The University of Massachusetts (UMass) is set to join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) starting with the 2025-26 academic year, marking a significant shift for the institution’s athletics program. Multiple sources, including The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach and ESPN’s Pete Thamel, reported the news on Monday. The move involves UMass departing the Atlantic 10 Conference, where it has been a member since the conference’s inception in 1976, at the end of the 2024-25 season.
UMass had been rumored to be considering a move to Conference USA in recent months, but instead opted to return to a familiar conference. UMass joined the MAC in 2012, but only for football, keeping its other sports in the Atlantic 10. This arrangement didn’t last, with UMass leaving the MAC in 2015 to become a football independent, refusing to join the conference for all sports. Since then, UMass has been searching for a stable conference home for its football program.
UMass Athletic Director Ryan Bamford has stated that finding a long-term conference home for the football program has been a top priority. He mentioned in a December interview with the Daily Hampshire Gazette that UMass couldn’t sustain its status as one of three remaining independent FBS football programs. He acknowledged that finding a conference that aligns with UMass athletics’ goals for competitive success and student-athlete experience was crucial.
The Atlantic 10 Conference declined to comment when contacted by the Gazette after the news broke on Monday. UMass’ move to the MAC means that only Notre Dame and UConn remain as independent football programs at the FBS level.
While the transition to the MAC brings stability for UMass football, it raises questions for other sports. The MAC doesn’t sponsor sports like men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, and men’s ice hockey, which means UMass will need to find new affiliate memberships for these programs. The Minutemen are expected to stay in Hockey East, but men’s lacrosse and soccer will likely seek new conference affiliations. The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) could be a potential home for these teams, with Thamel reporting that men’s lacrosse might apply to remain in the Atlantic 10.
The move is expected to impact UMass’ basketball programs significantly. According to KenPom conference rankings, the Atlantic 10 ranks eighth among Division 1 men’s basketball conferences, while the MAC is ranked 24th. This could affect UMass’ chances of securing an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament. The MAC hasn’t received an at-large bid since 1999, whereas the Atlantic 10, though not as strong as in previous years, is generally more competitive.
The shift to the MAC seems driven primarily by the need to provide a stable future for UMass football. The MAC has a 13-year television deal with ESPN that runs through 2027, offering additional exposure and revenue opportunities. Although the UMass athletic director did not respond to requests for comment, it’s clear that this move is part of a broader strategy to bolster the football program and provide a more sustainable path for UMass athletics as a whole.
