According to a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN, San Diego State has given the Mountain West Conference a notice that the university “intends to resign from the Mountain West Conference.”
However, in the same notice, the university asked for a one-month extension due to “unforeseen delays involving other collegiate athletic conferences beyond our control.”
San Diego State’s departure from the conference has been a work in progress now for quite some time. Last month, in an article from Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, it was reported that San Diego State would be a “shoe-in” to join the Pac-12.
Chris Vannini of The Athletic would later report on Twitter that the “buyout to leave the league for fall 2024 doubles to almost $34 million on July 1”. Vannini also points out that the Pac-12 television deal not yet being completed is causing delays in San Diego State’s move to the conference.
The move for the Pac-12 comes a year ahead of the departure of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten. Following their departures, the conference is only expected at the current standpoint to have 10 teams.
San Diego State’s potential move to the Pac-12 could very well also be the first of what could be another run of conference realignment around the country.
There has also been discussion of programs such as Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado as potential universities leaving the Pac-12 that could be looking to change conferences as well. The ACC has also been of popular conversation lately with the future of many of the conference’s universities being up for debate.