NCAA bylaws grant conferences a two-year grace period to get back to a minimum eight members in the event of departures. After that, OSU and WSU’s options boil down to two main possibilities: join a Power 4 conference or rebuild their league, most likely with all Mountain West schools thanks to details in OSU and WSU’s new football contract with the league.

“Priority one is to join an existing power conference. Option two is to build back a power conference with the Pac-12 banner,” Barnes said. “An option might be what we call a reverse merger that might include adding existing Mountain West and the like. But that all needs to be developed over the next several months while keeping an eye on the landscape.”

But the agreement with the Mountain West, obtained by The Athletic through a public records request, is a lot more than simply a few football games in exchange for $14 million.

The contract, executed on Dec. 1, says that from the moment of its effective date, the schools will “negotiate in good faith the consummation, as promptly as reasonably practicable, of a definitive transaction pursuant to which all MWC Member Institutions join Pac-12 as Pac-12 member institutions with no MWC Exit Fee payable by any MWC Member Institution to MWC. The invitations, if made, would be effective as of the 2025-2026 NCAA season or the 2026-2027 NCAA season.”

What really protects the Mountain West is that the obligations of the contract survive for two years past the end date of the agreement, which is currently Aug. 1, 2025 but could be extended to 2026. OSU and WSU face penalties if they were to join a conference other than the Mountain West or a Power 4 league during that time.

Oregon State and Washington State would also owe significant withdrawal fees, on a sliding scale, if they were to invite some but not all Mountain West schools to the Pac-12. Adding one school would cost $10 million. Adding six schools would cost $67.5 million; 11 schools would cost $137.5 million, not including their exit fees for leaving the Mountain West.

But if the Pac-2 invites all 12 Mountain West schools to reverse-merge into a Pac-14? That would cost nothing. The conference had leverage and used it, in an attempt to protect all of its teams from being left behind. One wild-card scenario: Nine of the 12 Mountain West schools can vote to dissolve the conference, allowing them to leave for the Pac-12 without any exit fees. To this point, that possibility has not had enough votes to be an option.

Both sides said talk of an actual merger has not begun and is still far off. They need to see where the landscape of college sports is heading, and that outlook changes every day.

Nevarez met with Oregon State and Washington State in the fall to pitch them on joining the league, which will soon be the only West Coast-based FBS conference. School officials were impressed with Nevarez, who previously led the WCC, but didn’t want to commit to the conference.

Some officials around college sports wish Oregon State and Washington State would give up the fight and simply merge with the Mountain West, smooth out their transition and use the Pac-12 money to prop up the rest of their athletic departments. “They just haven’t accepted that reality,” one high-ranking official from another conference said.

But OSU and WSU leaders have maintained they will continue to fund and carry themselves at a Power 5 level, and given the massive realignment moves that have taken place in the past three years, buying themselves time could open unforeseen possibilities.

So to summarize: In two years the MW will become the PAC-14; Gloria will be commissioner and everyone in college athletics knows this is the answer and wants it done now but the OSU and Wazzu Presidents and ADs want to spend the money coming to them like two women recently divorced on a shopping trip to NYC instead of using it to settle debt.

So much so that Chip Kelly resigned as HC to take the OC job at Ohio State. No one thinks this setup is sustainable.

According to 247 Sports, Wyoming has the third best bb recruiting class in the MW behind San Diego State and Is UNLV. If we could pick up a couple of stud transfers, we could make it a very special recruiting class.

Sucks!! Will UW ever shake the NDSU tree? Jeff Phelps hired

With 7 min left, Cowgirls lead 53-35. I think 5 Cowgirls have made threes this game, Barnes, Pederson, Mellema, McKenna, & Ustowska.

The late signing period starts tomorrow. Here is the updated lists.

UW FOOTBALL 2024 SIGNED/COMMITMENT LIST:
UW INCOMING TRANSFER LIST: https://n.rivals.com/transfer_search/football?exit_college_name=["Wyoming"]&page_number=1&sort=last_name=ASC

UW OUTGOING TRANSFER LIST: https://n.rivals.com/transfer_search/football?origin_college_name=["Wyoming"]&page_number=1&sort=last_name=ASC

of the AA last night? What did he do or say?

