Report: Utah State to Join Pac-12; UNLV Renews Conversations amid Realignment Rumors

Andrew PetersSeptember 24, 2024

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Utah State is heading to the Pac-12.

Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Utah State accepted an invitation from the conference and will be the Pac-12’s seventh member in its new formatting, joining Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State, which also left the Mountain West Conference for the Pac-12.

Subsequentially, UNLV is expected to reengage in conversations with the Pac-12 following Utah State’s move, Thamel reported. UNLV previously committed to the Mountain West on Monday, though that commitment was not formalized.

According to Thamel, UNLV agreed to a memorandum of understanding to remain in the Mountain West, though the commitment depended on all eight remaining schools staying in the conference.

After Utah State accepted the invitation, UNLV decided to pause talks with the Mountain West and explore other options.

As it stands now, Air Force, Hawai’i, New Mexico, Nevada, San Jose State and Wyoming are the only remaining members in the Mountain West, meaning the conference would need two more football-playing schools by 2028 to meet NCAA requirements.

The Mountain West was prepared to give UNLV a significant lump payment to remain in the conference. Air Force was also one of the schools that was promised a payment to stay in the Mountain West.

While a move to the Pac-12 could potentially lead to more financial opportunities in the future for UNLV, it would first need to pay a significant exit fee to the Mountain West. According to Thamel, the conference is already set to earn $120 million from the departures of Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State.

The Pac-12 is now up to seven schools with the addition of Utah State, but still needs an eighth member to be recognized as an official conference, meaning a commitment from UNLV would be crucial.

The Pac-12 has also targeted schools outside of its geographical footprint like Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA, but those four schools all committed to staying with the American Athletic Conference on Monday.

The Pac-12 was facing its demise after 10 schools left for the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC, but the conference has experienced a resurrection in recent weeks and is close to securing its future.