September 27, 2024

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The Pac-12 and Mountain West have reached a pivotal stage: Both conferences want to secure at least eight full-time members to maintain FBS status, and competition for new teams is heating up. We look at the evolving landscape and who could be next to join the mix.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]] and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

Pac-12, Mountain West Eye Expansion As Realignment Enters New Phase [[link removed]]

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After a complicated, confusing, and chaotic week [[link removed]], the latest round of conference realignment is heading into its next phase, as the Pac-12 and Mountain West look to fill out their long-term membership. Those two conferences have been at the center of the drama this week, with crucial dynamics changing daily.

As things stand now, the Pac-12 has seven schools signed up for 2026 and beyond: current members Oregon State and Washington State, as well as Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State. The latter five are leaving the Mountain West, which has Air Force, Hawai‘i (partial member), Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, and Wyoming committed [[link removed]].

But both leagues need to eventually have at least eight full-time members to retain their FBS status, and they’d no doubt love even more. With the 15-team American Athletic Conference locked up together, they’ll have to look at schools from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, and Sun Belt—and potentially even current FCS programs.

Who’s Next?

On Thursday, Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez notified the MAC that her conference is interested in adding Northern Illinois and Toledo [[link removed]] as football-only members, according to Action Network and other reports.

Texas State appears to be a potential target, too, with various reports linking the current Sun Belt member to discussions with the Pac-12 [[link removed]], Mountain West [[link removed]], and even AAC [[link removed]]. C-USA’s New Mexico State and UTEP have also been floated as options.

FCS program Sacramento State just announced plans to build a new 25,000-seat stadium in the school’s latest effort to make its case for a move up to the FBS level. Earlier this month, local officials launched a committee to aid funding for a potential move [[link removed]]—which would cost at least $5 million—should a conference like the Pac-12 or Mountain West be interested. FCS powerhouses like Montana, Montana State, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State could theoretically be options to jump up, too.

WNBA Faces Coaching Shake-Up As Sky, Sparks Lead Postseason Firings [[link removed]]

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As the WNBA playoffs enter the second round, the teams out of the hunt are already making moves.

On Friday, the Chicago Sky announced the release of head coach Teresa Weatherspoon [[link removed]] less than a year after she was hired. Under Weatherspoon, who is in the WNBA Hall of Fame as a player, the Sky finished with a 13–27 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Weatherspoon was hired after spending four years as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Pelicans—though she joined the Sky before the team traded 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, the last remaining core piece of the franchise’s championship team that included Candace Parker. Losing Copper prompted a rebuild for the Sky, who then drafted Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese in April.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, which broke the news Thursday night, Weatherspoon had the support of her players throughout the season [[link removed]]—though there was some tension later in the year surrounding playing time and scheme changes. However, Reese, the team’s lone All-Star, posted her support for Weatherspoon on X [[link removed]] shortly after the news dropped.

“I’m heartbroken. I’m literally lost for words knowing what this woman meant to me in such a pivotal point in my life. … You didn’t deserve this but I can’t thank you enough. I love you Tspoon,” Reese wrote.

W’s Coaching Conundrum

Weatherspoon’s release came just days after two-time WNBA Coach of the Year Curt Miller was fired by the Sparks [[link removed]], who parted ways with him following an injury-riddled year that saw the team finish dead last.

One thing Weatherspoon and Miller had in common is they were both hired before the team appointed its current GM. The Sky promoted Jeff Pagliocca to GM [[link removed]] weeks after Weatherspoon was hired, while the Sparks hired Raegan Pebley as GM in January [[link removed]]. It’s not uncommon for GMs in sports to want to hire a coach they are able to vet.

The Indiana Fever announced Monday that Kelly Krauskopf will return as team president [[link removed]] and there is growing speculation that coach Christie Sides—who has faced a lot of criticism, particularly early in the season—could experience a similar fate as Weatherspoon and Miller.

Krauskopf held the same role with the Fever from 2000 to 2018 before moving to the Pacers as assistant GM. The Fever won the WNBA title in 2012 and captured three Eastern Conference championships in 2009, 2012, and 2015.

Pay Structure

But the position of WNBA head coach is odd given the league’s nascent status.

Coaches’ salaries currently top out at $1.2 million for the Phoenix Mercury’s Nate Tibbetts and $1 million for the Aces’ Becky Hammon, but mostly hover around a half million dollars [[link removed]]. That’s a lot more than the max salary of a WNBA player [[link removed]]—which is just over $250,000.

In the NBA, there are assistant coaches who make more than the highest-paid WNBA coach [[link removed]], though Hammon was reportedly paid $750,000 a year as an assistant coach for the Spurs [[link removed]].