Nevada led a good deal of the first half. Score is now tied at halftime. We need tougher D and need to fight harder for rebounds. Nevada had some 2nd & 3rd chances . Mellema has fought the hardest so far on D. We haven’t had many open looks at the three & are missing too many inside shots that usually fall for us. Small crowd due to the bad weather.

Rivals seems to be out of touch sometimes. They list Bleyne Bryant as a two star recruit, whereas 247 has elevated him to a four star recruit, interesting decrepancy.

Beat NDSU 30-13 today.

The Cowboys were a totally different team today than the team that wrestled Friday night. I’m thinking that Coach Branch must of light a fire under them. Probably a good old fashioned ass chewing. Of course, NDSU isn’t as tough as SDSU either, but the Pokes were very aggressive today and just looked tough.

Looked to be a great crowd.

• Live Coverage
• Wyoming Game Notes

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Feb. 1, 2024) - The Wyoming Cowboys wrap up their two -game road swing on Saturday with a trip to Las Vegas to take on UNLV inside the Thomas & Mack Center in a 6 p.m. start. The Pokes have won four of their last five contests and are looking for back-to-back road wins.



The contest will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz on the call joined by Avery Johnson and Darren Collison. Fans can listen to the contest, as well as follow stats on GoWyo.com. The game will also televised on Altitude. The game will be broadcast live on radio over the 26 affiliate stations of the Cowboy Sports Network, as Keith Kelly will be on the call alongside Kevin McKinney.



About The Teams

Wyoming is 12-9 on the season and 5-3 in conference play after defeating Air Force 83-72 on the road on Tuesday. The Pokes shot 63.2 percent from behind the arc against the Falcons for the best percentage since shooting 71 percent in a game against Montana State in 2013. For the season, Wyoming is shooting 39.8 percent from deep for first in the MW and eighth in the nation. The Cowboys are shooting 45.9 percent from the field on the season and have shot 50 percent or better in seven games this season.



UNLV heads into the contest with a 11-9 overall record and a 4-4 mark in conference play after defeating Fresno State 78-69 on Tuesday. UNLV is shooting 47 percent from the field on the season and 33.4 percent from behind the arc. The Runnin’ Rebels average 6.9 steals per game and are second in the conference in turnovers forced this season at 13.6 per game.



About The Players

Wyoming is led in scoring by Sam Griffin at 18.1 points per game, which ranks third in the MW and No. 81 in the nation. He also leads the team with 76 assists on the season and 51 three pointers. He is five three-pointers away from 300 in his career. Akuel Kot adds 15.5 points per game to rank tenth in the MW. Mason Walters adds 13.3 points per game on the season and 4.5 rebounds per game. Cam Manyawu adds 5.9 rebounds per game to lead the team. Brendan Wenzel adds 9.7 points per game and is scoring 11.6 points per game in conference play.



UNLV is led in scoring by Kalib Boone at 13.0 points per game. He is shooting 62 percent from the field on the season for second in the conference and No. 22 in the nation. Luis Rodriguez adds 12.1 points per game and leads the team with seven rebounds per game. Keylan Boone adds 12.0 points per game and Dedan Thomas Jr. adds 11.8 points and has 125 assists on the season for over six per game.



About The Series

The Cowboys are 20-44 all-time against the Runnin’ Rebels in a series that dates back to 1966. UNLV has taken three of the last five meetings.



Up Next

Wyoming returns home on Tuesday hosting No. 19 New Mexico in the Arena-Auditorium for a 6:30 p.m. start.

Houston area DB. Dekaney HS. Multiple offers.

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entered the transfer portal

I know mentioned in another (basketball) thread, but the wrestlers won their third in a row at UNC. Now 6-5 overall and 4-3 in conference. At home the rest of the season and host #10 SDSU next.

Bad news: #4 Volk lost to the #13.

Good news: Duca is finally back at 184 and won in convincing fashion. Is 4-1 on the season.

Wyoming not doing bad…but this a program I feel Wyoming should be a power year in and year out.

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All practice team by coaches.
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Came across this article today.

Very lazy assessment of the 2024 Pokes. Not one name of a player even mentioned. I hope most "experts" predict us to finish in the middle or bottom of the conference. Let us lay in the weeds! Can't wait!!

They are beating hell out of each other…

Cowgirls down by one at half-time…

UNLV’s Young is a beast!….

Go pokes