Amid Pac-12 expansion rumors, 7 schools reconfirm MWC commitment as conference realignment hits G5 coast

The Pac-12 conference expansion and realignment games hit the Mountain West Conference hard, but a MWC commitment was secured on Thursday. Seven programs signed a document that reaffirmed their commitment to the conference until the 2031-32 season.

MWC Commissioner Gloria Nevarez has had to stabilize the boat in the past few days after the departure of Fresno State, Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State to the rejuvenated Pac-12.

On Thursday, she announced the shared MWC commitment from the seven remaining programs, including the UNLV Rebels and the Air Force Falcons, who had been extensively linked with conference realignment moves.

“The agreements announced today mark a historic moment for the Mountain West and provide much-needed stability and clarity as the world of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve rapidly,” commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement.

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How the MWC commitment was secured by commissioner

The Mountain West Conference and the Pac-12 had an existing scheduling agreement that allowed the latter to continue operating as an FBS conference with only two members (Oregon State Beavers & Washington State Cougars) during a two-year grace period allowed by the NCAA.

Commissioner Gloria Nevarez included an anti-poaching clause in the agreement between the conferences that would leave the Pac-12 on the hook for up to $11 million per program it poached from the MWC.

After the moves made on MWC schools by Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould, Nevarez categorically said that the agreement would be strictly adhered to, and the anti-poaching clause has seemingly secured the MWC commitment of seven programs and stopped its dissolution.

According to ESPN, the MWC convinced the UNLV Rebels and the Air Force Falcons to stay by promising them a significantly larger percentage of the exit fees owed by the departing members.

The Falcons and Rebels will receive $22 million each (24.5%) of the $90 million exit fees pot, while the remaining members will receive $14 million, excluding the only-football Hawaii ($4.5 million).

The Pac-12 took the Mountain West Conference to court for the anti-poaching fees clause, calling it "draconian." That seems to have secured the support of the most important programs in the conference, allowing for the larger MWC commitment and the future of the conference.

The Mountain West Conference is now left with Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming. The conference will have to make its own conference realignment moves to move back to eight programs to be considered FBS-compliant same as the Pac-12.