Boise State is one of the newest FBS teams to take part in the recent wave of conference realignment. The program announced it is going to the Pac-12.
The Broncos have long been believed to be a Group of Five squad worthy of making a jump to a power conference. Here’s more information about the move and how it impacts the college football landscape.
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Reasoning For Boise State’s Pac-12 Move
Boise State is trying to position itself as a member of a power conference. And it could make the program millions of dollars more in its long-term future.
But the decision isn’t without some risks.
Boise State announced the Broncos accepted an invitation to the Pac-12 after the board of directors unanimously voted to bring the team in.
This is an interesting time for the Pac-12, which is currently down to two teams: Oregon State and Washington State. That leaves Boise State’s new home in a bit of an odd situation.
First, the Pac-12 needs at least eight teams by 2026 to be deemed a legitimate conference by the NCAA. Several programs have been rumored to be considered as targets for the Pac-12.
But many of those potential additions haven’t been in “power” or autonomous leagues, which the Pac-12 once was. An autonomous conference – which the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and SEC are – brings in more cash from the College Football Playoff and has a bigger say with NCAA decisions. Also, the CFP shrunk its number of automatic qualifying spots for league champions from six to five after the Pac-12 dropped to two teams.
Only time will tell if rebuilding the Pac-12 will lead to the CFP going back to the way it was and if it receives the benefits it once did once 2026 rolls around.
But, reportedly, Pac-12 leaders think the conference can strike a media deal worth more than the Mountain West’s, and money has been a key factor in conference realignment decisions recently.
Either way, Boise State is ecstatic about the move.
“Boise State University has excelled across every metric by which we are measured, from the lab to the classroom to the field of play,” Boise State president Marlene Tromp said in a press release. “We have shattered records for research awards, graduation numbers and philanthropic giving. Our exciting trajectory matched by the prowess of our storied athletic programs makes this the moment to advance to the Pac-12 conference.”
When Is Boise State Joining The Pac-12?
Boise State will join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026. So the Broncos football team will begin Pac-12 play during the 2026 season.
“What a great day to be a Bronco!” Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey said in a press release. “I extend my gratitude to Dr. Tromp, our Office of General Counsel, and the many members of our state board, university, and athletics leadership groups who contributed to this process. We evaluated this move from many angles and considered it with our head and our heart, and most importantly, with our 350+ student-athletes in mind.
“When it came down to making the final decision, we chose this path because it puts Boise State in the best position for success, and is in the best interest of this university and community. From the storytelling opportunities with Pac-12 Enterprises to recruiting and revenue opportunities, we feel this best aligns with our department’s goal of elevating its national reputation through competitive excellence and aggressively moves us into What’s Next. We won’t ever stop!”
Mountain West Teams Going To The Pac-12
San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, and Fresno State were the first four teams from the Mountain West to announce they were going to the Pac-12. Then Utah State accepted an invite as well.
“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said in a press release. “We will continue to pursue bold, cutting-edge opportunities for growth and progress to best serve our member institutions and student-athletes. I am thankful to our board for their efforts to welcome Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, and San Diego State University to the conference. An exciting new era for the Pac-12 Conference begins today.”
Pac-12/Mountain West Lawsuit
Several outlets published stories recently about the Pac-12 filing a lawsuit against the Mountain West over its poaching penalties. That number will be more than $50 million depending on how many schools end up going from the Mountain West to the Pac-12.
Those fees are on top of the $17 million per school that the soon-to-be Pac-12 members will have to pay for leaving the Mountain West, though the Pac-12 will cover some or all of that.
The poaching penalties were part of the scheduling alliance that the Pac-12 and Mountain West made for this season.
The Pac-12’s argument is it’s an antitrust issue. The conference allegedly is claiming it had no choice but to agree to that deal because most of the conference’s teams had left and the league had only a few months to come up with a schedule for the 2024 season.
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Boise State’s Mountain West Buyout & Pac-12 Poaching Penalties
Boise State and every team leaving the Mountain West will have to pay the conference $17 million just for leaving the league with a minimum notice of one year. Any notice less than that amount of time would’ve been $34 million.
As part of the Pac-12/Mountain West scheduling agreement made this year, the MW will also be owed at least roughly $55 million in poaching penalties for the five teams going to the Pac-12.
One Mountain West team would’ve cost the Pac-12 $10 million, while two would’ve been $20.5 million. Five teams is $55 million, and six would be $67.5 million.
But money shouldn’t be an overwhelming obstacle in the long run. The former Pac-12 teams paid Washington State and Oregon State a $65 million settlement. The Pac-12 will also have at least $190 million in future revenue.
Pac-12 & Mountain West Scheduling Arrangement
The Pac-2, so Oregon State and Washington State, put together a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West for the 2024 season.
Mountain West teams scheduled seven games against conference opponents with another being against either OSU or WSU. But those two aren’t eligible for the Mountain West Championship.
The two schools are paying the Mountain West $14 million for this deal, per Yahoo Sports.
Teams That Left The Pac-12
USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington went to the Big Ten. Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah are now in the Big 12. And Cal and Stanford are now competing in the ACC.
That leaves just Oregon State and Washington State in the Pac-12 for at least 2024 and 2025.
Pac-12 2024 Conference Realignment News
The Mountain West announced last week the league is bringing in UTEP, which is currently a member of Conference USA and was believed by some to be a potential target for the Pac-12.
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 was ranked at 25th last 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. While Texas State announced its commitment to the Sun Belt, reports have indicated Tarleton State might also end up going to the MW, so that could be another team in the state of Texas. Currently only one other CUSA team is in the Lone Star State (Sam Houston).
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.
“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.”
UNLV, Air Force To Remain In The Mountain West
UNLV, Air Force, and the Mountain West’s remaining full-time members have reportedly recommitted to staying in the Mountain West despite interest from the Pac-12 and AAC.
Air Force was reportedly being considered as an addition for the AAC before Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State announced they were going anywhere.
The move would’ve made sense for the Falcons. They could have joined a league with Army and Navy and could have avoided the uncertainty that the Mountain West is looking at. Air Force also doesn’t play too far from Denver, which provides some benefits as well.
Instead, the Falcons as well as programs like UNLV and San Jose State seem to be a part of the Mountain West’s immediate future.
College Football Playoff Impact
The College Football Playoff changed its format for 2024 following the mass exodus in the Pac-12. It used to be that the six highest-ranked conference title winners would automatically qualify, and the next six highest-ranked teams would make up the rest of the field.
That would mean the Group of Five would be guaranteed at least one spot in the CFP, and the thinking was the Power Five conference winners would usually get in.
But then the CFP changed that to five conference champions automatically get in, and then the next-highest seven teams in the rankings would make it.
The CFP has yet to release rankings this season. But if the season were to end today, and if one were to go by the AP Top 25, neither Oregon State or Washington State would make the College Football Playoff while Boise State would represent the G5 in the CFP.
Pac-12 Media Deal
The Pac-12’s media deal with FOX and ESPN was reportedly worth $250 million per year and was going to expire this academic school year. The conference was seeking a new deal before teams decided to leave.
Mountain West Conference Media Deal
The Mountain West agreed to a $270 million media rights deal in 2020 with CBS and FOX, according to The Athletic. It would end after the 2025-26 season. Teams are scheduled to be paid $4 million per year.
How Long Has Boise State Been In The Mountain West?
Boise State has been a member of the Mountain West since the 2011 season.
Before that, Boise State was in the WAC from 2001 to 2010. Previously, the Broncos were also in the Big West from 1996 to 2000.
