College football will have a much different landscape in 2011 after the conference realignment that has taken place over the last few weeks.
Utah accepted an invitation to migrate from the MWC to join the Pac-10, after negotiations to add six teams from the Big 12 floundered, and Texas decided to remain in the Big 12, keeping the conference intact.
A week earlier, after days of deliberations, the Mountain West Conference welcomed Boise State on June 11.
Craig Thompson, MWC commissioner, said once news broke that the Utes were leaving, he received eight to 10 calls from institutions interested in joining the MWC.
Thompson said expansion isn’t on the horizons — at least for now.
“Our intention at this time is to prepare for the 2011 season as a nine-member conference,” Thompson said.
Initially, as rumors swirled, University of Utah President Michael Young didn’t confirm the Utes’ impending departure until a news conference on June 18.
Utah Athletic Director Chris Hill said Utah is overjoyed to join the Pac-10.
“We hope that we will contribute to this wonderful conference,” Hill said. “But we know that the opportunity to be part of these great schools will be extraordinary.”
Utah will profit from joining the Pac-10 in a number of ways. By leaving the MWC, the Utes won’t rely on at-large BCS bids, since the conference champion is awarded automatic bid to BCS bowls.
The Utes’ Pac-10 membership will also give them about $6 million per year.
UNM head football coach Mike Locksley said he understands why Utah moved to the Pac-10.
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“I wish them well,” Locksley said. “You hate to lose a team like Utah, which brought a lot to our conference, but I think with the addition of Boise it won’t be so detrimental to our league.”
Boise State won two BCS bowl games, went undefeated twice in the last five seasons and won three Western Athletic Conference titles in four years.
Locksley said Boise State is an exemplary football powerhouse.
“They are a program that I have always looked at as a barometer for where I’d like to take our program,” Locksley said. “They add to the argument we’re going in and we are deserving of an automatic qualifying bid. I have faith in the powers that be that they are going to keep the Mountain West in position to stay competitive,” he said. “We have to put our best foot forward as we continue to upgrade our conference.”
For now, the MWC will have to make do, but Thompson is confident the league will endure.
“I don’t know what the future is going to hold in terms of where this league goes and how performances will play out, that’s why you play the games and see where it progresses,” Thompson said.
