College Football Realignment; Is this the end of the Mountain West?

[@WestofEast]

Take the remaining Mountain West teams and add them to CUSA. Then, split CUSA into two divisions; CUSA East and the Mountain West 😂

[@CFBudge]

In an ideal world...

[@YaowBucketHEAD]

It's a logical choice. The problem with expansion that someone is going to be left in the cold and it looks like the MW. Especially if Air Force goes to the AAC and UNLV/Nevada go to the PAC. There's only so many schools to pick from and it looks like the MW doesn't have many choices at all.

[@x-90]

C USA about to have teams from Hawaii to Delaware. The first and last state.

[@paulmezzetta6905]

As a SJSU alumnus, very worried about the future. Thank you for highlighting the Mountain West

[@racingwithrob]

Sjsu alum as well... with all the investment we've made to our facilities the last few years would be a shame if we were relegated to a lower tier conference....

[@SKUIZZZ1]

Bsu alum, i hate the direction & way cfb is headed in. Rooting for you guys.

[@maxfriedman9784]

This is awesome content, man. You've got the best college football content out there. You talk and research your videos like a guy with a million subs. Keep it up - seriously. You've got a real talent for this

[@CFBudge]

Thanks man! I appreciate it!

[@EZ-ri3pl]

UNLV and Nevada have been in different conferences over the years. These schools are NOT tied at the hip.

[@CFBudge]

Well they are lol. Theres a state law that is currently making things difficult I don’t know what to tell you.

[@TheBiosimilars]

Nope, no such law exists

[@nashawnlivingston2965]

@@CFBudgethis was confirmed false recently. Wonder what this means for both schools

[@CFBudge]

@@nashawnlivingston2965 Yes I saw the report. Very interesting that it wasn't true.

[@YaowBucketHEAD]

I'm a die hard UNM fan (ironically, I live in SEC territory 😆) and even though I'm a little bit sad about the MW being gutted, I am not surprised or upset in the least. The writing was already on the wall really. I was hoping that (even though it was an extreme long shot) that Washington State and Oregon State would come aboard, but they had to do what they had to do to keep the PAC alive. The only thing I find hilarious is that people think the PAC is still a P5 conference. It isn't. It may never be again. It's the best of the Group of 6 now. That's the reality. You cannot lose that many solid programs in the most popular sports, poach the best of the G5 and expect to still be a power conference. The PAC is alive, but a former shell of itself. The same thing happened with the AAC. The "top schools" left and they raided C-USA. The big get bigger and the others hang on and ride it out as a shell of it's former glory.

[@derronsanchez391]

Go Lobos!!! Hoping we will end up with a good home!

[@davidforinash2950]

Boise state and Fresno state are just as capable as ucla, California and Oregon state Of the pac 12 would be competitive. Have you seen the ACC and how weak that power conference has been lately.

[@eujr4SC]

Hawaii going back as an independent is an intriguing idea. The 16 team WAC failed because of the immense travel costs and lack of a good tv deal. The tv money is better than in the 90’s but traveling to Hawaii every other year for a lot of schools, especially those in the MST and CST areas is massive. Hawaii going independent keeps games against Fresno, SJSU, & SDSU alive. The Big 4 California schools and the PNW have history playing Hawaii. The Wyoming rivalry became active again when Hawaii joined the MWC and I think would continue with regularity. So I think Hawaii could still pull together a decent schedule most years going back to independence. But with the current landscape I could also see being detrimental.

[@TigerWave01]

Seeing the AAC commissioner’s speech today, it seems very likely that Tulane and Memphis are headed to the Pac-12. I really hope the Pac can take those two, UNLV, Gonzaga and another good bball school. It would be a top mid major in football, basketball, and pretty good in baseball (especially if some affiliate members can fill put BSU and CSU’s lack of baseball). Entertaining conference all around If the Pac wanted to go to ten football members, I’m really not sure who number ten would be. Someone in Texas, I’m sure

[@CCOS1214]

Utsa recent success, big market, fertile recruiting

[@killuhcam27]

Sac State is almost guarunteed to be added to the Mountain West. They openly have a group of administraters and boosters advocating for it and the group is even called the Sac 12, they won't be added to the PAC 12 obviously but I think it's just a marketing gimic to look more attractive to the Mountain West. EWU has some tough financial issues so they will most likely not be going FBS any time soon. Idaho, Montana and MSU are the most interesting athletics wise but they all seem to have zero interest in moving up. I'd say UC Davis moves up with Sac State, resecuring California for the MW plus UTEP and NMSU who would leave the CUSA in a heartbeat even for a weakened MW.

[@BozzmanCole]

SAC State has no business moving to FBS. Terrible facilities, poor fan support over the years, no resources.

[@zplapplap]

This is the first video of yours that I’ve seen. You’re very good at this. Keep it up! Excellent content and presentation.

[@AFNick]

Utah was the first G5 to win a BCS bowl, and they got promoted

[@-State-Of-Mind]

Sam Houston, even in one of the worst conferences they can thrive. They never needed a lot of money to be successful. If they had a conference that helped support them, they could achieve great things. Only one year in, and they are a big contender in the G5. Just think if they had millions of dollars to really grow the team.

