3 reasons why UNLV to Pac-12 move could create seismic shifts in conference realignment landscape

As the conference realignment moves continue, UNLV to Pac-12 has become a distinct possibility to give the reorganizing conference its eighth member after the Utah State Aggies jumped ship from the Mountain West Conference on Monday. The conference is currently operating under a two-year grace period granted by the NCAA that allows it to continue operations until July 2026.

On Monday, the MWC circled the wagons in an attempt to stem the bleeding brought about by the loss of five members to the rebuilding Pac-12, with the latest move being made by the Aggies.

Here are reasons why a move by UNLV to Pac-12 would create seismic shifts in the realignment picture.

#3, UNLV moving could lead to dissolution of the MWC

The Mountain West was already on thin ice with the moves made by Fresno State, Boise State, San Diego State and Colorado State. The move by the Utah State Aggies came as a shock to the conference, and UNLV to Pac-12 could be the death knell of the conference.

According to the MWC regulations, the conference would be dissolved should nine members vote to do so. With the Air Force Falcons and the UNLV Rebels' commitment wavering, all it would take would be two more schools signing on to represent the possible end of the conference.

#2, UNLV move could lead to waived exit fees

In case of the dissolution of the MWC in case of a nine-member vote, the schools would not be required to give the customary notice period or pay the hefty exit fees required by the by-laws.

According to an insider source reported by Yahoo Sports, the Pac-12 might be counting on the MWC's dissolution to avoid paying the exit and anti-poaching fees, which are in excess of $111 million.

“That’s the play, honestly,” one athletic director with knowledge of the situation said in the Yahoo Sports story.

#1, UNLV to Pac-12 would make conference FBS-compliant

Conferences are required to have eight members to be considered members of the FBS in good standing, but after the plunder of the Pac-12 last year, the NCAA granted the conference a two-year waiver to operate with two programs, which now play their games in association with the Mountain West.

UNLV to Pac-12 would make the conference whole way before the July 2026 deadline and speed Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould's conference on its way to elite status once again.

Last year, when the Pac-12 was stripped for parts, the death of the "conference of champions" seemed like an inevitability, but within the span of two weeks, it seems well on its way to becoming a fully functioning conference once more.