The University of Massachusetts will join the MAC in all applicable sports for the 2025-26 school year, sources told ESPN on Monday.
UMass is independent in football, but plays in the Atlantic-10 in basketball and the vast majority of the school's other sports. The UMass hockey program will remain in 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 join the league. The timing of the announcement is unknown, but UMass will agree to and finalize the details of the agreement in the near future. Once a school formally requests conference realignment, there is usually an understanding that they will be accepted and enter that league.
UMass had also committed to Conference USA, according to sources. Ultimately, the MAC made more geographical sense and also houses more sports than UMass offers. UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford made it clear in recent comments that joining a league was a priority for UMass.
UMass' move to the MAC will leave Notre Dame and Connecticut as the only independents in college football, and Army will join the American Athletic Conference next 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 apply to remain in the Atlantic 10 as an affiliate member only for men's and women's lacrosse, according to a source.
UMass has some familiarity with MAC football, having played four seasons in the league from 2012 to 2015. UMass ultimately rejected full membership in the MAC, which was part of the contract, leading to the school's departure.
The move brings the MAC to 13 teams and will open speculation about whether the league will add a 14th member to maintain balance. According to sources, there were discussions about Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky in 2021, and those schools would once again top any speculative list.
UMass will play its final season as an independent football this year and its schedule includes five current MAC members. The Athletic first reported on the MAC vote at UMass.
