Wyoming are the MWC’s current full members. Hawaii is a football-only member.

To be recognized as an FBS conference, leagues must have eight full members.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mountain West eyes MAC’s Northern Illinois, Toledo as football members