In a stunning turn of events, the University of Las Vegas (UNLV) has put its plans to rejoin the Mountain West Conference on hold, opting instead to explore other options. This sudden change of heart comes after Utah State University announced its decision to leave the Mountain West and join the Pac-12 Conference.
Earlier in the day, UNLV had agreed to a memorandum of understanding to return to the Mountain West, but this agreement was contingent upon all eight remaining schools committing to stay. However, when Utah State chose to pursue a different path, UNLV officials decided to reassess their options.
The Mountain West Conference had offered UNLV and Air Force a significant lump sum to remain in the league and serve as anchor institutions. But with UNLV now exploring alternative arrangements, the conference’s future is uncertain.
The Mountain West Conference is currently comprised of six schools committed to participating in the 2026 football season: Air Force, Hawai’i, New Mexico, Nevada, San Jose State, and Wyoming. To comply with NCAA regulations, the conference must add at least two more football-playing schools by 2028.
Staying in the Mountain West would allow schools to avoid exit fees, which could be substantial. The conference is set to receive over $120 million in revenue from the previous four departures, with schools currently earning almost $6 million annually in overall payouts.
The Pac-12 Conference, meanwhile, is still in the process of reforming and has yet to take its reconfigured product to market. The conference requires at least eight members to maintain its official status.
This high-stakes drama is part of a larger power struggle between the Mountain West, Pac-12, and American Athletic Conferences. The AAC recently secured commitments from Memphis, Tulane, USF, and UTSA, some of the Pac-12’s top targets. The cost of departing the AAC, including exit fees and lost revenue, is estimated to be over $27 million per school, making it a significant hurdle for the Pac-12’s expansion efforts.
As the landscape continues to shift, one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the future of collegiate athletics hangs in the balance.
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