Reports: Multiple targets emerge for Mountain West after Pac-12 departures

Multiple targets are starting to emerge for the Mountain West after losing five teams to the Pac-12, according to reports. Texas State, Northern Illinois and Toledo are all being explored as MWC members as more conference realignment dominoes start to fall.

Texas State is in consideration as a full member of the Mountain West, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. Northern Illinois and Toledo, however, would be football-only members. MWC commissioner Gloria Nevarez informed MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher of the league’s interest in both schools, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

Texas State is seen as an up-and-coming program amid the ongoing round of conference realignment. The Bobcats struggled after moving up to FBS in 2012, but G.J. Kinne took them to an 8-5 record in 2023. They’re also off to a 2-1 start to the 2024 campaign, with their only loss coming to Arizona State.

As for Northern Illinois, the Huskies became the talk of college football after an upset victory over Notre Dame in Week 2. They’ve won two MAC titles since 2018 and have been on a steady rise under Thomas Hammock since he took over at his alma mater in 2019.

Although Toledo hasn’t won a MAC title, the Rockets have still been impressive under Jason Candle. He has a 68-39 record at the helm and four seasons with at least nine wins, including an 11-3 record in 2023 to make the conference title game.

More on the Mountain West’s next steps in realignment

The Mountain West has now lost five teams to the Pac-12 amid another round of realignment. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State were all in the initial announcement earlier this month, and Utah State joined the fray earlier this week.

More MWC teams were under consideration by the Pac-12, but they all signed binding commitment agreements Thursday and will see new distribution payments thanks to the exit fees coming into the league.

UNLV and Air Force – widely viewed as the top targets for the Pac-12 – will receive 24.5% of the distribution. Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State and Wyoming will all receive 11.5% while Hawaii will get 5% as a football-only member.

The Mountain West’s next step will be to reach the eight-team threshold to be considered an FBS conference. By rule, there is a two-year grace period, meaning the league has until 2028 to get to eight teams. The five departures won’t take place until 2026.

The two conferences are also in the midst of a legal battle. Late last week, the Pac-12 sued the Mountain West over “poaching penalties” in their scheduling agreement. Those are not related to the exit fees under conference bylaws.

Under the agreement, the Pac-12 agreed to a penalty of $10 million for the first Mountain West school acquired, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. From there, the figure would increase by roughly $1 million per school. With five additions on the way from the MWC, the Pac-12 would owe roughly $50 million.

In a statement Tuesday, Nevarez said this situation is why the clause was in the agreement. She then called out the idea that the Mountain West was “taking advantage of” the Pac-12, which consists of just two teams this year after a groundbreaking round of conference realignment.