And San Diego State gave Mountain West written notice this week that it “intends to resign from the conference,” according to the report. several reports. University president Adela de la Torre initially sent a withdrawal letter on June 13, according to those reports, which sparked controversy with Mountain West and prompted de la Torre to note that the June 13 letter was not an official letter of resignation.
In addition, the school requested a “one-month extension” from Mountain West to push back the deadline “due to unforeseen delays involving other collegiate athletic conferences beyond our control.” San Diego State will be required to provide one year’s notice if it wants to formally withdraw next June. If that notice is not given by June 30, 2023, San Diego State’s exit fee will increase from $16.5 million to $34 million — which is why it will request an extension through July 31, giving it more time to explore any available options.
There is no official invitation for San Diego State to join the Power Five conference, though it has long been seen as an option for expansion of the Pac-12 amid USC and UCLA leaving the Big Ten in 2024. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd reported in January That San Diego State’s new Snapdragon Stadium and improved facilities were part of an effort to get more attention from prominent conferences, including the Pac-12.
“We basically went from, ‘Hey, you’re doing a good job.'” Your break is coming,” because “you’re the only team in Southern California that plays FBS football that’s not in the Big Ten,” SDSU Athletic Director JD Wicker told Dowd.
Creating an obstacle for the Aztecs is the ambiguous situation surrounding media rights negotiations in the Pac-12. According to Dowd, ESPN issued an option for the Pac-12 to move forward. The league’s current deal with ESPN and Fox expires on July 1, 2024. Any kind of expansion is off the table until the Pac-12 can solidify a revenue-sharing deal.
The Big 12 — which is adding UCF, Cincinnati, BYU and Houston for the 2023 season — is seeking further expansion, according to Commissioner Brett Yormark. Dodd reported in May that Pac-12’s Colorado held “objectivityTalks with Big 12 as Buffaloes weigh their future. The Big 12 could be a tempting option for SDSU as well if the Pac-12 can’t get a deal in order during San Diego State’s scouting schedule.
San Diego State was a charter member of the Mountain West when it was officially created in 1999 amid a huge wave of realignment. The Aztec football team has won three Mountain West titles, the second most by active programs.