DeKALB — One of the final dominos of NIU’s conference realignment fell last week, with the school’s wrestling program set to become an affiliate member of the Pac-12 Conference in the 2026-27 academic year.
The Northern Star has obtained a copy of NIU’s affiliate membership agreement with the Pac-12 Conference through a Freedom of Information Act request to NIU.
Among the details found in the agreement are:
- NIU’s affiliate membership in the Pac-12 will begin July 1, 2026, and continue for five years through June 30, 2031. The membership may be extended with written agreement from both parties.
- NIU will pay the Pac-12 an affiliate membership fee of $28,000, spread over five annual installments — $5,000 for each of the first two years and $6,000 for each of the final three.
- NIU will be entitled to vote, with equal standing to Pac-12 members, at head coaches’ meetings for wrestling.
- Outside of the agreement’s terms, NIU will have no obligation to pay the Pac-12 and will not have the right to receive any payments, distributions, reimbursements or revenue from the Pac-12 or any of its membership.
The full contract obtained by the Northern Star can be found below.
