Add Utah State to the list of schools parting the Mountain West Conference for the revamped Pac-12. This, of course, now solidifies the Pac-12 and leaves the Mountain West in chaos.
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This season, Washington State and Oregon State are the only Pac-12 programs after a mass exodus. But the conference recently revealed that MWC programs Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State are coming on board. So Utah State is just the latest.
"With Utah State on its way out, the Mountain West and the Pac-12 are at seven members apiece,' wrote Shehan Jeyarajah and Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports. "The Mountain West did get signed grants-of-rights from seven of its current member institutions, including UNLV, according to Yahoo Sports. But without signatures from at least eight schools, the minimum required to be recognized as an FBS conference, the MWC is still in danger of dissolution and the grant of rights is not binding — meaning that UNLV and Air Force, which has drawn interest from other schools, could still leave."
As for media rights and TV contracts ... well, that's still TBD.
"The new Pac-12 doesn't have a new TV deal for its seven current members who won't play together until 2026," Jeyarajah and Dodd wrote. "The Mountain West's current deal expires in 20 months. In fact, sources tell CBS Sports both conferences have proactively sought out media partners without knowing for sure the makeup of their respective lineups.
"In addition, it is believed the Pac-12 was pitching to those American schools a media rights deal that would pay $10 million to $15 million per year. That's where the speculative part comes into play. As mentioned, neither the MWC or Pac-12 have a long-term media rights deal."
