Mon Sep 23 22:30:59 UTC 2024: ## Mountain West Schools Stand Firm Amidst Conference Realignment Chaos

**Las Vegas, NV** – Despite the whirlwind of conference realignment across college athletics, several Mountain West schools are reportedly committed to staying put.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that UNLV and San Jose State will remain in the Mountain West, while The Athletic’s Chris Vannini confirmed Air Force will also stay. These schools are considered key to the conference’s future, according to Thamel.

The Mountain West leadership has been working hard to solidify the remaining eight members through financial agreements and grant of rights, with the conference expecting significant revenue from exit fees and poaching fees from the struggling Pac-12.

The news comes after the Pac-12 successfully lured Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State from the Mountain West. The Pac-12 is still in need of more football programs to meet College Football Playoff eligibility requirements and could be incentivized to absorb the rest of the Mountain West, potentially waiving exit fees.

Meanwhile, the American Athletic Conference has expressed interest in Air Force and UNLV, but the schools have ultimately decided to stay put.

Other schools, like Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, and UTSA, have also affirmed their commitment to the American Athletic Conference amidst rumored interest from other leagues.

While the conference realignment landscape is still shifting, these decisions provide some stability for the Mountain West. The future of the conference remains uncertain, but these schools’ commitments represent a positive step for the league as it navigates the changing landscape of college athletics.

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