UNLV has decided to remain in the Mountain West Conference. UNLV was considered a potential target for the rebuilding Pac-12 Conference, alongside conference opponent Air Force, who was a target to join the Athletic American Conference.
The Mountain West Conference is expected to receive up to $25-30 million in bonus money for each school that moved to the Pac-12.
The signing bonuses are expected to come from former Mountain West teams Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State, which are set to join the Pac-12 conference in 2026.
Following Utah State’s addition to the Pac-12, the Pac-12 filed a lawsuit on Sept. 24 against the Mountain West over $55 million in poaching penalties that were part of a football scheduling agreement with Oregon State and Washington State for this season. Each school that departed from the Mountain West would be forced to pay roughly $17 million in exit fees.
With UNLV and Air Force committing to the Mountain West Conference, the conference is left with six full members San Jose State, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nevada and seven football members, with Hawaii being the only football member.
The Pac-12 now has seven members, following Utah State’s latest addition. However, the NCAA only recognizes an official conference with eight members.
Both the Pac-12 and Mountain West are left with the decision to rally another conference member to be recognized by the NCAA.
Both conferences have attempted to gather teams from different conferences, such as Conference USA or the Sun Belt Conference, or look to some of the top FCS football programs in North and South Dakota State.
With American Athletic Conference members Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA committing to staying put in the AAC, the Pac-12’s next target is set on Sun Belt Conference member Texas State to become the eighth member of the conference.
The Mountain West has also considered the Big Sky Conference and Sacramento State as they seek to make the jump to Division I football.
