BREAKING: The Mountain West Conference has announced a pause in expanding its membership amid ongoing media rights negotiations. Commissioner Gloria Nevarez revealed the decision during the conference’s annual football media days in Las Vegas on July 12, 2023.
This move comes as the conference undergoes significant changes, including the addition of Grand Canyon University in all sports except football, effective this year. Hawaii is set to become a full member in 2026, alongside Texas-El Paso. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois will participate in football only, while UC Davis will join without a football program.
However, the Mountain West is bracing for a significant loss as five schools—Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State—are scheduled to depart for the Pac-12 next year. This looming shift has intensified the urgency around securing a robust media rights deal.
“We’re going to pause right now as far as additional membership,” Nevarez stated emphatically. “Never say never, but we really want to get through our media rights negotiation, take a deep breath, and then we’ll readdress the issue.”
As negotiations unfold, the Mountain West is committed to covering any costs related to Grand Canyon’s early entry into the conference. Additionally, a major relocation is on the horizon: the conference headquarters will move from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Las Vegas in July 2026, marking a significant shift since its establishment in 1999.
In another critical development, Nevarez expressed the conference’s stance against allowing multiple automatic berths to the College Football Playoff, a format favored by the Big Ten. This position reflects the Mountain West’s evolving strategy in a competitive college sports landscape.
As the Mountain West navigates these challenges, all eyes will be on the outcome of the media rights negotiations. An announcement is anticipated soon, which could reshape the future dynamics of the conference. Stakeholders and fans alike are urged to stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
