Boise State doesn’t withdraw from MWC for Big East; could cost millions
Brett McMurphy
By Brett McMurphy | College Football Insider
June 29, 2025 4:06 PM ET

3 | Comments

Boise State did not formally withdraw from the Mountain West Conference by the end of business on Friday, sources told CBSSports.com, a decision that will cost the Broncos millions of dollars in exit fees if they still choose to join the Big East in 2013.

Boise State may still withdraw from the MWC and join the Big East in 2013, but it will now cost the Broncos substantially more — anywhere from $7.5 million to $24 million — because they will be providing less than one year’s notice. If Boise State had withdrawn before the end of business on Friday, it would have only had to forfeit its final year of league revenue (about $2.5 million).

If Boise State still joins the Big East, the lowest amount it would owe the MWC is $7.5 million in forfeited league revenue and exit fees if it doesn’t receive a BCS bowl bid, but $24 million if Boise State earns an at-large BCS bowl berth. If another MWC team other than Boise State receives a BCS bowl berth this fall, Boise State would owe about $10.5 million.

Boise State is still scheduled to join the Big East as a football-only member on July 1, 2013, but even Big East interim commissioner Joe Bailey isn’t sure Boise State would withdraw from the MWC. “I can’t comment because A, I don’t know and B, I won’t guess,” Bailey told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday.

The Broncos remain undecided on their future conference home because they are weighing several factors: most notably where to place their Olympic (non-football) sports, the possibility the Big East could lose more members if the Big 12 expands and the value of the Big East’s upcoming media rights deal.

In December, Boise State announced it would leave the Mountain West in 2013, joining the Big East as a football-only member and placing its Olympic sports in the Western Athletic Conference.

However, the WAC has been decimated by defections, leaving only five members. WAC interim commissioner Jeff Hurd previously told CBSSports.com his league needed to add at least two schools to remain a Division I conference.

With the WAC’s future unknown, Boise State has tried unsuccessfully to gain membership into the Big West for its Olympic sports.

If Boise State ultimately decides to remain in the Mountain West, it would owe the Big East $5 million — an amount the MWC likely would assist in paying — but, more importantly, could set off a number of dominoes that could hurt the Big East.

If Boise State doesn’t join the Big East, San Diego State, also scheduled to join the Big East as a football-only member in 2013, has the option of remaining in the Mountain West without paying an exit fee to the Big East.

San Diego State’s contract with the Big East, obtained by CBSSports.com, indicates “neither party should be obligated” if Boise State is not a member of the Big East. SDSU would be released from its contract from the Big East without penalty, if it desires, if there is not “another football-playing institution team west of the Rocky Mountains,” the contract indicates.

Also, if Boise State doesn’t join the Big East, it would reduce the value of the league’s media rights when the Big East begins negotiations in September with ESPN.

Sources previously told CBSSports.com the Big East’s media rights deals, with Boise State, would be worth only $60 million annually, while other media outlets have reported the Big East’s media rights deal would be worth more than $130 million annually, an amount the Big East turned down from ESPN last year.

If the Big East receives a $60 million annual media rights deal, it would earn Boise State about $3 million a year; a $130 million deal would earn Boise State about $6.5 million a year. Boise State’s annual revenue in the Mountain West is about $2.5 million.

Internet Cache will get you every time.

response time from Brett was 1 minute. Either he wrote a story for both possible outcomes and it got posted or he slipped up on dropping his story at 7 PM EST/5 PM MST (ergo the appropriate time of the day).

We shall see….

I know I’ve read several times about June 30th being the deadline. I’m not sure if there is a stipulation that states if the MWC office is closed, then the deadline is the business day before.

Here is a current quote from Las Cruces Sun-News: “So, the Boise State Broncos must declare their intentions to either leave or stay in the Mountain West Conference by Saturday.”

Sucks.

or will all MWC delivery drops on Saturday are delivered to WAC HQ. Just wondering.

But, IMO, when an announcement like this drags out to the very end it means discussions are being had. Who those discussions are with is anyone’s guess, but I’d lean twds just about anyone EXCEPT the Big East.

But I’ll be danged if I didn’t say it wasn’t on my mind.

BSU has a battery of attorneys. The deadline is technically “by July 1.” There’s no reason to delay announcing a decision unless there’s a lot going on behind the scenes of which we’re not aware. I rather imagine that’s the case.

As to who the players might be, that’s pure speculation. But, even if the MWC deadline is missed, those attorneys might step forward to earn their salaries. Remember that contracts are written to be broken (or am I too cynical on that one?).

It’s easy to get all in a lather when one doesn’t have all the information. I’ll go with the administration on this one and trust that they, too, will earn their salaries. I’ll guarantee that the subject is not being ignored.