The domino effect of conference realignment continues to fall.
UTEP notified Conference USA on Tuesday morning that it will depart for the Mountain West, sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. MWC and UTEP have been in intense negotiations for several days.
Separately, Gonzaga will join the Pac-12, the conference announced on social media. The Bulldogs are the eighth member of the revamped Pac-12, but because the school doesn’t play football, it doesn’t count as a full-time member. A conference must add at least one full member to reach the minimum threshold.
Gonzaga University brings a storied basketball program to the Pac-12. The Bulldogs have been to the NCAA Tournament for the past 25 consecutive years and have advanced to at least the Sweet 16 in each of the past nine tournaments. They will join San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State, Fresno State, Boise State, Washington State and Oregon in the new Pac-12.
The Mountain West has also had deep and serious discussions with FCS Tarleton State, sources told Yahoo Sports. MWC also needs one additional active member to qualify as a conference. Negotiations between Texas-based FCS schools and the conference have made progress.
Texas remains in the Sunbelt
Despite receiving a verbal offer last weekend, Texas State is staying put.
Texas announced on social media Tuesday night that it will not join the Mountain West and will instead remain in the Sun Belt. Texas State is also reportedly considering joining the Pac-12, but MWC was much closer in negotiations.
“The recent interest shown in Texas State University and its presence throughout the college athletic community continues to build the university and Bobcat brand nationally,” Texas State Athletic Director Don Coryell said in a statement. “It speaks volumes about the work our staff and student-athletes have done to achieve this goal.” .
“After preliminary consultation with interested councils, we have decided not to make any changes at this time.”
The Bobcats were promoted to the FBS level of football in 2012 and joined the Sun Belt in 2013. They became the first FBS school to reach a bowl game last year and started this season 2-2. The university, which enrolls more than 30,000 undergraduate students, is located in San Marcos, between San Antonio and Austin.