[@RobertWilcox-y5l]

I'm an Aztec fan but feel bad for Hawaii. I've always liked them.

[@BozzmanCole]

Mountain West will continue to lose membership because they are not reacting quick enough with very little strategic direction. UNLV (PAC12) and Air Force (AAC) are sealing their deals as we type. With that said, The MWC should quickly add UTEP, Texas State, Sam Houston, and Tarleton State from TEXAS to add media markets, growth potential, and football crazy fan bases!

[@Lawomenshoops]

The MWC needs 8 schools to be FBS. FCS schools have a two wait period. So the MWC first priority will be to add FBS schools. Thus UTEP and NMSU will be in the MWC. That gets them to 7, assuming they lose UNLV and Air Force. Both UTEP and NMSU are in the mountain time zone. That’s an 8 team MWC. So now they can go after FCS schools with worries about meeting FCS conference requirements La Tech and Sam Houston are in the Central time zone. If the MWC stays in the central and pacific time zones, they aren’t an option. Wyoming SJ Utah St Nevada Hawaii UMN NMSU UTEP

[@stephenstaedtler6902]

I think New Mexico State and UTEP make sense. I have my doubts about Sam Houston and La. Tech. Not really sure they'd want to leave CUSA as the geography in Mountain West isn't really much better.

[@fighterck6241]

I ask this question again, if the PAC 12 just ends up getting the final conference winner spot every year, then does it really matter that they're not technically a P5 conference and is the 5+7 CFP really allowing the old G5 a seat at the dance? If the Pac 12 ends up getting in every year, how long until the G5 wants the playoff restructured for 6 conference champion spots?

[@lastpme]

I feel for the MWC, I hope they find a why to survive this mess.

[@davidforinash2950]

Memphis will go pac.

[@Stetayjocards]

btw Utah busted the bcs before Boise St did it when utah had urbaqn meyer and alex smith in 2004 when theynblew out pitt in the fiesta bowl and Utah was the first to do it twice in 2008 when they beat alabama in the sugar bowl I really enjoy your videos

[@CFBudge]

True. I should’ve said they were the remaining flagship G5 team.

[@RobertWilcox-y5l]

Nice video.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

By the time this is done the AAC will be in worse shape than the MWC, the Pac 12 is taking Tulane and Memphis and one to two of the Texas teams and reports are South Florida called the Pac 12 and the Pac 12 is interested due to media market size. By the time they are done no way Air Force goes to the AAC unless the two conferences merge to survive, I see that as a possibility but probably only if the Pac 12 also takes Air Force and UNLV.

[@CCOS1214]

Army, navy, air force is a huge draw and back fill from mt west, sun belt, cusa and Mac

[@billcook4768]

Pac-12: Poaching teams while giving no thought to how this affects the old conference is immoral. Also PAC-12:

[@nathanjm000]

Hawaii should go independent and try to get teams to play them at home for the nice weather and have a very long road trip to start the year

[@tylerw9837]

I don't see how Air Force joining the AAC makes any sense. It's a pretty lateral move and they already play the other academies annually as it is.

[@EzraLaw234]

enjoyed the video. hope the MW survives

[@nathanjm000]

My predictions Air Force-American UNLV-Pac-12 Hawaii-Independent Utah State-C-USA Wyoming-C-USA New Mexico-C-USA Nevada-C-USA San Jose State-American

[@BeHappy-hh1ty]

The MAC is the only stable mid major conference

[@CFBudge]

True hopefully it stays in tact forever

[@SpectacularSportsProddz]

Nice video

[@foxnoel9434]

As a unlv fan I’m terrified

[@letitroll610]

They are likely to come out better than most other remaining MW teams, but until it happens I sympathize.

[@bobgonzalez5845]

UNLV will be the next PAC-12 team!

[@TimIsTryng]

As a Sam Houston fan, I am all for Wyoming being a conference game

[@phillipowens3612]

New PAC10 Wassau, Oregon St, Boise St, Colorado St, Utah St, Fresno St, San Diego St, UNLV, UConn🏈 Gonzaga🏀⚾️🥎🏐⚽️ Air Force🏈 to AAC with Olympic sports to WCC. New Mtn West Hawai’i🏈 Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, San Jose St, add UTEP, Texas St, New Mexico St and promote Sac St, Montana, Montana St from the Big Sky👍

[@spartanmike15]

As a San Jose St fan, and Wyoming Alumnus, I would hate to join a crap conference like CUSA. Take the money that the conference will get from the PAC 6, and Air Force then wait and see.

[@thethrashingofthechrist]

My dream scenario if all this has to happen would just be a merger between the MWC and the PAC-12 into the Pacific West Conference. Have one division be the Mountain West division and the other could be the Pacific. But meh. Lol.

