Mountain West on hold until San Diego State decides to stay or go

The Mountain West is waiting on San Diego State to make a decision, but UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood doesn't expect a long wait.

San Diego State is trying to decide whether to follow through on its commitment to send its football program to the Big East Conference this year or follow Boise State's path back to the Mountain West.

"I think we'll know something in the next three or four days," Livengood said Monday. "I would be shocked if it was not this week, but you never know."

Livengood said he didn't know what the Aztecs would choose, but was optimistic.

"My sense is they are" returning, he said. "The thing is you don't know what the Big East is doing, what concessions are being made. The Big East is in a tough spot."

The Broncos, who were set to join the Big East with San Diego State, opted on Dec. 31 to stay in the Mountain West. Both schools had agreed to place their nonfootball sports in the Big West before Boise State's change of heart.

Boise State's decision to stay figures to put more pressure on San Diego State to remain in the Mountain West.

Should San Diego State maintain its commitment to the Big East, the Aztecs will be entering a conference that hasn't agreed to a new TV contract and has suffered a rash of defections.

As a condition of Boise State's return, the Mountain West must offer a San Diego State an invitation back into the conference before pursuing other schools. That stipulation ends Jan. 31.

If the Aztecs return, that would give the Mountain West 12 football-playing schools and 11 full members. Hawaii is a football-only member. The conference could split into divisions and play a league championship game.

A decision this week by San Diego State would allow the Mountain West to better plan for next football season. The league has yet to put together a schedule because it doesn't know how many schools will comprise the membership.

Regardless of whether San Diego State stays, the conference could consider expansion for 2014 and beyond. Some Mountain West members are warming to a 14-team football league, which means possibly asking back Brigham Young or offering invitations to Texas schools such as Houston, Southern Methodist and Texas-El Paso.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.