Four schools will remain in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), it was officially announced on Monday.
Memphis, Tulane, USF, and UTSA each had discussions with the Pac-12 Conference over the last couple of weeks, but have opted not to join the latest round of conference realignment.
The American Athletic Conference issued a statement confirming the news on Monday and posted it to its official X (formerly Twitter) account:
We are the American Athletic Conference.
A conference that prioritizes student-athlete welfare, has proud academic institutions, produces fierce competition at the highest level, and has outstanding linear and direct-to-consumer national media partners. Together, we are committed t0 continuing to build the American brand, exploring new opportunities for exposure and value, and developing innovative economic resources-—all in service
of our student-athletes.While we acknowledge receiving interest in our institutions From other conferences, we firmly believe that li is in our individual and collective best interests to uphold our commitment to each other. Together, we will continue to modernize the conference, elevate the student-athlete experience, achieve championship-winning successes, and build the future.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports, AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti is working on details to strengthen the conference through financial and other measures.
After days of deliberations with the Pac-12, the schools — as a group — decided to remain in their current conference, where AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti is exploring avenues for revenue enhancement, including private-equity involvement, new distribution models and further expansion of the league footprint.
The four AAC programs received on Monday proposed terms from the Pac-12 that included projected annual revenue numbers ($10-15M), a five-year grant of rights and only partial coverage of an AAC exit fee that is believed to be around $25 million per school. None of this was unexpected as Yahoo Sports reported on Friday.
As for the Pac-12 Conference, it will have to look elsewhere to expand its membership from six to the NCAA minimum of eight by 2026. Earlier this month, the Pac-12 announced the addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, who will join Oregon State and Washington State on the roster.
Other Mountain West schools — including Air Force, UNLV, and Utah State — have been contacted by the Pac-12 for possible membership.
A group of potential expansion members has already seen the league’s expansion presentation, including UNLV, Air Force and Utah State. Engagement has increased with those schools in the last two days.
Meanwhile, in the Mountain West, the league and commissioner Gloria Nevarez continue an attempt to secure their membership with a long-term commitment to the league that features financial incentives for UNLV and Air Force. The league set a Monday deadline for schools to agree to the new grant of rights.
Yes, I’m glad with Tulane with the American Athletic Conference.
I am with you too Terrence.
Just the travel cost increase in time and money outweighs a lateral move as i feel this would be for them.
The 2 teams the Pac-12 should add are California and Stanford.
There you go Charlie.
Those academic heavyweights don’t want to be associated with schools currently in the Pac.
To Richard I rather have Clemson & Florida State in ACC than Stanford & California there two that really should be in PAC 12.
Utah State article when?
Sorry, opossum in my garage tonight took precedence. :(
That’s not happening.
The ACC is better, way better than this revived PAC 12
Sorry
ACC isn’t an option for those AAC schools, though.
@Richard Unless John is referring to those schools backfilling a depleted ACC if FSU/Clemson break away?
In any case, the AAC does currently atleast have schools in many major growth metros on the eastern and Central time zones and still would be a favorable destination for SBC or CUSA defectors if they should so choose to backfill. More importantly, they have the military academies. And even though they may not see the full monetary benefits of those programs as members they do automatically gain national (and technically international as well) exposure that no other brand in the conference can offer.
Monday 11:59 pm MW midnight deadline will be interesting. Now that USU will join the Premier Allstate Conference, will UNLV change its name to Nevada State and join in time. That would make the necessary 8. They only need one more football school to have 8, so expecting private schools Gonzaga and St Mary’s to get to 10 in all other sports seems likely.
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If UNLV continues to fence sit, SJSU wouldn’t be the worst to go with in terms of geography and footprint.
The MW needs to get UTEP and NMSU on speed dial but Gloria doesn’t have their number…. Gloria!!
@David SJSU is still a longshot. They have the geography, but the Athletic department has the smallest FB budget and Athletic budgets respectively in the MW. That low budget is the result of a lack of donor funds and gameday & local media revenue compared other MW schools. SJSU media interest would be limited as a result, despite its market.
It’s really all about UNLV and Air Force at this point, though AFA seems to be more positioned to the AAC then MW.
Apparently Hawaii was not included in the MW agreement or sessions. That could be the fallback option if UNLV stays or AFA stays/joins the AAC.
There’s now rumors Uconn may be on the table as well as football only. Let the wild speculation continue!
The ACC and Big 12 should be a little proactive here.
Tulane, Memphis, and UConn to the ACC. (maybe they could add Tulane and Memphis to the SEC-ACC end of year matchups against LSU and Arkansas, respectively)
Air Force and USF to the Big 12.
The PAC should just take all the Mountain West schools at this point (minus AF) and add New Mexico State to get to 14.
The AAC could grab UTEP and FIU to backfill.
Nobody wants UTEP and FIU—-they’re just names. UTEP should be FCS; they don’t spend, nor do they care about football there.
Please forgive me MrVandy I do not buy your comments excuse me for it.
UConn to the PAC 12 (8) maybe.
This is only my prediction but UConn to the PAC 8 will be the next move. Maybe for Football only, UConn made over 6M from the Big East in the other sports in 2023.
PAC 12 needs one team, UConn is the last independent without a contract with NBC.
From the Yahoo Sports quote “and only partial coverage of an AAC exit fee that is believed to be around $25 million per school.”
How much of the 25M exit agreement was the flush with Cash PAC 2 going to cover? 5M or 20M make a real difference.