After the Pac-12 stole four programs from the Mountain West Conference in a stunning move, there is a big question left to be answered. What does the Mountain West do?
The top talent just departed for the Pac-12, and now the Mountain West could lose more teams and has to rebuild once again.
Ross Delenger of Yahoo Sports, who broke the initial news about the Pac-12 expansion, mentioned a few Conference USA possibilities for the MWC.
New Mexico State, new to Conference USA, makes geographic sense. So does UTEP, also in CUSA. Both programs would likely see a doubling of annual distribution. Could they even get a signing bonus? The Mountain West is due as much as $110 million in exit and penalty fee money from the departing four members and the Pac-12.
Tarleton State, an up-and-coming FCS program with tons of money and potential residing just outside of Dallas-Fort Worth, is an option as well. And what about FCS teams like North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Montana State and Montana?
Once again, conference realignment is going to be busy.