DALLAS -- Members of Conference USA and current and future members of the Mountain West are on their way to forming a new conference that will begin in 2013.
The 16 schools announced their plans Monday.
“This is an exciting development that will stabilize the current conferences and create the first truly national conference with members in five time zones and television viewership from coast to coast,” UNLV President Neal Smatresk said in statement. “We are moving our plans forward rapidly and expect to complete our conversations in the near future. Look for further announcements soon as we work together on this exciting new venture.”
The new conference will likely include 18-24 schools, be split into divisions and not only have a football championship game but also semifinal games, and will hold a conference basketball tournament.
School leaders said they plan to complete work on the new league in six months.
In October, Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky and Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson announced the two leagues were working to merge their football operations starting in 2013.
At the time, both commissioners left open the possibility that the football relationship could grow into something bigger. MORE....
