Pac-12 expansion chaos: Mountain West in survival mode as Utah State defected, AAC schools rejected interest
The Pac-12’s efforts to expand after adding Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State got chaotic Monday. After being rebuffed early in the day by AAC targets, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello that Utah State has accepted an invitation to join the league starting in 2026.
With Utah State’s departure, the Mountain West and Pac-12 each have seven members. A league must have eight members to be recognized by the NCAA as an FBS conference.
The new Pac-12 does not have a new television deal for its seven current members, who will not play together until 2026. The Mountain West’s current deal expires in 20 months. In fact, sources told CBS Sports that both conferences have been actively looking for media partners without knowing for sure who their respective teams will be. Additionally, the Pac-12 is believed to be offering these American schools a media rights deal that would pay them between $10 million and $15 million per year. This is where the speculation part comes in. As mentioned earlier, neither the MWC nor the Pac-12 have long-term media rights deals in place. Streaming is reportedly part of the Pac-12’s media rights plan.
CBS Sports has confirmed that Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez is trying to convince her existing schools to sign at least a five-year rights deal in order to enter the market. It’s kind of like putting the cart before the horse; the Mountain West is seeking media deals without knowing its roster. Now it’s trying to shore up that roster with a rights deal.
Industry sources were skeptical of the move, as the league had just lost its top four programs — Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Boise State — to the Pac-12. Sources told CBS Sports that those four schools were “incentivized” to join the Pac-12 for $5 million to $7 million each, drawn from the Pac-12’s war fund. The total price tag for all four — exit fees and penalties — is $45 million, which will theoretically be funded at some point by the Pac-12.
AAC objectives remain in place
Earlier Monday, Memphis, Tulane, UTSA and USF — all of which were reportedly targeted by the Pac-12 — released statements reaffirming their commitment to the AAC.
“A conference that prioritizes the well-being of student-athletes, boasts proud academic institutions, produces fierce competition at the highest level, and has exceptional national linear and direct-to-consumer media partners,” the AAC said in a statement. “Together, we are committed to continuing to build the American brand, exploring new opportunities for visibility and value, and developing innovative economic resources, all in service of our student-athletes. While we recognize the interest our institutions receive from other conferences, we firmly believe it is in our individual and collective best interests to honor our commitment to one another. Together, we will continue to modernize the conference, enhance the student-athlete experience, achieve championship success, and build for the future.”
According to Yahoo Sports, the Pac-12 claimed in a presentation that the league would be able to generate a per-school distribution of $12 million if the AAC big boys joined the league. That figure would be up from the nearly $9 million that AAC programs receive. At the same time, moving to the Pac-12 would require an exit fee that could reach $25 million.
The four American schools were convinced to stay because of stability; the league has an existing television contract that expires in 2032. They were reminded that the Pac-12 and Mountain West fields were “speculative” because of the lack of a television contract.
The moves are a major victory for the AAC as it attempts to maintain its place among the nation’s top non-power leagues. The conference has been a continual expansion target over the past decade, sending four schools in total to the Big 12 and ACC. Now, the league is holding on to its most valuable assets.
