A few months ago, I wrote about how UNLV got boxed in by its own leadership — locked into the Mountain West through a short-sighted Grant of Rights deal.
Today?
That box is cracking.
And UNLV is suddenly back in conversations with the Pac-12.
But this isn’t just about escaping a broken league.
This is about finally choosing ambition over comfort — and setting sights on the real goal: Power 4 status.
The Pac-12 is a necessary step.
The Big 12 should be the final destination.
And the window is open — right now.
Let’s Be Honest: The Mountain West Is Holding UNLV Back
When the Pac-12 collapsed, five Mountain West schools jumped.
The Mountain West scrambled to stop the bleeding.
UNLV, along with Air Force, agreed to help stabilize the league. In return, they got:
A bigger cut of the “exit/poaching fee pot” (24.5% of $61M and future shares)
The MWC basketball tournaments staying in Vegas
The league HQ moving to Las Vegas
Sounds solid on paper.
But here’s what they gave up:
All media rights through 2032
Any realistic chance at moving to the Pac-12
All leverage in a rapidly changing realignment landscape
And the kicker?
UNLV helped write the contract that trapped them.
President Keith Whitfield — serving as Chair of the Mountain West Board — approved the very Grant of Rights that’s now keeping the school from moving forward.
That’s not strategic leadership. That’s institutional malpractice.
The Grant of Rights: A Legal Straitjacket
The Mountain West’s GoR is as airtight as they could make it:
No exit unless you’re heading to the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, or ACC
Media rights stay with the MWC even if you try to leave
Schools forfeit all future incentive payments if they jump
Exit fees still apply (~$18M minimum)
And even if the Mountain West loses the $145M mediation it’s fighting with the Pac-12…
The Grant of Rights still stands.
That means UNLV — a top-40 market, Tier 1 research institution, with elite facilities — is stuck. Not because no one wants them.
But because they signed away their freedom for short-term cash.
UNLV Has Re-Engaged with the Pac-12 — But Can They Move?
Now we’re here:
UNLV is once again in serious discussions with the Pac-12.
The reformed Pac-12 already has:
Boise State
San Diego State
Fresno State
Utah State
Colorado State
Gonzaga (non-football)
Oregon State
Washington State
They need one more football member to meet NCAA and CFP structure requirements.
UNLV is the best option left.
Period.
They bring:
Allegiant Stadium (an NFL venue)
A Tier 1 academic profile
A market that drives TV revenue and recruiting visibility
Football momentum (11 wins, attendance up 53.6% in 5 years)
A basketball program reloading in the portal
A city that hosts the Super Bowl, Final Four, CFP, and more
This isn’t a gamble — it’s a power move waiting to happen.
But thanks to the GoR, the Rebels are stuck on the sideline while programs with far less potential are moving forward.
The Mediation Wildcard
There’s one sliver of hope:
Court-ordered mediation between the Pac-12 and the Mountain West.
The MWC is trying to claim:
$55M in poaching penalties from the Pac-12
$90M in exit fees from the five schools that left
If they win? They’re financially fortified, and the GoR becomes stronger.
But if the mediation results in:
A partial payout
Legal weakness in the scheduling alliance
Or a broader realignment of terms
Then UNLV may have a path — even if it’s narrow — to challenge the agreement or negotiate a settlement-based exit.
This is the moment for leadership to stop playing scared and start playing smart.
The Pac-12 Is the Bridge — Not the Destination
Even if UNLV finds a way out and lands in the Pac-12, that’s not the endgame.
It’s the beginning.
Because while the Pac-12 gives UNLV:
Greater visibility
Better perception
A cleaner recruiting footprint
A seat at the realignment table
…it’s still not a Power 4 league.
The Big 12 is.
And if Utah eventually bolts to the Big Ten, or another spot opens, UNLV should be first in line.
Why?
Because Vegas checks every box:
Elite facilities
A growing fanbase
A national footprint
A Tier 1 academic profile
A city that networks want on their calendar
UNLV is already built for the Big 12.
They just need to get in motion.
Final Word: Enough Playing Small. It’s Time to Move Big.
UNLV helped stabilize the Mountain West.
They carried the load when others bailed.
They signed a contract that kept the league alive.
But stability isn’t a strategy.
And loyalty doesn’t build national relevance.
The Grant of Rights was a leash.
It’s time to break it.
The Pac-12 gives UNLV the platform.
The Big 12 gives UNLV the future.
If mediation opens the door, even a crack — UNLV has to kick it open.
Because if we wait until 2032, we won’t be rising.
We’ll be irrelevant.
UNLV was built for more.
Vegas was built for big.
Now it’s time to start acting like it.
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