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Pete Thamel, ESPN
The University of Massachusetts plans to join the MAC in all applicable sports for the 2025-26 academic year, officials told ESPN on Monday.
UMass is independent in football, but plays in the Atlantic-10 in basketball and most of the school’s other sports. Since the MAC does not have a hockey league, UMass’ hockey program will remain in the Hockey East.
MAC presidents voted Monday to invite UMass, as the school had already formally applied to the league. The timing of the announcement is unclear, but UMass expects to accept and finalize the details of the agreement in the near future. When a school formally applies for conference realignment, it is usually accepted and understood to join that league.
Sources said the University of Massachusetts was also involved in Conference USA. Ultimately, the MAC made more sense geographically and also accommodated more sports offered by UMass. Massachusetts Athletic Director Ryan Bamford made it clear in recent comments that joining the league is a priority for Massachusetts.
Massachusetts’ move to the MAC leaves Notre Dame and Connecticut as the only independent teams in college football, and Army will join the American Athletic Conference next season.
In basketball, the news shocked the Atlantic 10 Conference, where UMass has been home since 1976. UMass last reached the Final 4 in 1996, the only Final 4 appearance in Atlantic 10 history. (Three of his other A-10 teams, VCU, Loyola Chicago and George Mason, have appeared in the Final Four, but these are all before he joined the league.)
Officials said the University of Massachusetts will request to remain in the Atlantic 10 as an associate member with only the men’s and women’s lacrosse divisions.
UMass has some familiarity with football’s MAC, having played four seasons in the league from 2012-2015. UMass ultimately declined full membership in the MAC, which was part of the deal, leading to the school’s expulsion.
The move brings the number of teams in the MAC to 13, leading to speculation about whether the league will add a 14th team to balance things out. Sources say Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky have been discussed in 2021, and those schools will once again be at the top of any speculation list.
UMass will play its final season as an independent football organization this year, and its schedule includes five current MAC members. A reporter from The Athletic first reported the MAC’s vote against UMass.
