UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield and Director of Athletics Erick Harper announced Thursday that Rebel Athletics will extend its contract with the Mountain West Conference for six years from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2032. UNLV’s existing contract with the league was scheduled to expire June 30, 2026.
According to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by President Whitfield, the Mountain West will pay an estimated lump sum of $10-to-14 million to UNLV in 2025, and also pay UNLV approximately $1.5-to-1.8 million annually over a six-year period beginning in July 2026. The new payments are on top of the current revenue streams from existing contracts and media assets. The current media deal expires in June 2026 and negotiations for a new media deal will begin in the near future. The university will also have the flexibility to explore future membership in an autonomous “Power Four” conference without penalty should the opportunity become available.
“We believe continuing our membership with the Mountain West Conference offers needed stability and increased flexibility during a dynamic period in college athletics and positions UNLV for success today and beyond,” President Whitfield said. “UNLV’s continued growth and ascension into a top national research university, combined with world-class athletics facilities and championship-level programs, are indicative of an institution and athletics department on the rise. We’re always looking toward the future, and we’re committed to doing what’s best for our university, UNLV Athletics and our student-athletes, and our alumni and community.”
“After a thorough evaluation of all options, at this time the best choice for UNLV is to remain a member of the Mountain West," Harper said. "We are a charter member of the conference, have had a great experience throughout its history and are excited to continue moving forward. The league is a genuine brand and an established product. Increased revenues are a vital factor. As we look ahead and continue our ascent as an athletics department, this also gives us necessary flexibility as we pursue our future goal of joining an autonomous (Power Four) conference.”
During this process, it became clear that extending the university’s partnership with the Mountain West provided an enhanced revenue stream while ensuring flexibility for future opportunities.
“Any future move from our current affiliation would have to make sense financially and have significant long-term value for the university and UNLV Athletics,” Whitfield said.
UNLV, as a charter member of the Mountain West, will continue to host the conference’s men’s and women’s basketball tournaments at the Thomas & Mack Center throughout the duration of the existing and new contract.
In addition to UNLV, six other member institutions signed the MOU to remain in the Mountain West - The United States Air Force Academy, University of Hawai’i, Manoa, University of New Mexico, University of Nevada, Reno, San Jose State University, and the University of Wyoming.
“Our immediate priority was solidifying the membership of the Mountain West. Now our focus turns to our collective future on behalf of our student-athletes,” said Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “The agreements announced today mark a historic moment for the Mountain West and provide much-needed stability and clarity as the world of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve rapidly. We are excited about our future and are executing our next steps in expanding the Mountain West. We will continue to prioritize the student-athlete experience and do all we can to support our institutions as they compete at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics.”
