As the college football world awaits the ACC’s decision on if they want to add California and Stanford, the Mountain West Conference and American Athletic Conference have emerged as potential suitors, should the ACC decline.
Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez expanded on the possibility Thursday, telling ESPN, “It is about what’s happening with the ACC or whoever [Cal and Stanford] are talking to.” There is a belief that if Cal and Stanford go to the ACC, the Mountain West would still be willing to take the two remaining Pac-12 schools, Washington State and Oregon State.
Nevarez also understands the process will take some time and requires due diligence, adding, “There’s just so much information about what’s going on, and not all of it is true. From my perspective, it’s been a matter of connecting with our athletic directors and presidents and contacts that I have in the industry to try to provide our board the best information out there.”
When asked about Cal and Stanford joining the Mountain West in all sports besides football, where they would remain independent, Nevarez was open to the idea, saying, “We certainly have precedent for that because Hawaii is an affiliate football-only member currently, we’re open to everything. Nothing is being shut down at this point.”
Sources have told ESPN, however, that Cal and Stanford would be hesitant to join the Mountain West due to academic discrepancies between the two of them and the other Mountain West institutions.
Sources have also told ESPN that the American Athletic Conference would consider adding all four schools, should the situation arise.
[ESPN]
