On the eve of October, the Mountain West and Pac-12’s daytime drama took yet another twist — and this time, there were treats hidden in the documents obtained by Brett McMurphy and On3.
Previously, open-records requests had produced shadows (AKA heavy redactions) of the deal between Northern Illinois and the Mountain West Conference, but now we have more light on the subject through On3. The numbers are out — and they’re enough to make any fan out west do a double-take on the numbers being outlined.
NIU’s Bigger Payday
Northern Illinois will receive more than $3.5 million in financial assistance between a signing bonus and exit fees to the Mid-American Conference (MAC), along with a guarantee worth nearly $5.75 million annually over six years — a payout exceeding $30 million.
This is a significant leap compared to NIU’s MAC deal, where media rights generated approximately $800,000 per school annually. That bump in revenue makes Sean Frazier’s comments back in January sound less like spin and more like prophecy. In his “Frazier’s Corner” column, the Huskies’ AD had insisted the dual move, football to the Mountain West and all other sports to the Horizon League was essential to both financial survival and competitive sustainability. “The move to the Mountain West Conference for the 2026 football season will SIGNIFICANTLY and immediately improve our financial position,” Frazier wrote.
Now the cold, hard cash confirms his words. Yes, they are in theory commitments on paper, but I don’t foresee anybody putting this in writing without having confidence they’ll have the funds available.
Additionally, this suggests the Mountain West has established a new baseline for its next media deal. Those negotiations that began last winter but intensified over the summer. But is this truly a baseline for all members? It’s hard to wrap my head around the idea that Northern Illinois, as a football-only member, would receive a “full share” if every school is indeed getting $5 million and change. What’s important to remember is that the total value of the media deal hasn’t been disclosed, so we can’t yet determine exactly what type of share the Huskies are receiving.
Mountain West Guarantees: Trick or Treat?
The newly revealed Mountain West membership agreement includes a Grant of Media Rights running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2032. It promises “best efforts” to maintain at least $3.5 million annually per school, cobbling together media revenues, exit fees, or other funds to hit that number.
But sources told Hero Sports that “the Mountain West is guaranteeing at least $5 million and telling constituents in and out of the conference that number. They are confident.” That’s the sweet candy. The trick? There’s no explicit out-clause if ongoing litigation with the Pac-12 or financial shortfalls leave the coffers bare.
Still, the timing is important. Months after Fresno State, Utah State, Boise State, San Diego State, and Colorado State were rumored to be restless, the MWC put these numbers in writing and a commitment to the Huskies who joined in January of 2025.
Horizon League, Travel Savings, and Reserve Funds
From an athletic department perspective, NIU’s shift of its non-football programs to the Horizon League may save significant money. Bus travel will become the norm, sparing the department from flights to distant MAC outposts.
The Mountain West also earmarked $18 million in reserve funds for new members. That pot has already fueled additions: Hawaii as a full member (it was previously football-only), UTEP as a full member, Grand Canyon and UC Davis as non-football members, and now NIU as a football-only partner. Though the exact “cap hit” for NIU isn’t public, it’s assumed at least $3.5 million of that reserve is being drained to cover its onboarding.
So what does this mean for potential Mountain West expansion?
It signals stability — the league looks content to wait and see. The next big step is litigation resolution. Programs like North Dakota State, Tarleton State, or even New Mexico State may stay on the back burner for now, but the documents show there’s still money and value in the MWC. And while we’re on the topic, I’ll add St. Mary’s to the mix. I wouldn’t count them out in the realignment race, though ultimately, they’ll go to the highest bidder. These documents make clear what the Mountain West’s “bid” could look like.
FCS and North Dakota State fans may recall that during the initial negotiations with Northern Illinois in November 2024, Brett McMurphy reported NDSU was gaining momentum as a potential Mountain West target if the deal fell through. At the time, multiple outlets also noted that Toledo was in the mix alongside NIU for a football-only spot.
Big Picture: From the MAC to the Mountain West Graveyard Shift
Overall, the move makes far more sense for the Huskies. They were already trailing the pack in the MAC’s athletic budgets across nearly every sport outside of football — and in basketball, they even lagged behind some Horizon League programs. With a significant revenue (and marketing/brand) bump from the Mountain West, plus savings and new opportunities from placing other sports in the Horizon League, NIU is positioning itself to stabilize and grow. Add in the hope of moving away from non-traditional TV windows (goodbye, MACtion?) could boost ticket sales, and the picture looks even brighter. Now, yes, they are trading out Wednesdays for potentially 8 PM kicktimes on Saturday night, but overall it’s a positive.
Sean Frazier summed it up in his letter to fans: “The Mountain West is a nationally-respected brand with a tremendous competitive tradition among its members, which will support our scheduling philosophy and conference championship expectations.”
It’s a win for Northern Illinois … and a big one, if the Mountain West truly delivers on projections of $5 million or more per school.
