BREAKING: The Mountain West Conference has just announced a pause on adding new member schools as it navigates crucial media rights negotiations. Commissioner Gloria Nevarez revealed this development at the conference’s annual football media days held in Las Vegas.
Despite the halt in expansion, the Mountain West will welcome Grand Canyon University in all sports except football starting this year. Additionally, Hawaii will join as a full member in 2026, alongside Texas-El Paso. Notably, Northern Illinois will participate in football only, while UC Davis will be a non-football member.
This decision comes as five schools—Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State—are set to leave the Mountain West for the Pac-12 next year. The ongoing legal dispute over poaching fees between the two conferences has escalated, with both sides returning to court after failing to reach an agreement.
“We’re going to pause right now as far as additional membership,” said Nevarez. “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.”
Nevarez expressed optimism about announcing a new media deal in the near future, underscoring the importance of these negotiations for the conference’s financial stability and competitive landscape. As part of the transition, the Mountain West will cover costs related to Grand Canyon’s early addition.
In a significant logistical shift, the Mountain West’s headquarters will relocate from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Las Vegas in July 2026. This move marks a new era for the conference, which has operated from Colorado Springs since its inception in 1999.
Furthermore, Nevarez confirmed that the Mountain West opposes proposals allowing conferences to secure more than one automatic berth to the College Football Playoff. This stance highlights the ongoing tensions within college football governance, particularly as the Big Ten has previously favored such a model but has lost support from the SEC.
This pause in expansion is pivotal, not just for the Mountain West but for the broader college football landscape. Fans and stakeholders are urged to stay tuned as negotiations unfold and future developments emerge. The urgency of these discussions cannot be overstated, with potential impacts on the competitive balance and financial health of the conference.
As this situation develops, expect timely updates regarding media rights negotiations and potential membership changes. The Mountain West’s strategic decisions now could reshape the conference’s future in the rapidly evolving world of college athletics.
