What Will the Mountain West’s Next Media Deal Actually Look Like?

By Michael Cooper | The Scarlet Standard

The Mountain West isn’t dead. But it is on the clock.

After losing CBS to the Pac-12, the league’s next media deal will define its future in revenue and relevance. Visibility. Stability. In a media world where time slots matter more than tradition, the Mountain West is now fighting to stay on screen.

So what does a realistic media deal look like in 2026?

Here’s where things stand and where they’re heading.

The Context: A Market Without Margin for Error

The Mountain West is undergoing the most critical transition in its 25-year history. Five of its top brands, Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State, and Utah State, are heading to the Pac-12. CBS, once its anchor partner, has pivoted to that restructured league. The deal CBS just signed for 2026–2031 mirrors what the Mountain West had before.

Gone are the Saturday showcase windows. Gone is guaranteed network visibility.

What’s left is a league without marquee brands, without a locked-in media home, and with a 2026 clock ticking louder by the day.

Why the Mountain West Still Has Value

Despite the losses, the Mountain West still controls a scarce commodity: live, late-night football inventory in Western and Pacific time zones.

• FOX, ESPN, and streamers all want content from the 7:30 PT / 10:30 ET window

• Hawai‘i kickoffs still deliver midnight inventory no one else can match

• Nearly every other West Coast league is tied up in long-term contracts

That scarcity creates leverage. There may not be a bidding war, but there will be a buyer.

The Most Likely Deal Structure

Primary Partner: FOX

FOX remains the most likely top-tier partner. The network has longstanding ties to the Mountain West, including broadcast rights for the football championship and select Boise State and UNLV games. With CBS now committed elsewhere and ESPN focused on the SEC, ACC, and Big 12, FOX is positioned to lead.

FOX would likely receive:

• Friday and Saturday night kickoffs

• UNLV, Air Force, and Hawai‘i home games

• Football championship game

This keeps the Mountain West in the national cable ecosystem, not front and center, but still in the frame.

Streaming Partner: Max, Amazon, or Apple

The bulk of the remaining football and Olympic sports inventory will likely be available on a streaming platform.

Strong contenders include:

• Max (Warner Bros. Discovery) — already airing Mountain West basketball

• Amazon Prime — expanding live sports programming

• Apple TV+ — still exploring its college football entry point

Expect this partner to handle:

• Mid-tier and overflow football games

• Thursday night slots

• Men’s and women’s basketball and non-revenue sports

CBS Sports Network & TNT Sports: Not Off the Table

While CBS proper is now committed to the Pac-12, it’s important to note that CBS Sports Network still has open late-night inventory and a longstanding relationship with the Mountain West. A lower-tier package of games, particularly non-Saturday football and midseason basketball, could still air on CBSSN.

There’s also TNT Sports, which quietly dipped back into college football with a limited MWC deal last year. With live rights expansion back on the table, TNT remains a potential secondary or even streaming-integrated partner.

The takeaway: CBS may no longer be the lead, but it’s not entirely out of the picture.

Payout Structure: Tiered Distribution

The payout structure will reflect the new landscape. Gone are the days of equal shares for every member. The next deal will likely be tiered based on value, reach, and inventory appeal.

Expected ranges:

• UNLV and Air Force: $5–6 million/year

• Nevada, New Mexico, Hawai‘i: $3–4 million/year

• UTEP, Grand Canyon, NIU (football-only), UC Davis (non-football): $2–3 million or less

The average per-school payout will likely be between $3.5 and $4.5 million, possibly edging up with creative packaging and streaming incentives.

Wildcards That Could Shift the Landscape

• The CW or Peacock makes a late-stage push

• Split model: FOX handles linear, TNT or Max handles digital

• Standalone Hawai‘i content sold to niche or international markets

• ESPN steps back in as a tertiary partner, even on ESPN+

Worst-case? The conference leans into self-produced digital content, but that remains a fallback, not the plan.

What’s at Stake

The 2024 Grant of Rights locked in the Mountain West’s current members through 2032, based on the promise of realignment revenue and a competitive media payout. That included a projected $14–15 million lump-sum distribution in 2026.

If this media deal fails to meet expectations or visibility plummets, the GOR becomes a liability instead of a safeguard. Schools like UNLV and Air Force would be locked in, with no path to upward mobility and no exit clause, unless it’s to a Power 4 conference.

That makes this deal existential.

Final Thought: The Window Is Still Open For Now

This won’t be a prestige contract. It won’t restore national status. But it will be a lifeline and the foundation for whatever future the Mountain West can still build.

This deal can work if structured creatively, with FOX for reach, streaming for depth, and a few leftovers tossed to CBS Sports Network or TNT. It won’t win headlines, but it might keep the league alive.

The Pac-12 took the CBS window.

The Mountain West is selling what’s left.

And in the modern college football economy, it’s not just about who you are.

It’s about what time slot you can sell.

Michael Cooper covers UNLV athletics, realignment strategy, and sports media rights for The Scarlet Standard. Subscribe for full coverage as the Mountain West finalizes its most crucial deal yet.