Amid the conference realignment chaos of the past two years, including the Pac-12's ongoing efforts to cobble together a league from the ruins of its recent marquee defections, the Mountain West Conference — in "a demonstration of shared commitment and unity" — announced Thursday that seven member institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to remain in the league.
According to the announcement, the conference and the institutions have also formally agreed to execute a Grant of Media Rights from the member institutions to the Conference from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2032.
“Our immediate priority was solidifying the membership of the Mountain West. Now our focus turns to our collective future on behalf of our student-athletes,” said conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “The agreements announced today mark a historic moment for the Mountain West and provide much-needed stability and clarity as the world of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve rapidly. We are excited about our future and are executing our next steps in expanding the Mountain West. We will continue to prioritize the student-athlete experience and do all we can to support our institutions as they compete at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics.”
The United States Air Force Academy, University of Hawaiʻi, Manoa, University of Nevada, Reno, University of New Mexico, San José State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Wyoming all are a part of the new agreement with the Mountain West.
According to the announcement, the Mountain West will provide distribution payments to the remaining member schools in accordance with the bylaws of the Mountain West utilizing the following formulas: Air Force and UNLV will receive 24.5%, Nevada, New Mexico, San José State and Wyoming 11.5%, and Hawaiʻi 5%.
“I commend the members of the Mountain West Conference and Commissioner Nevarez for their commitment to ensuring a competitive future for our league and for their dedication to our student-athletes, their success, and overall experience,” said Mountain West board chair and UNLV president Keith Whitfield.
