The dominoes are starting to fall. And if you’re in the Mountain West, it’s time to face the board.
On Monday, the rebuilt Pac-12 officially announced CBS Sports as its primary long-term media partner, with a deal running through the 2030–31 season. This was a big moment for Teresa Gould and the PAC 12, not just because of who they landed but because of who had just been left behind.
CBS didn’t just add the Pac-12.
They replaced the Mountain West.
This Was the Mountain West’s Deal. Now It’s Not.
Let’s not pretend this is anything new. It’s the same structure the Mountain West had:
A minimum of three football and three men’s basketball games on CBS
Championship games for both sports are on CBS and Paramount+
The rest of the inventory is airing on CBS Sports Network
Overflow likely handled via Paramount+ or streaming tiers
It’s not a coincidence. It’s a handoff.
The Mountain West had been working under the assumption that it could extend its current CBS/FOX package. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 was forced to build something new after its collapse in 2023.
And yet, here we are: the league that had to start over out-negotiated the league that tried to stay stable.
So… Who’s Left to Work With the Mountain West?
Fox remains the Mountain West’s only remaining media partner. They’ve long carried the MWC title game, Boise State home games, and a rotating cast of others. But are they about to take the full weight of the conference?
I’m skeptical, especially if Pac-12 still talks to Fox behind the scenes.
CBS was the backbone of the Mountain West’s exposure. They just pulled it. And now, the MWC has to start over. Not extend. Not retool. Rebuild. Without Boise. Without Fresno. Without SDSU. Without CBS.
The question isn’t “what kind of deal can the Mountain West get?”
The question is, “Will it be a deal that keeps them nationally visible?”
If You’re UNLV Right Now… You’re Asking One Thing
Where are my games going to be seen?
Fox isn’t guaranteed, CBS is gone, and there’s no public streaming partner, no ESPN, and no CW.
UNLV, like the rest of the MWC, signed a grant of rights under the assumption that there would be a stable media deal and a large 2026 lump-sum payment ($ 14 M+) from realignment penalties.
But if the Mountain West can’t meet its financial obligations, or get its games on TV?
That grant of rights deal becomes a legal trap with no payout.
OSU and WSU Just Played Everyone
Here’s the best or worst part, depending on who you ask.
According to The Athletic, the new Pac-12 revenue split will include:
Equal shares of media revenue for all eight members (yes, even Gonzaga)
Schools keep 50% of the NCAA Tournament units they earn
But Oregon State and Washington State keep 100% of the College Football Playoff money through 2028
They also retain all NCAA Tournament units earned before 2025
Oh, and they control the remaining Pac-12 cash reserves
Everyone else joined a “new” league.
OSU and WSU kept the old one. And the money.
Let’s Talk Numbers
Here’s what 2023–24 revenue looked like among the Group of Five conferences:
AAC: $147.7M
Mountain West: $92.8M
C-USA: $49.9M
Sun Belt: $47M
MAC: $39M
Now strip away Boise, Fresno, SDSU, CSU, and Utah State, and factor in the loss of CBS. The Mountain West just lost 75–80% of its media value.
What does that leave?
Probably a $20–30 million footprint at best.
No national partner. No marquee games. No stability.
It’s not just a downgrade. It’s a collapse.
What Happens Next?
The Pac-12 still needs one more football member. Early buzz was around UNLV. Now it’s Texas State. If they wait past June 30, their Sun Belt exit fee increases. The clock’s ticking.
More partners will be announced. More money will “leak”, likely in the $7–9M per school range, assuming Gonzaga gets a full share. Production costs paid to Pac-12 Enterprises will probably be inflated to make the deal look bigger. This is standard stuff.
But for the Mountain West?
This wasn’t a press release. It was a checkmate.
If CBS is working with the Pac-12…
Who’s working with the Mountain West?
If I’m at UNLV right now, I’m not just wondering who I’m playing.
I’m wondering where anyone’s going to see it.
Teresa Gould didn’t just make a media deal.
She made a chess move.
And the Mountain West is already a piece down.