• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 18, 2025

Pac-12, Mountain West Won’t Extend Football Partnership to 2025 Season

  • The Pac-12 was unwilling to agree to the existing fee structure for another year, sources confirmed to FOS.
  • The two-member conference was already considering other options, commissioner Teresa Gould said last week.
Aug 31, 2024; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars cheerleader celebrate after a touchdown against the Portland State Vikings in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

The Sept. 1 deadline to renew the football scheduling partnership between the Pac-12 and Mountain West passed this weekend without a formal agreement. It “does not appear” that the deal will be renewed at all, even at a later date, one source confirms to Front Office Sports. 

The main sticking point was over the fee structure, a Mountain West league source told FOS. The Pac-12 tried to negotiate the terms down in order to secure a renewal, the source said—but Mountain West schools would not accept their offer.

The agreement, inked in December, allowed the two-member Pac-12 to be slotted into Mountain West conference play for the 2024–25 season. It provided an option for the partnership to continue into the 2025–26 season. The deal was seen as mutually beneficial: Oregon State and Washington State got a ready-made slate with local Group of 5 programs, which gave them a solid strength of schedule. In exchange, the Mountain West schools received a scheduling boost of their own, as well as millions of dollars in fees paid by the Pac-12 in order to participate.

In total, the Pac-12 is paying $14 million in three separate types of fees for the one-year partnership, according to a copy of the agreement previously obtained by FOS. Divided up by the six home games where Pac-12 schools are hosting Mountain West schools (and are, therefore, akin to “guarantee” games), the partnership amounts to more than $2 million per game. That’s more than most, if not all, reported guarantee games this season.

Even during conversations with the Mountain West, the Pac-12 has been considering other options, like scheduling as if the two schools were FBS independents, commissioner Teresa Gould told FOS in an interview last week. WSU already has five opponents scheduled for 2025, while OSU has six. OSU and WSU could schedule single games with specific Mountain West schools, for example. Filling the rest of each school’s schedules with one-off matchups would be difficult, but not impossible.

“For the 2025 season, the Mountain West and its member institutions are moving forward with their conference and nonconference schedules,” the conference said in a statement. “Our focus remains on the current season and our exceptional teams.”

The Pac-12 will not, however, have the opportunity to rebuild itself using Mountain West schools unless they want to shell out millions. The scheduling partnership included a stipulation that if a Mountain West school defected to the Pac-12, the Pac-12 would owe a $10 million fee to the Mountain West, with multimillion-dollar escalator fees for each additional school, according to the contract. The Pac-12 would, however, be allowed to create a reverse merger with the entire Mountain West without a penalty.

The currently undefeated Pac-12 has two years to rebuild itself into at least an eight-member conference if it wants to maintain FBS status, according to NCAA rules. This year, the conference is doing its best to stay afloat. But next year, it will likely have to position itself for a longer-term solution.

This story has been updated to reflect new reporting.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.
Jun 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) reacts after giving up a home run during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.

MLB Pitcher’s Paid Leave Extended Through August As Betting Probe Continues

Leagues have been dealing with a host of sports betting issues.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway walks off the court after losing to Colorado State Rams at Climate Pledge Arena.

Memphis Basketball and Softball Placed on NCAA Probation

Memphis has had multiple NCAA issues since hiring Penny Hardaway.
July 16, 2025

Alabama’s New Era Contends With NIL—and Nick Saban Rumors

Kalen DeBoer is entering his second season as head coach.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
July 16, 2025

President Trump Is Actively Working on an NIL-Related Executive Order

It’s unclear what the executive order would include.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian waits to lead his team out of the tunnel ahead of the Longhorns' game against the Baylor Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at McLane Stadium in Waco.
July 15, 2025

Is a Texas Takeover About to Hit the SEC, On and Off..

The Longhorns are favored to win the SEC in their second year in the conference.
Georgia takes the field for the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
July 15, 2025

SEC Lands Starring Role in Netflix College Football Docuseries

Netflix brings its sports storytelling to the heart of SEC football.
May 15, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; United States Capitol seen as People rally outside the Supreme Court before justices hears oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. At issue in the case is if the Supreme Court should stay the district courts' nationwide preliminary injunctions on the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
July 15, 2025

Pro-NCAA Bill Takes First Step Toward Being Introduced on House Floor for..

It could be the first bill of its kind to make it to the House floor.