Northern Illinois University announced its 2026 Mountain West football opponents, marking its first season in the conference, with home games against Hawai'i, Nevada, UTEP, and Wyoming, and away games at Air Force, New Mexico, San José State, and UNLV. The university is also launching a special giving initiative with exclusive memorabilia to support Huskie Football during this historic transition.
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is considering an offer to join the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member, potentially leaving the Mid-American Conference (MAC) where it has been since 1997. This move would increase the Mountain West's football membership to nine, providing a buffer above the NCAA's minimum requirement of eight. The MAC plans to add UMass as a full member in 2025, so NIU's departure won't affect its numbers. NIU has been successful in the MAC, winning five titles since 2011.
Bronco Mendenhall has been appointed as the head football coach at Utah State University, signing a six-year contract. Mendenhall, a seasoned coach with 18 years of experience, previously led teams at New Mexico, Virginia, and BYU. Known for his leadership and ability to develop young athletes, Mendenhall aims to elevate Utah State's football program. His career highlights include taking Virginia to its first Orange Bowl and achieving consistent bowl appearances with BYU. Mendenhall's return to Utah also allows him to be closer to his family.
San Jose State University's women's volleyball team is embroiled in controversy over a transgender player, leading to multiple teams in the Mountain West Conference refusing to compete against them. A federal lawsuit was filed by athletes seeking to prevent the player from participating in championship games, citing safety concerns and alleged unfair advantage. Despite the controversy and forfeitures, San Jose State advanced to the conference finals, with a court ruling allowing the player to compete. The case has sparked broader discussions on transgender athletes' participation in sports.
Colorado State will face San Jose State in the Mountain West Conference women's volleyball final, with an NCAA tournament spot at stake. The match follows controversy over a transgender player on San Jose State's team, leading to several teams, including Boise State, boycotting matches. A federal court ruled the player could participate, sparking debates on transgender athletes in women's sports. Colorado State's coach emphasized the complexity and emotional toll of the situation, while San Jose State advanced partly due to forfeits.
Boise State withdrew from the Mountain West women's volleyball tournament, refusing to face San Jose State in the semi-finals, after previously boycotting regular-season matches against them. This decision comes amid controversy over the participation of a transgender player on the San Jose State team, which has led to several teams forfeiting matches against them. A federal court recently upheld the player's right to participate, despite ongoing legal and political disputes over transgender athletes in women's sports.
Boise State withdrew from the Mountain West women's volleyball tournament semifinals against San Jose State, following a season of boycotts by several teams over the presence of a transgender player on the Spartans' team. Boise State's decision came after defeating Utah State in the quarterfinals, and the withdrawal allows San Jose State to advance to the championship match. A lawsuit challenging the player's participation was dismissed by a federal judge, and the player's identity remains protected under privacy laws.
San Jose State's women's volleyball team is at the center of a controversy involving a transgender player, Blaire Fleming, which has led to several schools forfeiting matches against them. Despite the controversy, San Jose State is set to compete in the Mountain West Conference tournament semifinals. A recent court ruling denied an appeal to block Fleming from playing, allowing the team to continue in the tournament. The situation has sparked debates on fairness in women's sports, with some schools citing this as a reason for their forfeits.
A Utah State volleyball player, Kaylie Ray, is part of a lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference, aiming to prevent San Jose State's Blaire Fleming, who they claim is transgender, from competing. Despite losing an appeal to stop Fleming from playing in the upcoming tournament, Ray and others argue that Fleming has an unfair advantage. The lawsuit continues as Ray hopes to spark a broader movement for women's sports.
San Jose State volleyball player Blaire Fleming, involved in a controversy over her gender, will compete in the Mountain West Conference tournament but won't give interviews, as per the school's decision. A federal judge ruled in her favor, citing NCAA Title IX policies against discrimination. Several teams forfeited games against San Jose State due to claims of a transgender player, leading to a lawsuit involving multiple players and schools. The judge noted the established rules on transgender athletes' eligibility and questioned the timing of the legal challenge.
A federal judge ruled that the San Jose State women's volleyball team can compete in the Mountain West Conference tournament with its full roster, rejecting a lawsuit that sought to disqualify a transgender player. The lawsuit, filed by SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser and others, claimed the player posed a safety risk. The judge noted the Mountain West's transgender policy has been in place since 2022, and the plaintiffs' delay in seeking emergency relief was unreasonable. An appeal has been filed, and the tournament begins Wednesday in Las Vegas.
A federal judge in Colorado, appointed by President Biden, has denied witness testimony for an emergency hearing in a lawsuit involving a dozen women suing the Mountain West Conference over alleged First Amendment and Title IX violations related to transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming. The hearing will focus on an injunction to disqualify San Jose State from the conference tournament. The judge's decision to forgo witness testimony is seen as unfavorable for the plaintiffs, with a ruling needed soon as the tournament begins Wednesday.
The Mountain West Conference is facing a lawsuit from 12 volleyball players over a rule that mandates forfeiture for teams boycotting games against teams with transgender players. The plaintiffs allege the rule was secretly added to the conference's handbook to counteract their boycott of San Jose State University, which has a transgender player, Blaire Fleming. The conference claims the rule was established in 2022. The lawsuit seeks to block the enforcement of this rule and challenges the eligibility of the transgender player under Title IX.
A Utah State University volleyball player, Kaylie Ray, is part of a lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference to prevent a transgender player, Blaire Fleming, from participating in an upcoming tournament. The lawsuit, filed by 11 players and a coach, argues that allowing Fleming to play violates Title IX by not providing equal opportunities for women. Ray claims she faced backlash for speaking out, including being scolded by her coach. The Mountain West Conference and USU have issued statements supporting student-athletes' rights to express their views.
Three University of Wyoming volleyball players, along with other athletes and a coach, have filed a lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference and its commissioner, claiming they were forced to compete with a transgender athlete and that their free speech was suppressed. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Colorado, alleges violations of Title IX and the First Amendment, following controversy over San Jose State University's inclusion of a transgender player. The plaintiffs argue that new rules penalizing teams for canceling matches against teams with transgender players were hastily implemented to suppress protests.
