Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano

Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano

Canzano: Pac-12 and MW turf war is ongoing

Pac-12 and MW didn't merge for a reason.

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John Canzano
Jan 30, 2026
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The Pac-12 starts officially in July.

Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez and Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould found themselves in Miami recently for meetings and festivities involving the College Football Playoff championship game.

Their respective conferences remain in a college athletics turf war. The Pac-12’s media rights deal is mostly done, and the league is set to reopen for business on July 1. The MW’s media-rights negotiations are ongoing. It’s been in survival mode and looking for traction.

Gould’s league would love to grow and add another football-playing member before the 2027 season. UNLV — anchored in Nevarez’s most attractive remaining TV market — still makes the most sense. But the Rebels are currently committed to the MW, which must soon deliver on some financial promises.

Why didn’t the two conferences merge?

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