The Pac-12 nearly dissolving and its rebuild continues to have impacts on the Group of Five. This time, the Mountain West added a team after losing several members to the Pac-12.
The MW announced Tuesday the league is bringing in UTEP, which is currently a member of Conference USA.
Here’s more about the situation.
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Reasoning For UTEP’s Mountain West Move
UTEP is joining a conference that’s stronger in terms of on-the-field performance.
And that’s not including the five teams which will be members of the Pac-12 in two years. For example, Air Force reached the AP Top 25 as recently as last season, and UNLV is ranked at 25th this week after two wins over Power Four programs.
There’s also familiarity with the Miners and the other current Mountain West teams, as UTEP played against all of those programs while in the Western Athletic Conference.
UTEP’s decision appears to be financially sound as well. The money made from the Mountain West’s TV deal could be more than four times as much as UTEP is making with Conference USA’s. That’s going off of the current numbers of those deals, and that could of course end up changing with so many teams leaving the Mountain West, which has a TV deal that will reportedly expire after next season.
UTEP’s move could also end up making sense from a travel standpoint as well. Reports have indicated Texas State and Tarleton State might also end up going to the MW, so that could be two other teams in the state of Texas. Currently only one other CUSA team is in the Lone Star State (Sam Houston).
“There’s no doubt this will be better for our student-athletes, our fans, and for El Paso,” UTEP president Heather Wilson said in a press release. “We look forward to rekindling former rivalries and welcoming teams and their fans to El Paso.”
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When Is UTEP Joining The Mountain West?
UTEP will become a member of the Mountain West on July 1, 2026. The Miners’ football team will begin Mountain West play during the 2026 season.
“We are excited to welcome The University of Texas at El Paso to the Mountain West as the next step in our strategic membership initiatives,” MW commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a press release. “The addition of UTEP restores historic rivalries with several of our member institutions within the geographic footprint and provides valuable exposure in the great State of Texas. We welcome and look forward to competing against the student-athletes of UTEP.”
Mountain West Teams Going To The Pac-12
San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State, and Fresno State are the teams from the Mountain West going to the Pac-12.
But more could be joining them soon. The Pac-12 added Gonzaga for basketball, but the league needs at least one more full-time member.
UTEP’s CUSA Buyout
The buyout for UTEP to leave Conference USA is about $8 million, as reported by The Athletic.
That’s significantly less than the money some of the Mountain West teams are shelling out to go to the Pac-12. Those five programs are paying at least $17 million per school in exit fees and could be paying millions more in poaching penalties.
Mountain West 2024 Conference Realignment News
The Mountain West is also reportedly in talks with Texas State and Tarleton State to join the league.
With UTEP going to the MW, this would make sense for Texas State. The Bobcats are currently in the Sun Belt, which is one of the better G5 leagues, especially in recent years. So that would be something to consider: Do the Bobcats want to leave a more certain situation in the Sun Belt, or could waiting for a Pac-12 invite be even more enticing?
Texas State would obviously make sense for the MW, as the conference would likely want teams with more name recognition already in the FBS compared to some FCS powerhouses which would be ready for such a move.
But if Texas State and UTEP were to go to the MW together, a third team from Texas wouldn’t be bad, either. Though Tarleton State is from the FCS, it’s a program on the rise in many ways, including funding, game attendance, and facilities.
Conference USA’s TV Deal
Conference USA agreed to a five-year media rights deal that began during the 2023 football season with ESPN and CBS. There’s an option for a sixth year as well, which would be for the 2028-29 academic year. Teams were scheduled to be paid about $750,000 per year on average.
Mountain West’s TV Deal
The Mountain West agreed to a $270 million media rights deal in 2020 with CBS and FOX, per The Athletic. It would end after the 2025-26 season. Teams were to be paid about $4 million per year.
How Long Has UTEP Been In Conference USA?
UTEP has been a member of CUSA since the 2005 season.
Previously, UTEP was in the WAC from 1968 to 2004. Before that, the Miners were an independent program.
