Mountain West Releases Statement On ‘Potential For Conference Realignment”
Jul 26, 2021, 3:58 PM
Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson speaking at the conclusion of the Mountain West Conference Championship game between the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium in Boise Idaho, USA. Boise State won the game 28-14. (Photo by Loren Orr/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Loren Orr/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Mountain West Conference released a statement concerning the “potential for conference realignment” following Texas and Oklahoma’s announcement that they would not renew their grants of media rights.
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The Longhorns and Sooners essentially became free agents in college football after the announcement. The two schools have a deal with the Big 12 Conference that runs into 2025.
After Texas and Oklahoma’s statement, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson released the following statement:
“The Mountain West immediately engaged when we became aware of the potential for conference realignment. That has included gathering information over the past few days from across the industry, and earlier today our board of directors and directors of athletics convened to evaluate that intelligence and discuss next steps. Our intent is to actively appraise various scenarios, identify potential opportunities and take actions which can positively impact the trajectory of the conference and our member institutions. We will do our work confidentially and only comment further as appropriate or necessary.” – Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) July 26, 2021
The Mountain West has experience conference realignment as much as any of the Power Five leagues have in the past few decades.
After the league was formed in 1999, it remained stable until the addition of TCU in 2005.
Utah and BYU became the Mountain West’s first departures in 2011 when the Utes went to the Pac-12 and the Cougars became an FBS independent.
What seismic shift is coming for college football in 2025 with today's announcement?https://t.co/ESOuL4d81A
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 26, 2021
Boise State joined the conference in 2011 before TCU left in 2012.
In 2012, the Mountain West added Fresno State, Hawaii (football), and Nevada.
A year later, the conference added San Jose State and Utah State.
The Mountain West hasn’t added any full-time members since the Spartans and Aggies in 2013.
The conference held its 2021 Media Day earlier in July.
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