A big shakeup is looming for the Mountain West Conference. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State are said to be leaving the Mountain West to join the Pac 12 in 2026.
The change is largely about money. The schools which draw from the biggest populations can generate more money than schools supported by smaller populations.
In my memory, the trend started in the 1970s when Arizona and Arizona State left the Western Athletic Conference.
Prior to the 1970s, Tucson and Phoenix were sleepy little big towns in the Arizona desert. With the advent of cheap air conditioning, their populations and their ability to generate revenue blossomed. So, out of the WAC and into the PAC 8 they went.
Most recently, BYU left the conference and became independent. The move was aimed at playing bigger-named opponents, vying for national champion and, of course, money.
The schools that leave the Mountain West Conference would be subject to big financial penalties. The Mountain West Conference will receive $111 million dollars in exit fees. Each school will also have to pay a $17 million dollar exit fee. Additionally, the Pac 12 must pay $43 million dollars to the Mountain West.
If the departing schools and the PAC 12 are willing to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to depart, their upside in revenue, mostly from the media, has to be a pile of money.
The axiom is small-market TV audiences generate small money. Large-market TV audiences generate large money. Seeking the bigger payday is the driving factor in college sports these days.
Earthshaking changes have remade the college sports paradigm over the last few years. The transfer portal has allowed athletes to move to the school offering the most playing time, money or the best deal.
Name, image and likeness payments have created millionaire college football players and allowed athletes to drive fancy cars and promote their rap songs.
In Florida, high school students are now eligible to sell their name, image and likeness.
Wyoming, in order to compete with other schools, has formed 1WYO which has tried to raise $307,000 for NIL support of charities in Wyoming. For Wyoming to attract athletes, we will need to support this program.
The sad commentary is, college athletics is evolving from a sport-focused entity aimed at the joys of pure competition and school spirit into paid performers putting on a show for the fans. The fans with the most money can buy the best shows.
Back in the olden days, well-heeled boosters would slip money under the table to college athletes to ensure loyalty to the alma mater. In those days, it was a crime and would cost the school bowl eligibility and money.
Now, NIL money is available. The biggest schools can buy the best athletes. Interestingly enough, a school cannot promise NIL money until after an athlete commits to the school. In theory, the school cannot dangle the NIL carrot to get the athlete to commit to the school. The school can advertise they have millions of dollars in NIL money available, but they cannot promise endorsements until after the athlete commits.
The transfer portal allows athletes to switch schools for just about any reason. Many athletes change schools for lack of playing time. Some change because the NIL pool promises more money. Some change because of conflicts with the coach.
Some see a faster path to the next level. Some leave because the team doesn’t win. Some leave because they have discipline issues. It’s apparent that coaches have to take into account what retains athletes at a school, in their approach to coaching.
In some ways, the inmates are now running the asylum.
Athletics, which used to be a tool to develop life skills like teamwork, drive and effort, has now evolved into a performance art, where those with the best skills and genetics make the most money.
The evolution in the athletics came because schools were taking advantage of the tremendous earnings the athletic programs generated without taking into account that the money was derived from the performance of the athletes. And the big business of college athletics started having to pay the performers.
But, much of the charm of college athletics is drying up. The hundred-year border war rivalry between Wyoming and Colorado State University is in jeopardy – for money.
While it is understandable these schools are jumping from the conference for a bigger payday, it is sad. Some things are more important than money.
With the worship of the dollar, we are seeing things more important than money start to vanish – competition, rivalry, loyalty and tradition. And . . . we are worse off for it.
Tom Lubnau served in the Wyoming Legislature from 2004 - 2015 and is a former Speaker of the House.
He can be reached at: YourInputAppreciated@gmail.com
