Mountain West commissioner eyes ‘staying in the moment’ despite ongoing issues

A UNLV football helmet is among the items displayed during Old Trapper Mountain West Football Media Days at Circa in downtown Las Vegas Thursday, July 17, 2025. Photo by: Steve Marcus

Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez said a theme this year is “staying in the moment.”

The notion is to remain focused on the 2025-26 school year and not look ahead to a major membership shakeup or be distracted by a pair of pending lawsuits.

“We are committed to staying in the moment for this season and celebrating to the fullest,” Nevarez said at Mountain West football media days in Las Vegas, adding, “As change continues to impact our industry, we stand ready to meet those opportunities in alignment with our mission and values.”

Five Mountain West schools — San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and Utah State — are leaving to join the reconstituted Pac-12. The Mountain West has backfilled with Grand Canyon University, Hawaii (in all sports; the Rainbow Warriors have long been football-only members of the MW), Northern Illinois, UTEP and UC Davis.

Grand Canyon is joining the MW immediately in all sports but football; the Lopes don’t play the sport. The other schools join next year. Northern Illinois is football-only and UC Davis will be a non-football member.

Nevarez said the league is going to “pause right now as far as additional membership.”

“Never say never,” she said, “but we really want to get through our media rights negotiation, take a deep breath and then we’ll readdress the issue.”

The announcement two weeks ago that Grand Canyon would immediately join the Mountain West was met with more than a little grumbling from departing schools.

Both SDSU and Boise State issued releases on the matter.

“While SDSU remains an active member of the Mountain West through June 30, 2026,” a university statement said, “the university was not consulted or permitted to vote on the early invitation to Grand Canyon University, which is surprising and disappointing given prior representations that the Mountain West and its Commissioner made to SDSU and the negative impact this addition will have on already-planned athletic competition schedules for this academic year.

“We will need to evaluate this announcement and make adjustments due to this addition.”

Boise State said the decision “significantly and negatively impacts schedules, opportunities, and budgets of Boise State and the other departing universities.”

Nevarez said the Mountain West is “covering any costs of change fees to schedules.”

As far as not being consulted or permitted to vote on Grand Canyon’s early invitation, Mountain West bylaws allow voting rights to be rescinded when schools announce their departure.

“Once you give notice, you no longer have a vote or say on the board,” Nevarez said. “That’s kind of Conference 101.”

And, as one person mentioned during the meetings: “None of the schools leaving consulted with the conference before leaving.”

The divorce is complicated by exit fees and poaching fees totaling nearly $150 million.

A pair of lawsuits between the Mountain West and departing members and the MW and Pac-12 were combined into a 60-day “global” mediation in May. On the eve of media days last week, news broke that the sides could not reach an agreement and will proceed to court.

“We proposed it, and it’s definitely an effective way to resolve disputes, so we gave it a shot,” said Nevarez, who did not elaborate on reasons why an agreement could not be reached. “I’m not able to comment on the mediation; it’s confidential.”

Nevarez did say “we’re really confident in our legal position and we’re committed to resolving these things as quickly as possible.

“It’s best for everyone, the student-athletes, schools, leagues to move on,” she said. “Our commitment is to get through this as quick as possible.”

The sides are expected in court in September when a Mountain West motion to dismiss is to be heard.

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