Tuesday's college football: Northern Illinois to leave MAC for western-based conference

Tuesday’s college football: Northern Illinois to leave MAC for western-based conference

Posted by Admin January 8, 2025 Football

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Detroit News wires
| The Detroit News

DeKalb, Ill. – Northern Illinois has accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West for football only starting in 2026.

The Huskies will go from the Midwest-based Mid-American Conference to a league in which the easternmost school is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They will join Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming in the Mountain West.

“This move will open new opportunities for our student-athletes, expand the reach and strengthen the national brand of Huskie Football as they represent NIU and compete for championships the hard way, and the right way,” NIU president Lisa C. Freeman said Tuesday.

The MAC’s 12 teams in 2026 will be Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Massachusetts, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan.

Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said NIU’s “history of football success and its commitment to academic excellence” were draws.

The Mountain West has been rebuilding since Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State agreed to join the Pac-12, which is trying to restock after all but two of its schools left for other conferences last summer. The Mountain West will also have other schools – UC Davis and Grand Canyon – joining in some sports in 2026.

Northern Illinois has played 39 seasons in the MAC over two stints from 1975 to 1985 and since 1997. It was in the Big West Conference in football from 1993 to 1995 and operated as an independent from 1986 to 1992, as well as in 1996.

The Huskies went 8-5 this season and pulled off a stunner at then-No. 5 Notre Dame in September. The win vaulted them into The Associated Press poll for the first time in 11 years.

The Huskies have consistently been among the top teams in the MAC for two decades. They’ve played in 15 bowl games in that span, and the 2012 team even made the Orange Bowl with star quarterback Jordan Lynch.

“The impact of this move to the Mountain West is going to be felt throughout our entire department and university,” athletic director Sean Frazier said. “Our fans are going to enjoy the competition, the media coverage, and the additional opportunities the relationship with this conference and these great institutions.”

It’s not clear which conference Northern Illinois’ other teams will compete in starting in 2026. The school said it has “multiple options” with Midwest conferences and remains in talks with the MAC.

MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher thanked NIU for its contributions and transparency as college athletics goes through its latest wave of realignment.

“While we would have preferred that NIU remain a member of the MAC, we understand that each institution must make an independent decision. Indeed, in recent years, many NCAA Division I institutions have decided to change their conference affiliations, just as student-athletes and coaches have,” he said, adding that the league remains “very well positioned to continue to compete at the highest level in intercollegiate athletics.”

Jeanty declares for draft

Boise State junior running back Ashton Jeanty made the obvious decision official Tuesday by declaring for the 2025 NFL draft.

In a social media post, he thanked the Boise State coaches and community, as well as friends and family, before saying straightforwardly: “I’m excited to announce I’m declaring for the 2025 NFL draft.”

Jeanty’s decision to forego his senior year is no surprise. He put together one of the most impressive college seasons ever assembled by a running back in 2024, leading the nation in rushing yards (2,601) – nearly 900 yards more than the next-best player – and finishing second in rushing touchdowns (29) behind Army quarterback Bryson Daily (32).

Jeanty’s 2,601 rushing yards were the second-most in a single season in college football history. The junior finished just 27 yards from tying Barry Sanders’ record of 2,628 yards, set in 1988 for Oklahoma State in what was a Heisman Trophy-winning season.

Judge sides with Washington State

Washington State was justified in firing Nick Rolovich as head football coach because of his refusal to comply with the state’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements, a federal judge has ruled.

Rolovich sued the university following his dismissal midway through the 2021 season. He claimed that as a Catholic, he was exempted from the state’s vaccine mandate but his exemption request had been denied.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice ruled on Monday that Washington State could not accommodate Rolovich without undue hardship, including increased travel costs and hindered recruitment and fundraising efforts. The university also claimed damage to its reputation.

Rice also found no basis for Rolovich’s objection to the vaccine on religious grounds.

“(Rolovich) frequently expressed secular concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine to friends, family members and coworkers,” Rice wrote. “In the thousands of pages of discovery, Plaintiff does not invoke a religious objection to the vaccine. This alone is a basis for denying Plaintiff’s claimed religious objection.”

Rolovich’s lawsuit originally included Gov. Jay Inslee and then-Cougars athletic director Pat Chun, but those claims were dismissed in 2023.

Rolovich is currently a senior offensive assistant for the California Golden Bears.