All articles tagged with #conference expansion
The Mountain West Conference announced a 10-team lineup for 2026, adding North Dakota State, NIU, and UTEP; the league will play 40 conference games across 13 weeks, with each team hosting four and visiting four conference opponents across four time zones, culminating in the Conference Championship Game with a potential CFP berth; full schedule to be released soon.
Memphis' bid to join the Big 12 with a unique offer of $200 million in sponsorships and no media rights payments has not gained enough support within the league, which is concerned about diluting its value and the risks involved. Despite Memphis's efforts and significant local sponsorship commitments, the league remains uninterested, and the proposal has not advanced.
The Big 12 has declined Memphis' $250 million offer to join the conference, indicating that the school’s attempt to buy its way in is unsuccessful and that previous vetting remains unchanged, despite Memphis's lucrative offer and efforts to join the Power Four leagues.
Memphis has offered a $200 million proposal to join the Big 12 conference, including sponsorship commitments and a revenue-sharing plan, but faces challenges as the league's support is not yet secured, amid ongoing expansion discussions.
Louisiana Tech University is joining the Sun Belt Conference by July 1, 2027, reuniting regional rivalries and enhancing competition across multiple sports, with the move supported by university and conference leaders to benefit student-athletes and fans.
The Mountain West Conference unexpectedly invited Grand Canyon University to join immediately for the 2025-26 season, despite opposition from departing schools like SDSU, citing partnership and competition enhancement, amid ongoing legal disputes and scheduling concerns.
The Pac-12 Conference announced that Texas State University will join as a foundational member starting in the 2026-27 season, expanding the league to include nine full members across all sports, with a focus on elevating athletic and academic excellence.
Texas State has officially joined the Pac-12 as the conference's ninth member, ahead of its 2026 relaunch, marking a significant expansion and strategic move for the league.
The Pac-12 has invited Texas State to join as a member in 2026, with the school's board expected to approve the move from the Sun Belt Conference, amid negotiations over media rights distribution.
The Pac-12 is in negotiations with Texas State to join the conference starting in 2026, as part of a broader effort to rebuild and expand the league following recent changes and media deals, with CBS as the primary media partner through 2031.
The Patriot League announced that Villanova will join as an associate member for football starting in 2026, expanding the league to 10 teams and continuing its tradition of competitive and academically successful programs.
Joel Klatt criticizes the Big 12's support for the 5+11 CFP format, arguing it risks reducing their playoff bids to just one and favors the power conferences like SEC and Big Ten, which could lead to greater dominance by these leagues and less fairness for the Big 12.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey emphasized that the conference's focus remains on its 16 current members, dismissing speculation about further expansion. Sankey highlighted the SEC's strategic growth with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas, and expressed confidence in the conference's stability and success. He also addressed broader issues in college sports, including NIL legislation and the need for unity in the sport.
The Big Ten and SEC have established a joint advisory group to address challenges in college athletics and improve the student-athlete experience, reflecting a closer relationship between the two conferences as they gain more power in the collegiate landscape. The group was formed in response to court decisions, pending litigation, state laws, and governance proposals, and will serve as a consultant to the leagues without authority to implement changes. This move further solidifies the bond between the two conferences as they navigate the evolving collegiate athletics environment.
The Big 12 has unveiled its 2024 football conference schedule, featuring the debut of Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah as members, as well as the return of Colorado. The season will consist of nine league games without divisions, culminating in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship Game on December 7. New rivalries and old matchups will be introduced, with television selections for the first three weeks to be made by ESPN and FOX this summer.