Future of Mountain West/ Utah State Uncertain Amidst Yet Another CFB Relocation

The PAC-12 was ravaged a little more than a year ago as 10 of the 12 teams departed to the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC.

The mass exodus left Oregon State and Washington State out in the cold facing the harshest reality in what is the new “era” of college football.

With nowhere to go, The Beavers and Cougars stayed put, unknowing what the future would hold.

Today that future has arrived as the Pac-12, a once sinking ship, has reemerged on a small raft out at sea.

A conference left for dead has found new life by adding Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State and…. Colorado State.

With a bare minimum of two more additions on the way (the requirement for an FBS conference) the Pac is officially back!

That wasn't so hard was it?

Sure some fees must be paid, and there are some extra items of business to iron out, but man it’s great to see a dying conference brought back from the depths of hell right?

The cost however goes well beyond finances, as an ugly problem still persists even among the triumph.

The same brutality that ravaged the Pac-12 back in August of 2023, is now responsible for saving it.

Sure the amount/quality of teams taken isn't on par but the theming remains the same.

In order to give life to a conference you have to be willing to potentially end one.

The 4 new additions in Boise State, Fresno State, SDSU and CSU all were members of the Mountain West Conference, two of such since the late 90’s.

With the sudden departure of those 4 schools, the Mountain West is now facing the same uncertainty and fear that the Pac-12 familiarized themselves with not long ago.

As of now, this shakeup scheduled to take place in 2026, would leave the Mountain West with 8 teams, enough to move forward on paper, but no guarantee to check every other required box.

Those Teams would be:

UNLV

SAN JOSE STATE

HAWAII (football only)

UTAH STATE

NEVADA

NEW MEXICO

WYOMING

AIR FORCE

And that is as of now. There is no guarantee any of these teams will still be around come 2026.

Remember the new Pac-12 still needs bodies and could double dip into the Mountain West if they don’t end up with a Texas State/Tulane type of team.

Air Force and UNLV have been linked early on as suitors per Brett McMurphy of Action Network, and if UNLV goes there’s a high chance that Nevada goes with.

Air Force and the American Athletic Conference could see each other as options as the AAC already houses the two other military schools in Army and Navy.

So what does the Mountain West have in terms of future options?

If things seem salvageable, they now have a bunch of cash to try and lure other schools at the G5 level simply put.

Some of those schools would likely include New Mexico State or the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP), but outside of location benefits the other perks of joining the Mountain West likely wouldn't sway many established groups away from their current conference.

This is where the Mountain West would have to do the impossible and try to sway comfortable powerhouses at the FCS level to jump into an uncertain future of FBS G5 football.

Montana, Montana State, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Idaho teams like that would likely all be attractive options for the Mountain West if they can get these schools to replicate the feeling.

Even deep sleeper options like Sacramento State, Tarleton State or even… Weber State (just putting this out there) could end up on the table here based on how things unfurl.

But I promise you this, an FCS team, let alone an FCS powerhouse is no guarantee to move on over without some serious convincing.

It isn't moving from the G-league to the NBA for teams like North Dakota State but rather going from playing overseas to the G-league.

Whether schools like that feel the move up is worth it, will be based on the Mountain West’s persuasion and finances.

Lastly, they could do what the Pac-12 refused to do and simply lay down and die.

The 25 year old conference could give in to be devoured by the power hungry monster known as modern college football leaving the remaining teams to fend for themselves whether that means going new conference hunting, going independent or dipping to the FCS level.

Who the Aggies play, where they play, who they represent and what they play for will eventually be made known, but for now Aggie fans can only wait and watch as the remaining Tetris blocks make their way down.