With conversations growing regarding the future of the Pac-12 Conference, many have turned their eyes to the remaining members of the Mountain West.
News broke on Thursday that the remaining members of the Pac-12, Oregon State and Washington State, have joined forces with four members of the Mountain West and potentially have their eyes on more.
After adding Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State, and Boise State, the league sits at six members. The minimum team requirement for the league is eight teams by 2026, which would allow the team to continue operating under Pac-12 operations.
According to a report from CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, “Multiple sources have told CBS Sports the eight remaining Mountain West schools remain in play for the Pac-12. They have not been eliminated from consideration. The question is why they weren’t announced on Thursday.”
While the remaining Mountain West teams are certainly still in the conversation to join the Pac-12, two teams are currently ahead of the pack in the expansion picture. On Saturday, ahead of the 11:00 a.m. slate of games, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman provided an interesting update regarding the status of further Pac-12 expansion.
“Sources tell me that the Pac-12 have some interest in Tulane and Memphis in the AAC,” Feldman said. “There’s a bunch of other schools they are also considering. Keep in mind, this is not going to be an automatic bid into the CFP, so we’ll see how much interest comes on the other side of this as the league reforms itself.”
The remaining members left in the Mountain West following the Pac-12’s acquisition would be Air Force, Nevada, UNLV, New Mexico, San Jose State, Utah State, and Wyoming.
As further conversations take place behind the scenes, as improbable as it seemed circa 2023, the Pac-12 appears to have found a way to survive impending doom through conference expansion.
