WKU headed for MACtion, Hilltoppers expected to join Mid-American Conference

One day before MACtion Tuesdays begin in college football, news broke that the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will soon be joining the MACtion fun. If all goes well when MAC presidents vote later this week, Western Kentucky will join the Mid-American Conference as the MAC expands from 12 to 14 teams.

Middle Tennessee State is also expected to make the jump as both the Hilltoppers and Blue Raiders leave a sinking ship in Conference USA. Nine of the 14 current Conference USA members are already jumping ship, all within the last couple of weeks. Only Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, and UTEP remain, and only for a matter of days.

Brett McMurphy was the first to share the realignment news on Monday. “The moves of Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee are expected by the 2023 season,” McMurphy’s sources said.

MAC “likely” to add Western Kentucky & Middle Tennessee, perhaps by end of week, pending approval by MAC presidents, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. If so, C-USA will have lost 11 of 14 members w/only FIU, Louisiana Tech & UTEP remaining #MACtionhttps://t.co/E5r8QgRXnZ

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 1, 2021

KSR’s sources and many others have since confirmed the report.

When completed, the new 14-team MAC will include:

Mid-Atlantic Conference 2023

Akron
Bowling Green
Buffalo
Kent State
Miami OH
Ohio
Ball State
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Middle Tennessee State
Northern Illinois
Toledo
Western Michigan
Western Kentucky

Get excited for the Western Kentucky-Toledo rivalry you never knew you needed.

Go Tops.