Northern Illinois now makes nine total football teams in the Mountain West and will pay a $2 million entrance fee. The other eight include Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming.
"We are excited about adding the Northern Illinois University football program to the Mountain West," said Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez in a news release.
"In evaluating NIU, the MW Board of Directors and Directors of Athletics carefully considered and were impressed by its history of football success and its commitment to academic excellence."
"What a great opportunity for NIU Athletics as we expand our horizons, adapt to this new national model of college athletics and prepare to start a new chapter in the history of NIU Football," said Northern Illinois athletic director Sean T. Frazier in a news release.
"We are grateful to Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez and the membership of the Mountain West Conference for this invitation and to NIU President Lisa Freeman for her support as we navigated this process."
"The impact of this move to the Mountain West is going to be felt throughout our entire department and university. Our fans are going to enjoy the heightened competition, the media coverage and the additional opportunities the relationship with this conference and these great institutions provide."
The Mountain West took a nasty hit in football recently after Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State all decided to leave for the Pac-12 for this upcoming season and beyond.
Now, they'll be adding a Northern Illinois football program that came off an 8-4 year, ending with a 28-20 double overtime win over Fresno State at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.