Mountain West, Pac-12 add schools as realignment continues

Realignment dominoes continued to fall in the college sports world Tuesday, five days after UNLV rejected an offer from the Pac-12 and accepted a lucrative incentives package to stay in the Mountain West.

The Mountain West added UTEP on Tuesday. The school will join the conference in all sports beginning in the 2026-27 school year. The league also has an offer out to Texas State, according to ESPN.

Meanwhile, the Pac-12 landed Gonzaga, the conference announced Tuesday. The Bulldogs will join the league in all sports in 2026. The Pac-12 still needs another football-playing member — Gonzaga doesn’t play football — to reach the NCAA minimum of eight for an official conference.

“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,” Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement. “The addition of UTEP restores historic rivalries with several of our member institutions within the geographic footprint and provides valuable exposure in (Texas).”

The Mountain West needs to add one more full-time member to reach the NCAA’s minimum. Its current schools, in addition to UTEP, include UNLV, UNR, San Jose State, Wyoming, New Mexico and Air Force, as well as Hawaii as a football-only member.

The Miners currently compete in Conference USA.

“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 statement. “We look forward to rekindling former rivalries and welcoming teams and their fans to El Paso.”

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State announced Sept. 12 they were leaving the Mountain West to join the Pac-12 beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Utah State joined the defectors Sept. 23.

The Pac-12’s other members are Oregon State and Washington State.

“We are delighted to welcome Gonzaga into the Pac-12 as they embark with us on this incredible path ahead,” Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. “President (Thayne) McCulloh and athletics director Chris Standiford not only bring strategic expertise and forward thinking to the conference, but they are two incredible leaders who care deeply about student success and fortifying student-athlete academic and athletic experiences.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on X.