Pac-12 adding Utah State, in talks with Gonzaga, as Mountain West tries to hold UNLV

Ralph D. Russo, Associated Press

The Pac-12 is adding Utah State arsenic its seventh personnel and is successful discussions pinch hoops powerhouse Gonzaga to subordinate nan rebuilding convention successful 2026, aggregate group pinch knowledge of nan business told The Associated Press connected Monday.

In a whirlwind time of maneuvering by 3 leagues, Utah State and UNLV of nan Mountain West became premier targets for nan Pac-12 aft a group of American Athletic Conference schools decided to enactment put, pursuing a transportation to subordinate nan rebuilding Conference of Champions.

Utah State, based successful Logan, accepted nan Pac-12’s invitation, according to 2 people, but UNLV’s determination was uncertain Monday nighttime arsenic Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez worked to support nan conference’s remaining schools together.

The Mountain West received commitments from Air Force and San Jose State earlier successful nan day, according to 2 different group pinch knowledge of that conference’s situation, but it was unclear if thing was binding if nan remainder of nan remaining members were not connected board. Air Force had been drafting liking from nan AAC to subordinate Army and Navy successful that conference.

The different Mountain West schools see New Mexico, Wyoming, Nevada and Hawaii for shot only.

The group each said connected information of anonymity because some Pac-12’s and Mountain West’s strategy and soul discussions were not being made public.

The Pac-12’s latest description addition, which was not instantly confirmed by nan league, came hours aft 4 American Athletic Conference schools announced they remained committed to nan AAC.

Memphis, Tulane, South Florida and UTSA released a connection that made nary mention of nan Pac-12, but respective group pinch knowledge of those talks told AP nan convention had targeted those schools arsenic imaginable caller members.

“While we admit receiving liking successful our institutions from different conferences, we firmly judge that it is successful our individual and corporate champion interests to uphold our committedness to each other,” nan schools said. “Together, we will proceed to modernize nan conference, elevate nan student-athlete experience, execute championship-winning successes, and build nan future.”

The Pac-12 began to restock for a 2026 relaunch 2 weeks agone by landing Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State from nan Mountain West to subordinate Washington State and Oregon State, nan only 2 Pac-12 schools near aft a melodramatic information of realignment took effect this summer.

The Pac-12 needed astatine slightest 2 much members successful each sports to scope nan 8 required to beryllium a recognized convention pinch entree to NCAA championships and nan College Football Playoff successful 2026.

With Utah State connected board, that’s down to 1 and nan convention is exploring options beyond conscionable UNLV.

Zags
Adding Gonzaga would springiness nan Pac-12 1 of nan champion men’s hoops programs successful nan country. The Bulldogs person thrived successful nan West Coast Conference, reaching nan NCAA Tournament each twelvemonth it has been played since 1998, pinch 2 Final Four appearances and 8 seasons of astatine slightest 30 victories. Gonzaga does not person a shot program.

The schoolhouse has successful nan past talked to nan Big East astir convention affiliation, and nan Big 12 has discussed perchance adding Gonzaga to its beardown men’s hoops lineup, arsenic it did pinch UConn earlier this year.

The Zags person besides go a perennial tourney squad successful women’s basketball.

Adding Gonzaga would still time off nan Pac-12 successful request of different football-playing personnel for CFP purposes.

Money matters
One personification pinch knowledge of nan discussions betwixt nan Pac-12 and AAC schools said nan conference’s transportation included a projected $12 cardinal to $15 cardinal yearly media-rights distribution to each school. The schools were besides presented pinch options to subordinate solely successful shot and hoops to alleviate recreation costs associated pinch different sports programs making trips crossed 1 aliases 2 times zones.

All nan Pac-12 schools are successful nan Mountain and Pacific clip zones. The Pac-12 was targeting caller members successful nan Central clip area arsenic a measurement to perchance summation worth for imaginable tv partners.

Leaving nan AAC would person been costly for nan schools. The conference’s bylaws require a 27-month notification for departing schools and a $10 cardinal exit fee. The required early departure would costs more.

When UConn near nan AAC to return to nan Big East it costs nan schoolhouse $17 million, but nan convention received $25 cardinal successful a lump sum from SMU for an expedited move to nan ACC this year.

The Pac-12 and its 4 newest members are already connected nan hook for astir $110 cardinal successful exit fees and penalties to nan Mountain West, a imaginable windfall for that convention to stock pinch schools that take to enactment aliases join.

Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould has declined to item really that costs will beryllium shared by nan incoming schools and conference, which is sitting connected astir $250 cardinal successful gross nan erstwhile loop of nan convention was successful statement to person this twelvemonth and next.

A shot scheduling statement betwixt Oregon State, Washington State and nan Mountain West, which was not renewed for adjacent year, includes a poaching punishment of much than $10 cardinal per schoolhouse that increases arsenic nan number of schools nan Pac-12 takes increases.

The punishment will beryllium $12 cardinal for Utah State, and would summation to $12.5 cardinal if UNLV besides joins. That’s connected apical of a $17 cardinal exit fee.