Hawaii, 6 other schools commit to Mountain West

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / SEPT. 25 University of Hawaii quarterback Jake Farrell (4 ) at practice.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / SEPT. 25 University of Hawaii quarterback Jake Farrell (4 ) at practice.

With limited options, the University of Hawaii today signed a pledge of allegiance to keep its football team in the Mountain West Conference through at least June 30, 2032.

Since Sept. 11, five schools have announced plans to secede from the Mountain West and join the rebuilding Pac-12 in 2026. UH, which is a football-only affiliate of the Mountain West, joined the other six schools in signing a memorandum of understanding to remain in the league. The seven schools also agreed to execute a grant of media rights, which locks them into a yet-to-be-determined television contract from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2032.

“Our immediate priority was solidifying the membership of the Mountain West, ” commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a release. “Now our focus turns to our collective future on behalf of our student-athletes. The agreements announced today mark a historic moment for the Mountain West and provide much-needed stability and clarity as the world of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve rapidly.”

Ten football teams officially departed the Pac-12 on July 1, leaving behind Oregon State and Washington State. The remaining schools decided to hold onto the Pac-12 brand. To fill this year’s football schedule, OSU and WSU reached an agreement to play Mountain West teams. As part of the deal, OSU and WSU agreed to pay a “poaching ” penalty starting at $15 million for each Mountain West team that joins the Pac-12. Mountain West teams also agreed to pay $17 million if they seceded.

On Sept. 11, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State announced their intent to move from the Mountain West to the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/hawaii-6-other-schools-commit-213800781.html

Author : The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Publish date : 2024-09-27 21:38:00

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