Mountain West Secures New TV Deal Amid Post-Pac-12 Transition

The Mountain West Conference has finalized its new television agreement, marking a significant step in its evolution amidst changes in college sports. This latest deal extends partnerships with CBS Sports and Fox Sports while introducing The CW to its broadcast lineup. It follows the departure of five institutions moving to a revamped Pac-12, which will resume full operations as a Football Bowl Subdivision conference this summer.

Key Changes and Developments

The Mountain West has managed to retain its seven remaining schools, successfully adding new members. The conference will also relocate its headquarters from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas this summer.

Participating Schools

• Air Force
• Grand Canyon (non-football)
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Northern Illinois (football-only)
• San Jose State
• UC Davis (non-football)
• UNLV
• UTEP
• Wyoming

Hawaii will transition to a full member this summer. Previously, it had a separate local television deal for its home games.

Details of the New Television Deal

This television deal stabilizes the Mountain West, with agreements spanning six years, starting in fall 2026 and concluding in summer 2032. The CW’s involvement comes as a five-year contract, which includes an option for a sixth year. Though the financial specifics remain undisclosed, Commissioner Gloria Nevarez assures that legacy members will continue to receive approximately $3.5 million annually, as guaranteed in the new grant of rights.

Broadcasting Coverage

Under the new agreement, over 150 conference events will air on linear television each year, including around 41 football games. This maintains the previous deal’s ratio relative to the number of participating schools. Specific allocations include:

• Fox Sports:
  • 12 regular season football games
  • 20 men’s basketball games
  • Football championship game airing
• CBS Sports Network:
  • 14 regular season football games
  • 18 men’s basketball games, plus tournament quarterfinals and semifinals
  • Championship game airing on CBS
  • Two regular season women’s basketball games and tournament championship
• The CW:
  • 13 regular season football games
  • 20 men’s basketball games
  • 15 women’s basketball games

All games aired on CBS will be available for streaming on Paramount Plus.

Mountain West App Transition

The Mountain West App will shift from a free streaming service to a subscription model, offering two pricing tiers starting in July. This transition aims to provide financial benefits directly to participating schools based on subscription numbers.

Future Outlook

The Mountain West and Pac-12’s current competitive landscape raises questions about potential mergers. However, differences in resource allocation and strategic interests have led to distinct paths. According to Nevarez, “I think one league in the west would be stronger, make more sense. But competition can also make folks stronger and lead to more.”

As these developments unfold, the Mountain West is poised for an exciting future with enhanced visibility and stability, reflecting ongoing changes in the college sports landscape.