Key Realignment RTs

Three thoughts for the weekend: • Something smells at Moda Center • Pac-12 expansion move • NFL Draft tells a story Link: bit.ly/4cSQzgu

Louisiana Tech and Conference USA notified the court of a settlement in their legal fight today. Statement from Louisiana Tech.

The Monday Mailbag (📭) * Pac-12/Mountain West expansion * Prep recruits vs. transfers * Top MW basketball rosters * Money & accountability * Mason Miller's gas * 3,428 billionaires * Shasta Lake * "Bacon of hope" * Prettaaay, prettaaay, prettaaay good nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters…

"Any additional schools have to be ready for that brand. We operate really tightly as a team (of ADs and prez) … That’s a huge value to us, and we wouldn’t want to mess that up.”

WSU president Elizabeth Cantwell on possible Pac-12 expansion (today at AD Jon Haarlow's news conference): “We are building a new brand, which is unique and very powerful ...

“Yes, we are actively continuing to look at opportunities and institutions that want to join the Big West, particularly those within the existing or, possibly, an expanded Big West footprint.” herosports.com/cbb-big-west-h…

Realignment continues to roil the West Coast five years after the wave began. More than 30 schools have been impacted, with UC Santa Barbara the latest. "The end is not in sight." --->

Louisiana Tech and Conference USA officials remain in settlement negotiations to resolve a legal fight related to the school’s exit to the Sun Belt in 2026, sources tell @YahooSports. A finalized agreement has not been struck. But that could happen soon, as @BleedTechBlue noted.

Sources: UC Santa Barbara is finalizing an agreement to join the WCC for the 2027-28 season. The Gauchos are the third addition for the WCC in the past seven months, joining UC San Diego and Denver. League will have 12 teams in 2027-28.

More Sankey: "I've acknowledged there are those who have said we should go our own way. I don’t think that’s the right decision. We have relationships and responsibilities within Division I." He cites issues politically, as written in our January story, with this move.

Asked about SEC breaking away on Finebaum, Greg Sankey acknowledges that many members are frustrated enough to do that. In January, SEC leaders expressed to @YahooSports that they want SEC-only governance that, eventually, may lead to SEC-only competition bit.ly/4reyQWn

Greg Sankey on @finebaum on the league breaking away: He talks about "frustration" in his league about the inability to be collaborative. "If there's a point at which we cannot do so," he says, referring to being collaborative, "that starts to generate more and more interest."

Greg Sankey on @finebaum on the SEC breaking away: "I don't think that's on the table as a top agenda item. That, for us, is how we solve the problems currently in front of us."

Louisiana Tech is suing Conference USA, requesting a judge grant an injunction to allow it to join the Sun Belt in July. In negotiations since August, the two sides have failed to reach a resolution. CUSA included Tech in its 2026 conference schedules. lincolnparishjournal.com/2026/03/05/bre…

Conference realignment

MAC presidents today approved for the league to move forward with the addition of Sacramento State as a football-only member, sources tell @YahooSports. The school will pay an entry fee of $18 million. Finalization of the deal is imminent. Hornets will begin play this season.

Sources: The MAC has voted to formally add FCS Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member starting in 2026. The cost of entrance is expected to be $18 million and a deal is expected to be announced in the upcoming days.

Negotiations between officials from Sacramento State and the MAC have intensified over an expansion agreement that is nearing a vote, sources tell @YahooSports. Sac State is offering an entry fee of more than $15 million. yhoo.it/4tFUyoc

Whatever college football looks like in 2031 the presiding groupthink is that there aren’t going to be 136 teams at the highest level of play. NDSU likely wanted to get its nose under the tent when a new division emerges of 60-80 teams. That and the fact it had maxed out winning 10 FCS titles in the last 15 years made it time to look for higher ground. With facilities on the same level as CUSA and Sun Belt (at least), NDSU is poised to make a move— as a school, not just in fb. Don’t discount the impact of the Bakken Field, one of the largest onshore oil/natural gas deposits in the country. If Indiana can weaponize Big Ten economic superiority, NDSU can transform black gold into a seat at the FBS table.

This is now official, NDSU to the Mountain West. Also, "The Bison will not be eligible for the MW Football Championship Game or postseason play, including the College Football Playoff or a bowl game, until 2028." (Can make a bowl in 2027 if not enough bowl-eligible teams)