Salt Lake City, Utah – The high-stakes game of conference realignment in collegiate sports continued to unfold on Monday night, with the Pac-12 and Mountain West engaging in a tug-of-war over schools. As the American Athletic Conference schools announced their decision to stay put, Utah State made a monumental choice to join the Pac-12, bringing the league’s total membership to seven by 2026. Both conferences are now faced with the challenge of reaching at least eight members to maintain their NCAA and Football Bowl Subdivision status beyond 2026.
Over the weekend, the Mountain West focused on securing commitments from their remaining eight members through financial agreements to stave off potential poaching by the Pac-12. With millions of dollars in exit fees and poaching fees on the line, Air Force stood firm with the Mountain West, while other member schools followed suit. However, Utah State decided to break ranks and accept the Pac-12’s offer, leaving both conferences with seven members and paving the way for further discussions.
Attention now turns to UNLV, a prime target for the Pac-12, as discussions with Gonzaga about potentially joining the league remain ongoing. The initial plan for the Pac-12 to absorb all twelve Mountain West schools fell through, leading to a shift in focus towards securing additional Mountain West members. The fallout from the initial defections has left lingering tensions among Mountain West schools, with Utah State’s move complicating the conference’s future.
As Utah State’s decision adds to the mounting poaching fees owed by the Pac-12 to the Mountain West, both conferences face the challenge of recreating a similar league structure at significant financial costs. The possibility of a dissolution of the Mountain West remains a looming prospect, requiring a two-thirds agreement among its members. Despite the complexities of conference realignment, Utah State’s history of disruption in collegiate sports adds a unique layer to the ongoing saga.
Amid the uncertainties surrounding college sports, the pressure to secure conference memberships has intensified, leading to strategic moves and shifting alliances. The evolving landscape of collegiate athletics continues to shape the future of these conferences, with more developments expected in the coming days.