Utah State has been in a whirlwind of change, with more to come now that they have accepted the invitation to join the Pac-12 Conference. This came as the Pac-12 has been striving to expand in the American Athletic Conference and changed its tactic to expand its league by targeting some teams from the Mountain West.
The Pac-12 has been expanding its teams this year and has already signed on Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State. This brings the Pac-12 just one team down to competing on the FBS football level, where they already have added Oregon State and Washington State and five Mountain West teams.
Utah State Signs With Pac-12
Several reports and rumors have preceded this deal and for the MW institution at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. UNLV has stated that it is committed to staying with the Mountain West and the Air Force. Even with its obligation, the Air Force has been in conference with the Pac-12 and the AAC.
Some of these commitments to the Mountain West are not staying true. For example, Hawaii is a member of the MW, but only in football. They hadn’t signed a memorandum of understanding. Because of this and several others joining the Pac-12, UVLV seems to be entertaining the offer again.
Other Schools That Might Be Changing
The Pac-12 has set its sights on the western half of the continent, but Gloria Nevarez, the Commissioner for the Mountain West, is fighting back. There has been a great deal of news following UNLV and Utah State’s move, but there are also rumors about Gonzaga’s basketball team.
Gonzaga’s athletic director, Chris Standiford, has come forward, denying reports that the Bulldogs are switching conferences. There have been reassuring talks with various conferences for years, leaving the WCC.
Several benefits have changed, as they did for the Air Force. When they signed their proposal with its grants and rights, they received a sign-on bonus of $10 million. Hawaii wasn’t required to sign a new grant of rights as a football-only program to the Mountain West.
Now that Utah State has changed and there is news surrounding UNLV, there are seven schools left in the Mountain West. Things are changing for the MW with the Pac-12 on the rise. Discussions are continuing with Gonzaga basketball as well as other schools. These reports do not include rights, grants, or commitments yet.
It’s Not Only About Football
If Gonzaga were to join the Pac-12, it would make it one of the best men’s basketball programs. The Gonzaga Bulldogs have done remarkable things with the West Coast Conference, competing in the NCAA Tournament every year since 1998. They have also added two Final Four appearances and eight seasons of at least 30 victories. Gonzaga does not have a football program.
These changes do not come without a cost, as the Pac-12 has to pay around $110 million in exit fees for having these teams leave the Mountain West. These poaching fees cannot be near the potential investment that the Pac-12 will be getting for adding these schools to its conference. Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould has declined to detail how the incoming schools and conference will share that cost. The conference is sitting on about $250 million in revenue the previous iteration of the Pac-12 was in line to receive this year and next.
Now that Utah State has joined and Pac-12 still needs another school, they could be trying for Texas State from the Sun Belt Conference or UTEP, New Mexico State from Conference USA, Sacramento State from the Big Sky, Texas Tarleton State from the Western Athletic Conference, may be next.
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