Report: Boise State, San Diego State Not Leaving Mountain West Conference
Sep 30, 2021, 11:31 AM
BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 18: The Boise State Broncos cheer squad leads the team on the the field prior to the start of first half action between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Boise State Broncos on September 18, 2021 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – After the Big 12 Conference added four teams earlier this month, conference realignment has been busy at the Group of Five level. The American Athletic Conference who lost three schools from the Big 12’s expansion (UCF, Houston, Cincinnati), is looking to add new members.
Schools in Utah State’s league, the Mountain West Conference, have been targets by the AAC. But two of the top MWC schools, who likely received attention from the AAC, won’t be making the jump.
According to Yahoo’s Pete Thamel report, Boise State and San Diego State will not be leaving the Mountain West.
Sources: Boise State and San Diego State informed the Mountain West today that they intend to stay in the conference.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 30, 2021
Boise State and San Diego State staying in place is vital for the MWC moving forward as they are two of the top programs in the league. The two schools also could be targeting an eventual move to the Big 12 Conference.
Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt, a member of the Big 12 expansion subcommittee, said earlier this month that the Big 12 could be exploring expansion over the next eight to ten years. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby has said the league could expand to 20 to 24 teams.
If that happened, teams like Boise State and San Diego State would likely be attractive candidates.
Two teams in the Mountain West Conference reportedly engaged in talks with the AAC include Colorado State and Air Force. CBS’ Matt Norlander reported that Air Force and CSU to the AAC is “getting closer, not across the line yet.”
Can confirm @Brett_McMurphy reporting in that Colorado St + Air Force are heavily involved in talks to leave the MW, join the AAC. Brett reporting it's "likely next week."
Source tells CBS: "Getting closer, not across the line yet." Clear desire for the AAC to add more than two.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) September 28, 2021
Air Force and Colorado State are two of the MWC’s founding members when the league was created in 1999.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
[ss-signup design_id=”2205276″]
