UNLV Remains In Mountain West Conference (For Now) After Four MWC Schools Transfer To A Newly-Beefed Up Pac-6 Conference
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
Hey, what about UNLV?
Four of UNLV’s Mountain West Conference foes — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State — are bolting from the MWC and were officially admitted into the newly-revamped Pac-12 conference Thursday.
So, the Pac-12, which became the Pac-2 after ten schools departed for three other conferences, is now the Pac-6. There is no truth to the rumor that the conference is now known as the 6 Pac.
The four Mountain West schools officially become Pac-12 schools July 1, 2026, with Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State starting Pac-12 play in the 2026-27 academic year.
That foursome joins Washington State and Oregon State.
For now, UNLV, which plays Kansas in a football game Friday at 4 PM, is still in the Mountain West Conference.
In the past, UNLV has surfaced as a possible member of the Pac-12 or the Big 12 because of the Las Vegas market.
UNLV President Keith Whitfield and Athletic Director Erick Harper issued this joint statement: “We know that four members of the Mountain West have announced their intentions to leave the conference in 2026. Our focus remains on doing what is best for our institution, current and future student-athletes, alumni, donors and the greater Las Vegas community. We continue to evaluate all options.”
Also, if UNLV considers a move to another conference does Nevada at Reno come along, too?
Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez was not happy about losing four conference schools, ones with the league’s top football programs. “The Mountain West Conference is aware of media reports regarding the potential departure of several of our members and we will have more to say in the days ahead,” Nevarez wrote. “All members will be held to the Conference bylaws and policies should they elect to depart.”
The departing schools will also have to pay the MWC $17 million apiece to leave, while the Pac-12 has to cough up $43 million to the Mountain West for snagging the four schools.
The Pac-12 has staged its conference championship football game and basketball tournaments in Las Vegas, so the conference knows Las Vegas very well.
