{"id":118815,"date":"2024-10-07T10:21:23","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T17:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herosports.com\/?p=118815"},"modified":"2024-10-07T10:21:25","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T17:21:25","slug":"fbs-pac-12-colorado-state-conference-realignment-mountain-west-college-football-cpcp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herosports.com\/fbs-pac-12-colorado-state-conference-realignment-mountain-west-college-football-cpcp\/","title":{"rendered":"Pac-12 & Colorado State Conference Realignment: How The Rams Impact The Mountain West & College Football"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Colorado State is one of five teams to leave the Mountain West<\/a> for the Pac-12 beginning in 2026 as the college football world continues to evolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rams have been in a good position to jump to a power conference. Here\u2019s more information about the decision and how it impacts the sport as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Reasoning For Colorado State\u2019s Pac-12 Move<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Colorado State could make millions of dollars more in its long-term future with the move to the Pac-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there\u2019s plenty of factors to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colorado State announced the Rams accepted an invitation to the Pac-12 after the board of directors unanimously voted to bring the team in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an interesting time for the Pac-12, which is currently down to two teams: Oregon State and Washington State. That leaves Colorado State\u2019s new home in a bit of an odd situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the Pac-12 needs at least eight teams by 2026 to be deemed a legitimate conference by the NCAA.  Several programs have been rumored to be considered as targets for the Pac-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But many of those potential additions haven\u2019t been in \u201cpower\u201d or autonomous leagues, which the Pac-12 once was. An autonomous conference \u2013 which the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and SEC are \u2013 brings in more cash from the College Football Playoff and has a bigger say with NCAA decisions. Also, the CFP shrunk its number of automatic qualifying spots for league champions from six to five after the Pac-12 nearly dissolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only time will tell if rebuilding the Pac-12 will lead to the CFP going back to the way it was and if it receives the benefits it once did once 2026 rolls around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, reportedly, Pac-12 leaders think the conference can strike a media deal worth more than the Mountain West\u2019s, and money has been a key factor in conference realignment decisions recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, CSU is ecstatic about the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are taking control of our future at CSU by forming an alliance of six peer institutions who will serve as the foundation for a new era of the Pac-12,\u201d Colorado State University president Amy Parsons said in a press release. \u201cThis move elevates CSU in a way which benefits all our students, bolsters our core mission, and strengthens our reputation for academic and research excellence. CSU is honored to be among the universities asked to help carry on the history and tradition of the Pac-12 as a highly competitive conference with some of the nation\u2019s leading research institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Is Colorado State Joining The Pac-12?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CSU will join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026. So the Rams\u2019 football team will begin Pac-12 play during the 2026 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis moment has been a long time coming,\u201d CSU athletic director John Weber said in a press release. \u201cI know our students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and fans are hungry for this move and are going to love what comes next as CSU charts a transformational new course as a member of the Pac-12.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mountain West Teams Going To The Pac-12<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, and Fresno State were the first four teams from the Mountain West to announce they were going to the Pac-12. Then Utah State accepted an invite as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese six institutions (with Oregon State and Washington State) are committed to rebuilding the Pac-12 into an innovative, nimble, conference with sports programs which put student-athletes first, strive to compete at the highest level and deliver amazing fan experiences and compelling content,\u201d Weber said. \u201cThis is a historic, transformative moment for CSU and a massive opportunity for our student-athletes. Joining the Pac-12 is an important step forward as we seek to deliver on an ambitious vision for the future of Ram Athletics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pac-12\/Mountain West Lawsuit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Several outlets published stories recently about the Pac-12 filing a lawsuit against the Mountain West over its poaching penalties. That number will be more than $50 million depending on how many schools end up going from the Mountain West to the Pac-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those fees are on top of the $17 million per school that the soon-to-be Pac-12 members will have to pay for leaving the Mountain West, though the Pac-12 will cover some or all of that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The poaching penalties were part of the scheduling alliance that the Pac-12 and Mountain West made for this season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pac-12\u2019s argument is it\u2019s an antitrust issue. The conference allegedly is claiming it had no choice but to agree to that deal because most of the conference\u2019s teams had left and the league had only a few months to come up with a schedule for the 2024 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Colorado State\u2019s Mountain West Buyout & Pac-12 Poaching Penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Colorado State and every team leaving the Mountain West will have to pay the conference $17 million just for leaving the league with a minimum notice of one year. Any notice less than that amount of time would\u2019ve been $34 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the Pac-12\/Mountain West scheduling agreement made this year, the MW will also be owed at least roughly $55 million in poaching penalties for the five teams going to the Pac-12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Mountain West team would\u2019ve cost the Pac-12 $10 million, while two would\u2019ve been $20.5 million. Five teams is $55 million, and six would be $67.5 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But money shouldn\u2019t be an overwhelming obstacle in the long run. The former Pac-12 teams paid Washington State and Oregon State a $65 million settlement. The Pac-12 will also have at least $190 million in future revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pac-12 & Mountain West Scheduling Arrangement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Pac-2, so Oregon State and Washington State, put together a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West for the 2024 season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mountain West teams scheduled seven games against conference opponents with another being against either OSU or WSU. But those two aren\u2019t eligible for the Mountain West Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two schools are paying the Mountain West $14 million for this deal, per Yahoo Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teams That Left The Pac-12<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington went to the Big Ten. Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah are now in the Big 12. And Cal and Stanford are now competing in the ACC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That leaves just Oregon State and Washington State in the Pac-12 for at least 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n

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