Sources: MAC votes to accept UMass as member
The University of Massachusetts is set to join the MAC in all applicable
sports for the 2025-26 school year, sources told ESPN on Monday.
UMass is an independent in football but plays in the Atlantic-10 in
basketball and the vast majority of the school’s other sports. UMass’
hockey program will remain in the Hockey East as the MAC does not have a
hockey league.
The MAC presidents voted to invite UMass on Monday, as the school had
already formally applied to the league. The timing of an announcement is
not known, but UMass is set to accept and finalize the details of the
arrangement in the near future. Once a school formally applies in
conference realignment, there’s usually an understanding that they will be
accepted and enter that league.
UMass had also been engaged with Conference USA, per sources. Ultimately,
the MAC made more geographic sense, and it also houses more of the sports
that UMass offers. UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford made clear in
recent comments that joining a league was a priority for UMass.
The move of UMass to the MAC will leave Notre Dame and Connecticut as the lone independents
in college football, with Army set to join the American Athletic Conference
in the upcoming season.
In basketball, the news is a jolt to the Atlantic 10 Conference, where UMass has had a home since 1976. UMass’ Final Four appearance in 1996 is the
only Final Four appearance in Atlantic 10 history.
UMass will request to stay in the Atlantic 10 as an affiliate member for
men’s lacrosse only, according to a source. Women’s lacrosse will compete
in the MAC.
UMass has some familiarity in the MAC for football, having played four
seasons in the league from 2012 to 2015. UMass eventually declined full
membership in the MAC, which was part of the contract, and led to the
school’s departure.
The move brings the MAC up to 13 teams and will open speculation as to
whether the league will add a 14th member for balance. There had been
discussions about Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky back in 2021, per
sources, and those schools would again top any speculative lists.
UMass will play its final season as a football independent this year, and
its schedule includes five current MAC members. The Athletic first reported
the MAC’s vote on UMass.
Source: The University of Massachusetts is set to join the MAC in all sports for the 2025-26 school years, sources told ESPN on Monday.
