University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Athletics Officially Joins the MAC
A Letter from AD Ryan Bamford
With great excitement and anticipation, we embark on a transformative new chapter in Massachusetts Athletics history as today marks our first day as an all-sport member of the Mid-American Conference, a move that positions us for unprecedented growth and countless opportunities.
Our commitment to building a regionally dominant and nationally prominent athletic program remains unwavering and our decision to partner with the MAC aligns with our long-term vision for the Flagship, in areas of both academic success and competitive excellence.
Joining the MAC aligns us with peer research institutions and expands our financial resources to benefit the entire athletic department. In today’s evolving collegiate landscape, it also gives us the opportunity to compete for league football championships — a challenge we’re excited to embrace for the first time in ten years.
This change comes at a pivotal time in collegiate athletics and we are prepared to meet this moment. Our conference membership, along with the transformative settlement of the House vs. NCAA case, will help us optimize our strategic and thoughtful approach to Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and new internal student-athlete additional benefit and compensation models.
I am excited to witness immediate impacts across our broad-based programs, as our pursuit of championships remains in lockstep with our commitment to upholding our core values and the department’s four strategic pillars: Educate, Win, Invest and Inspire.
To our loyal fans, dedicated alumni/ae, generous donors, staff and student-athletes – THANK YOU. Your passion and support have brought us to this moment and we are grateful. We will need you now more than ever as we embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead.
I hope you’ll continue to take pride in our past as we do, and help us shape the future of Massachusetts Athletics. Forever and always, Expect To Win.
With Excitement,
MAC Member Schools
Akron Zips
Akron, OH
Ball State Cardinals
Muncie, IN
Bowling Green Falcons
Bowling Green, OH
Buffalo Bulls
Buffalo, NY
Central Michigan Chippewas
Mount Pleasant, MI
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Ypsilanti, MI
Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent, OH
Miami RedHawks
Oxford, OH
Northern Illinois Huskies
DeKalb, IL
Ohio Bobcats
Athens, OH
Toledo Rockets
Toledo, OH
Western Michigan Broncos
Kalamazoo, MI
Who We Play
Baseball
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Central Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Miami (OH)
- Northern Illinois
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Men’s Basketball
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
- Central Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Miami (OH)
- Northern Illinois
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Women’s Basketball
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
- Central Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Miami (OH)
- Northern Illinois
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Track & Field, XC
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
- Central Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Miami (OH)
- Northern Illinois
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Field Hockey
- Appalachian State
- Ball State
- Bellarmine
- Central Michigan
- James Madison
- Kent State
- Longwood
Ohio
Football
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
- Central Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Miami (OH)
- Northern Illinois
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Women’s Lacrosse
- Akron
- Central Michigan
- Detroit Mercy
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Robert Morris
- Youngstown State
Rowing
- Delaware
- Eastern Michigan
- High Point
- Temple
- Toledo
Women’s Swimming & Diving
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Miami (OH)
- Ohio
- Toledo
Women’s Soccer
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
- Central Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Miami (OH)
- Northern Illinois
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Softball
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Central Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- Miami (OH)
- Northern Illinois
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Tennis
Ball State- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
- Eastern Michigan
- Miami (OH)
- Northern Illinois
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Overview
The University of Massachusetts has officially joined the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a full member, beginning on July 1, 2025.
Massachusetts will compete in the Mid-American Conference in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's indoor/outdoor track & field, women's lacrosse, rowing, women's soccer, softball, women's swimming and diving, and women's tennis.
The introduction of Massachusetts increases the MAC's membership to 13 institutions across six states. The Minutemen will join Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, and Western Michigan. Massachusetts was previously a football-only affiliate member of the MAC from 2012–2015.
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and sponsors 23 championships, the third-most in the FBS. The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.