The Mountain West, after receiving signed commitments Thursday from its seven remaining member colleges to remain within the convention, is already including extra.
Texas State, which might be an all-sports addition, has emerged as a goal for Mountain West enlargement, sources advised ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Thursday evening. One other goal that might quickly come into focus for the convention is Northern Illinois, which might be as a football-only member.
Earlier Thursday, the convention introduced Air Drive, UNLV, New Mexico, Nevada, San José State, Wyoming and Hawai’i had signed a memorandum of understanding to remain within the league, with all of them agreeing to execute grant of media rights from 2026 to 2032.
“Our speedy precedence was solidifying the membership of the Mountain West. Now our focus turns to our collective future on behalf of our student-athletes,” MWC commissioner Gloria Nevarez mentioned in an announcement. “The agreements introduced at this time mark a historic second for the Mountain West and supply much-needed stability and readability because the world of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve quickly. We’re enthusiastic about our future and are executing our subsequent steps in increasing the Mountain West.”
It additionally introduced plans for the way it will distribute cash it acquired in exit charges from the 5 colleges leaving for the Pac-12. These colleges — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State and San Diego State — are on the hook for roughly $18 million every, per the convention bylaws, however negotiations might result in decreased totals.
As soon as it’s decided what the whole pot is, the distribution breakdown can be 24.5% for Air Drive and UNLV, 11.5% for New Mexico, Nevada, San José State and Wyoming, and 5% for Hawai’i.
In its personal assertion, UNLV mentioned it expects a lump-sum cost from the Mountain West of between $10 million and $14 million in 2025, with further funds between $1.5 million and $1.8 million over a six-year interval beginning in July 2026.
UNLV was the lynchpin for this to return collectively. The college signed a memorandum of understanding to stay within the Mountain West on Monday, however it was nullified when Utah State departed for the Pac-12 the identical day. After re-engaging with each the Pac-12 and Mountain West, UNLV once more determined to stay, thanks largely to the monetary package deal it described.
“The league is a real model and a longtime product,” UNLV athletic director Erick Harper mentioned. “Elevated revenues are a significant issue. As we glance forward and proceed our ascent as an athletics division, this additionally offers us mandatory flexibility as we pursue our future aim of becoming a member of an autonomous [Power Four] convention.”
With six full-time members and one partial member in Hawai’i, the Mountain West nonetheless wants so as to add two full-time football-playing colleges to fulfill the NCAA minimal requirement however would have till the beginning of the 2028 to take action.
The Pac-12 stands at seven members and can want a further faculty by the 2026 season.
