Las Vegas and Colorado Springs Solidify Mountain West Conference’s Future with UNLV and Air Force Retention

Las Vegas and Colorado Springs Celebrate a Big Win for the Mountain West Conference

In a surprising twist that has people buzzing, Las Vegas and Colorado Springs just got a huge boost for the Mountain West Conference. Both UNLV and Air Force have decided to stick around the Mountain West for the foreseeable future. This news, reported late Wednesday night, has brought a sigh of relief to fans and school officials, especially given the chatter about possible dissolutions and shake-ups in collegiate sports.

A Conference at the Crossroads

Just a little background for those who might not be following every twist and turn in the world of college athletics: the Mountain West was looking pretty shaky lately. With some schools jumping ship to the newly revamped Pac-12, there were real fears that the conference could collapse altogether. The Pac-12, which was left scrambling after a bunch of its schools bolted for bigger leagues like the Big Ten and Big 12, recently snatched up teams like Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Utah State.

This left the Mountain West in a tough spot, especially since they were down to only six full members and seven football-playing schools. If UNLV had decided to jump ship, the whole house of cards could have tumbled down. But it looks like some enticing financial incentives made all the difference, prompting both schools to sign on for the long haul.

What’s on the Table?

While we don’t have all the nitty-gritty details just yet, the Mountain West is promising some serious financial rewards for all its programs, with UNLV and Air Force getting larger pieces of the pie. This deal is shaking things up in a big way and should keep the conference intact for the next few years.

As of Thursday, it’s expected that the seven remaining schools of the Mountain West will all get on board and sign a binding agreement. That move is crucial for cementing the league’s future. It’s a promising step for everyone involved, and fans have to be feeling a lot more secure knowing that their teams won’t be stuck trying to find a new home anytime soon.

The Bigger Picture

But let’s not forget; the Mountain West isn’t completely out of the woods yet. They still need to add a couple more schools to hit the NCAA’s sweet spot for conference membership. Right now, they have six full members, and with the inclusion of Hawaii, they can claim seven football members. However, they’re still shy of the minimum number required for NCAA and College Football Playoff eligibility.

And what about the Pac-12? With UNLV and Air Force firmly in the fold, that conference now needs to keep searching for an eighth member, which could prove tricky considering how things are unfolding.

What’s Next?

As the dust settles from this major decision, it’s clear that keeping both UNLV and Air Force in the Mountain West conference is a big win for the league. Their presence helps maintain some much-needed stability in a time of upheaval for college sports.

In the end, it seems like the Mountain West has pulled off a minor miracle. They’ve managed to keep two key players on the board, which bodes well for their future. The focus now shifts to how they’ll strategize to fill out their roster with additional schools to strengthen the conference as they move forward.

For now, fans in both Las Vegas and Colorado Springs have a lot to feel good about. It looks like it’s game on for the Mountain West, and with any luck, this momentum will help them grow into an even stronger league.