Mountain West exploring all options, including expansion amid changes
UNLV guard EJ Harkless (55) shoots between Boise State forward Tyson Degenhart (2) and guard Chibuzo Agbo (11) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the Mountain West tournament Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 | 2 a.m.
The Mountain West Conference is “exploring all opportunities” including expansion, according to a statement released Wednesday by the league’s Board of Directors.
The announcement comes amid a tumultuous few weeks for West Coast football, in which six schools chose to leave the Pac-12 at the end of the 2023-24 athletic year. That left the Pac-12 with only four members — Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford and California, schools that fit well within the Mountain West’s geographic footprint.
The Mountain West currently has 12 members — Air Force, Boise State, Fresno State, San Jose State, San Diego State, Hawaii, UNLV, Nevada, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming. There were rumblings earlier this summer that San Diego State might be looking to join the Pac-12, but the Mountain West’s exorbitant exit fee kept the Aztecs in place.
Meanwhile, USC and UCLA announced last year they will join the Big Ten in 2024, with Oregon and Washington also set to join them. Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State will depart at the same time for the Big 12.
The ACC is also exploring expansion, and has reportedly had preliminary discussions about adding Cal and Stanford.
Here’s the full Mountain West statement:
“Monday night, the Mountain West Board of Directors, comprised of our 12 Presidents, met to reaffirm our collective commitment to the Conference and its future. With the recent changes in membership composition in several conferences, the Mountain West is exploring all opportunities to strengthen the league, including through the addition of new member schools. Board of Directors Chair President Garnett Stokes of the University of New Mexico and Commissioner Gloria Nevarez will be the voice of the Conference and will lead the ongoing explorations of possibilities before presenting any to the Board. We are strong in who we are and proud of the exceptional experience we provide the student-athletes of the Mountain West Conference.”