The NIU women picked up a double-overtime win against Bowling Green with Lexi Carlsen scoring a career-best 19, while the NIU men lost.

NIU athletic director Sean Frazier is betting that having football and Olympic sports in separate conferences will set the university up well in an ever-changing landscape of college athletics. It seems like it's a good bet.

NIU athletic director Sean Frazier said the university's decision for a new home for most of its athletic programs came down to two conferences, with the Horizon League winning out.

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Northern Illinois University held a press conference Thursday at the Convocation Center to announce that they will be joining the Horizon League starting with the fall 2026 season for most sports other than football.

The NIU Board of Trustees on Thursday approved $1.4 million to pay the entrance fee to join the Horizon League, effective July 1, 2026. The move will officially end NIU’s run as a full member of the Mid-American Conference, of which they’ve been a member since 1997.

The DeKalb and Sycamore boys basketball teams each reached regional finals with wins on Wednesday.

Sycamore wrestling dropped their team sectional to Geneseo while the NIU men lost at Miami (Ohio).

Northern Illinois University is set to join the Horizon League for most of its non-football sports, according to the agenda of a Board of Trustees special session set for Thursday.

Hinckley-Big Rock's Martin Ledbetter scored 34 points, passing 2,000 career points, in a win at the Indian Creek Shootout, Kaneland also won at the Indian Creek Shootout, DeKalb boys basketball won a nonconference game and the NIU women were winners in Saturday's roundup.