[@tonymartin3818]

I do not get why everyone is so down on SJSU. They won the MWC 4 years ago, and they tied for first last year. SJSU is 9-1 against UNLV, 5-1 against Wyoming, and 5-5 against Fresno. If anyone objectively looks at the last 5 years, they will see that they are not bottom dwellers in the MWC

[@N1oreo1]

They aren’t bottom dwellers. They’ve always been a good program but never wanted more for themselves. They put no money towards their football program to make themselves attractive to a bigger conference and blew up half of their stadium. SJSU never prepared for the future. Got comfortable with the MWC thinking it would be there forever. No one expected the PAC to fall apart but here we are. Sad for the Spartans… I do think they’ll be fine in the end

[@tonymartin3818]

@@N1oreo1 there are plans to add seats back to the east side of the stadium. It will not as it is today forever. I do agree they have not spent enough on their football program over the years and now they are caught with their pants down.

[@reverend_wintondupree]

​@@tonymartin3818That's a microcosm of SJSU's athletic department. They remove the best sections in the stadium, ones that have the opportunity to generate the most ticket revenue, and replace with what? They're leaving money on the table. What's worse, Air Force, a conference member, has gone through a very similar stadium renovation project to their stadium. And instead created premium seating, offices, alumni/donor/recruit showcases while still retaining those coveted lower bowl and between the 20s seating

[@tonymartin3818]

@@reverend_wintondupree they spent 65 million to do it to boot. I hear the athletic center is awesome inside (I have not seen it in person) but that does not help with the seating issue. They need to get working on adding back in the seats sooner rather than later

[@TheBiosimilars]

There is no law in Nevada that the two schools have to be in the same conference. This is false. They were in separate ones for many years prior to the WAC collapsing (for football)

[@jamesheath1836]

It’s the money from the state and federal sources. Some of the bills are tied together, so yes it is against the law until they rewrite and separate.

[@Wall_of_Flesh]

Add GCU, NMSU

[@Gladiator6]

Utah state!!!

[@davidforinash2950]

Montana state and Montana should be upgraded

[@Gladiator6]

And South Dakota state and North Dakota state

[@danielw7470]

@@Gladiator6right

[@CHTKCHEUNGTZEKEUNG]

Ok lol did u just say in the past 10 years Fresno state doing better than Boise state homie Boise state has the best home record since 2001 no Mountain west team in comparison

[@davidforinash2950]

Mountain west should add New Mexico State, Sam Houston and Montana schools.

[@drgat6953]

I think there are a lot of good candidates in the Big Sky. If MWC can hold on (not even increase) their TV deal past 2026. They will have options.

[@reverend_wintondupree]

There is zero chance the MW's current media revenue is not going to significantly decline for the remaining members. No additions from the Big Sky or Missouri Valley will prevent this. At this stage they can only hope to maintain the conference and maximize whatever value is left to maintain.

[@teeduck]

Mtn West is fine at 8. Add Sac St and UCDavis. Done

[@jsweet744]

I just hope San Jose State is in the same conference as Oregon State and Washington State.

[@CertifiedBenchwarmer]

If San Jose state and unlv stayed they would destroy every mountain west team

[@JohnnyReno71]

Get off your high horse dude

[@UncleBen-h2y]

“The pac 12 doesn’t want to water itself down too much”. Ok? It already is watered down! What if the Big 12 puts out an invite to Washington st., Oregon st. And Boise st. What then? The ego of the pac 12 is hilarious! Just bring in ALL of the MW plus Memphis and Northern Illinois for a total of 16.

[@reverend_wintondupree]

Why would the XII offer them spots in the conference after previous bids being denied? What has changed for those schools and the XII to want to offer them an invite? If the PAC were to bring in all schools the per school revenue would be much smaller. Otherwise why wouldn't OSU and WSU simply join the MW?

[@Khromiux]

Nah

[@aBrewster29]

The remaining MW will be fine. There are regional FCS programs that want to elevate. At worst they’ll be able to join another league as a western wing.

[@reverend_wintondupree]

The remaining schools are about to see atleast a 50% drop in media revenue. The conference may maintain but the existing members are less than fine if trying to stay relevant in a Power 2/4 dominated FBS. This is just another step closer to a G5 split.

[@aBrewster29]

@@reverend_wintondupree that’s true. They’ll have a conference home, but there’s going to be some belt tightening!

[@CHTKCHEUNGTZEKEUNG]

lol mountain west conference the AAC is the best group of conference duh why do you think ESPN was trying to get big 12 teams to go to the AAC now allegedly that’s what they did but mountain West as the best group of get your facts right Homie or get someone on your show with the fact

[@SKUIZZZ1]

Now the AAC is better but before those strong MW 4 left it was the better conference

[@reverend_wintondupree]

​@@SKUIZZZ1If judging by current media deal revenue it has been AAC 1, MW 2, with exception to Boise St who had a seperate deal for unequal revenue sharing for their home broadcasts. This is why the likes of the departing 4 were inclined to move to the PAC.

[@SKUIZZZ1]

@@reverend_wintondupree I was replying to the comment in which he said “best”. The MW teams are stronger. Im not referring to tv deals. Im talking about strength of teams from a football & basketball perspective. Before those 4 left the MW would smack the AAC in both sports.