It had already been known for a while that Grand Canyon University was on its way to the Mountain West. However, instead of joining the conference in the 2026-27 season, the Antelopes will be part of the Mountain West starting this fall. The conference made the announcement Tuesday morning.
Grand Canyon, which has been in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) since it moved to Division I in 2013, previously announced its intention to move to the West Coast Conference by 2025. However, when the Mountain West sought to backfill its membership following the announcement that five of its members will move to the Pac-12, Grand Canyon switched its destination to the Mountain West.
This change of heart presented some potential challenges including a still-ongoing legal challenge from the WCC. Another issue was where Grand Canyon would compete in the 2025-26 season. Moving conferences is typically a multi-year process and GCU’s announced move to the Mountain West came in November 2024. Typically, that would mean making the move in fall of 2026. But that would leave GCU without a home due to already giving notice of departure from the WAC by 2025. But the two sides have managed to make the transition happen in a relatively shorter time than is typical.
“We are incredibly appreciative of the Mountain West Conference’s support of our student-athletes, our university and our fans for the opportunity to compete this fall,” GCU President Brian Mueller said.
Most well-known among GCU’s sports programs is its men’s basketball team. The Antelopes have made it to the NCAA Tournament out of the one-bid WAC in four out of the last five years and accumulated an overall record of 120-40 under head coach Bryce Drew. In 2024, GCU won its first-round game as a 12 seed, upsetting 5-seeded Saint Mary’s and later losing to Final Four participant Alabama in the second round.
“The addition of Grand Canyon for the 2025-26 academic year is a significant win for the student-athletes at GCU and in the Mountain West,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez in a press release. “Grand Canyon brings elite recruiting, a passionate fanbase, and state-of-the-art facilities, elevating the Mountain West’s competitiveness and national profile.”
In a statement provided to Chris Murray of Nevada Sportsnet, University of Nevada athletic director Stephanie Rempe also praised the addition.
“We are thrilled to have Grand Canyon University joining the Mountain West beginning this fall,” Rempe said in the statement. “GCU’s addition immediately raises the competitive bar in conference play for our Wolf Pack programs. The expansion of the conference’s footprint into one of the top markets in the country will elevate Nevada’s national profile, recruiting efforts and competitive opportunities. GCU’s across-the-board success will make for exciting matchups and increased exposure and we look forward to our matchups this season.”
Grand Canyon’s arrival to the Mountain West has not come without opposition. According to Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune, the departing five schools have opposed the early addition of the Antelopes. However, those five schools have now lost voting power following each university giving their official notice of departure ahead of the June 1 deadline.
Grand Canyon’s participation in Division I sports has been somewhat controversial due to the nature of its academics. The university has operated as a for-profit company (though it has been attempting to move to a non-profit status since 2019) and has a shaky reputation. Many see it as a “diploma mill” that overcharges students and participates in predatory practices. It has also been under fire from the U.S. Department of Education, the Federal Trade Commission, and is the target of a class-action lawsuit.
Both San Diego State and Boise State have released statements that are not particularly praiseworthy of the move.
“While SDSU remains an active member of the Mountain West through June 30, 2026,” SDSU said in a statement reported by Zeigler, “the university was not consulted or permitted to vote on the early invitation to Grand Canyon University, which is surprising and disappointing given prior representations that the Mountain West and its Commissioner made to SDSU and the negative impact this addition will have on already-planned athletic competition schedules for this academic year.”
“The Mountain West Conference’s addition of Grand Canyon University as a member of the 2025/26 academic year significantly and negatively impacts the schedules, opportunities and budgets of Boise State and the other departing universities,” said Boise State in a statement given to B.J. Rains of Bronco Nation News. “The Mountain West’s actions are also contrary to express representations the Mountain West and its commissioner made to the departing universities and, despite being members of the Mountain West through June 30, 2026, the universities were not consulted or permitted to vote on the early invitation to GCU. We will address this matter and the harm to the departing universities in the litigation.”
Cache Valley Daily has reached out to Utah State for a statement, but has not yet received a response.
What it means for Utah State
Utah State is among the five schools leaving for the Pac-12 at the conclusion of the next academic year. That means the conference rivalry with the Antelopes will last only one year. The Aggies will face GCU as conference foes in 12 sports sponsored by the Mountain West — men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s track and field, women’s track and field, women’s soccer, softball, volleyball.
Plenty of those sports could produce very tough games for the Aggies. GCU produced quality teams in volleyball (20-11 overall record), softball (47-8), women’s basketball (32-3) and men’s basketball (accomplishments already noted above) among others. A notable challenge for all sports will come in the form of non-conference scheduling. Many sports are finalizing their 2025-26 schedules and will have had at least one game against the Antelopes added unbidden to their slate. For some, it may be a welcome addition that helps finish the schedule earlier, though for most it could throw off a carefully curated balance between non-conference and conference scheduling.
