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The Pac-12's quest to rebuild as a significant power conference took a significant shot on Thursday evening. The league apparently cast its eyes toward the Mountain West Conference, where five members have committed to join the Pac-12 in 2026, but that source has apparently dried up now.
Late Thursday, the seven remaining members of the Moutain West conference signed a Memorandum of Understanding, indicating a compact to remain in the MWC until at least 2032. The MoU established a division of payments for the conference to the schools moving forward.
MWC commitment: Who is staying rather than jumping to Pac-12?
Seven schools signed the MoU and indicated a commitment to remain in the conference. Those are Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming.
Separate reports have indicated that the two most prominent remaining MWC members, UNLV and Air Force, will be paid $25 million bonuses to remain with the league. The reports state that the source for those funds will be the $17 million plus that the five MWC members who are leaving for the Pac-12 will have to pay the league.
The division of funds for the current members is an interesting part of the process. To sign, both UNLV and Air Force were induced with 24.5% shares of league payments, with 11.5% going to Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State and Wyoming. Hawaii's share is just 5%.
The exiting MWC members heading out the door
As noted, five current MWC members have committed to join the Pac-12 in 2026 and will have to pay over $17 million to the MWC for exiting the league's media rights agreement. Those schools are Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State.
Apart from those $17 million penalties, a "poaching fee" of reportedly about $10 milion per school will be due to the MWV from the Pac-12, but the two leagues are already in litigation.
One interesting aspect of this conflict is the strain it puts on the football schedules of Washington State and Oregon State this season and 2025. Both teams, with no remaining members of the Pac-12, signed a scheduling deal with the MWC, where they played a slate of MWC conference foes but were not eligible for the league title.
Potential MWC expansion
Even with seven teams, the MWC sorely needs to add at least one more team to quality for the College Football Playoff.
Just as the Pac-12's focus will now shift, so will the MWC's. The MWC is rumored to have reached out to MAC members Toledo and Northern Illinois for football-only membership in the league. Texas State has also apparently been highlighted as a possible expansion pick-up.
What do you think of the Pac-12/MWC drama? Share your comments below:
