The next steps for the Pac-12 Conference could go a number of directions.
One of those directions could be to join and collaborate with the Mountain West Conference, according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports. Dellenger reported that the Mountain West “is receptive” to working with the Pac-12 to determine best courses of action.
An obstacle that could hinder the ability for the Pac-12 to possibly merge with the Mountain West is the exit fee per school in the latter conference. Dellenger reported that for a Mountain West program to leave in time for 2024 then the exit fee is about $34 million.
The Mountain West currently has 12 programs in its conference. On the other hand, as the dust settled on a historic past week surrounding conference expansion, the Pac-12 is left with four schools: Cal, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State.
If the Pac-12 and Mountain West are able to work something out to continue the legacies of each respective conference, potential matchups could pit Utah State against Oregon State or Air Force against Stanford.
According to Brian McInnis of Spectrum News Hawaii, Hawaii football head coach Timmy Chang said he thinks the Mountain West is the best Group of 5 conference and that “however this thing shakes out, I feel comfortable about where we are as a conference and group.”
