Seven schools from the Mountain West conference have made a decision to remain in the league despite attempts by the Pac-12 to entice more teams, as per an announcement by the conference on Thursday. This determination follows the previous announcement by the Pac-12, which had shrunk to just two teams after realignment last summer, declaring two weeks ago that four Mountain West teams – Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Colorado State – would be joining the league in 2026, with Utah State also agreeing to join earlier this week.
The seven Mountain West schools staying put have signed a memorandum of understanding to continue their membership in the league. These seven schools are Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, Wyoming, and Hawaii. To be officially recognized as a conference by NCAA rules, the Mountain West needs to add two more schools, but they have until 2028 to do so.
Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez expressed in a statement, “Our immediate priority was solidifying the membership of the Mountain West. Now our focus turns to our collective future on behalf of our student-athletes. The agreements announced today mark a historic moment for the Mountain West and provide much-needed stability and clarity as the world of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve rapidly.”
The remaining Mountain West teams have agreed to grant media rights to the conference from 2026 to 2032. Additionally, the Mountain West is set to collect around $100 million in exit fees from the departing teams. However, the Pac-12 has initiated a lawsuit against the Mountain West regarding $55 million in “poaching penalties” related to a football scheduling agreement between Oregon State, Washington State, and the conference for this season.
The exit fees obtained by the Mountain West will be distributed among the remaining member schools. Air Force and UNLV are projected to receive 24.5%, while Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, and Wyoming are to get 11.5%, and Hawaii, a football-only member, will receive 5%. UNLV mentioned that it stands to earn between $10 million to $14 million, with annual payments of $1.5 million to $1.8 million over a six-year period starting in July 2026.
Pac-12 has now to search for one more school to fulfill the eight-team requirement set by the NCAA for 2026. UNLV, which was courted by the Pac-12, has opted to stay in the Mountain West. UNLV athletic director Erick Harper explained, “After a thorough evaluation of all options, at this time the best choice for UNLV is to remain a member of the Mountain West. We are a charter member of the conference, have had a great experience throughout its history, and are excited to continue moving forward.” Harper also highlighted the importance of increased revenues for their athletic program and the flexibility it provides to aim for joining a Power Four conference in the future.