SPONSORED BY TICKPICK

Chargers-Chiefs Tickets in Demand

Angelenos show up for stars. The Chargers are off to a strong start under new coach Jim Harbaugh, and with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and potentially Taylor Swift coming to town, Sunday’s divisional matchup against the Chiefs [[link removed]] is drawing a great deal of interest.

TickPick data shows [[link removed]] this is the second-most-expensive Chargers home game on record, and the company has sold 50% more tickets for this game than the average Chargers game this season.

The Chiefs’ celebrity effect is inflating rates—per TickPick, the current get-in price is $132, which is more than twice as expensive as the Chargers’ next home game against the Saints ($63).

For more ticketing trends and insights surrounding NFL and college football, check out our first Big Ticket Trend Report [[link removed]], presented by TickPick.

TUNED IN Lazarus on Olympics, NBA, and Venu

FOS illustration

NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Mark Lazarus sat down with editor-in-chief Dan Roberts at the Front Office Sports Tuned In [[link removed]?] summit to discuss Peacock’s successful Olympics, the significance of NBC’s new NBA deal, and the Venu Sports lawsuit.

Watch the full interview here [[link removed]].

WEEKEND PRIZE POOL Playoff Racing

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Front Office Sports tees up every weekend sporting slate with a ledger of the purses and prize pools at stake. Here’s what’s up for grabs this weekend:

NASCAR Cup Series playoffs: Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Speedway

When: Sunday Purse: $9.22 million First place: Individual payouts are no longer disclosed

DP World Tour: Acciona Open de España

When: Thursday to Sunday Purse: $3.25 million First place: $552,500 (individual)

ATP Tour: Kinoshita Group Japan Open

When: Wednesday to Tuesday Purse: $1.82 million First place: $340,010 (singles), $111,690 (doubles)

Ladies European Tour: Lacoste Ladies Open de France

When: Thursday to Saturday Purse: $420,000 First place: $63,000 EVENT

Join us Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. ET for Future of Sports: Women’s Sports as we discuss the rise of women’s sports, the companies investing in them, how female athletes can capitalize on their own brand, media rights opportunities, and more.

Register now [[link removed]].

STATUS REPORT One Up, One Down, Two Push

Jack Gruber-Imagn Images

Tiger Woods ⬇ The golf legend’s apparel brand Sun Day Red is facing a trademark dispute from Tigeraire, a sports brand that sells helmet-cooling products for athletes. Tigeraire claims Sun Day Red has “unlawfully hijacked” its logo design. Both designs show a silhouette of a Tiger highlighted by lines. The 15 lines in Sun Day Red’s logo symbolize the number of major tournaments Woods has won.

Atlanta ⬆ The NFL is expected to award Super Bowl LXII in 2028 to the city [[link removed]], according to Sports Business Journal. The Big Game will be played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Falcons, for the first time since 2019. Centennial Yards, a 50-acre site surrounding the stadium and the Hawks’ Peachtree Center, is under development and expected to include housing, office space, and commercial facilities by 2028 [[link removed]].

ESPN Bet ⬆⬇ The betting arm of the sports media giant launched in the New York market Friday ahead of the NFL’s Week 4 Sunday slate. New York is second among all states in sports betting handle [[link removed]], which is total money wagered, since the U.S. Supreme Court shot down the rule that banned sports betting across most states. However, ESPN Bet, launched last November, has yet to cut into the market share [[link removed]] of the top players in the space, FanDuel and DraftKings.

Switzerland ⬆⬇ The Swiss government will support a local bid to host the 2038 Winter Olympics [[link removed]]. The International Olympic Committee had a “privileged dialogue” with the country’s officials—which could lead to Switzerland receiving the bid by 2027 without facing any competition. Hosting the Olympics has had a negative financial impact on several countries [[link removed]], but Switzerland has promised to use existing facilities for the Games.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS AWARDS

Celebrate Industry Changemakers

Front Office Sports has partnered with Sports Innovation Lab to honor organizations making a significant impact in the business of sports.

The Most Impactful Award [[link removed]] celebrates organizations that leverage their power and platform to create positive change beyond generating revenue and expanding their business. These companies understand the importance of investing in people, communities, and causes to reach their full potential.

Consideration for this award is inclusive of:

DEI initiatives Youth sports programs Education programs Voter registration and voter access programs Community outreach Foundation work and charitable fundraising Messaging and communications

Submissions are open through Oct. 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Learn more [[link removed]] about the award or submit your organization today.

Conversation Starters TaylorMade released new college-themed golf balls and wedges. Check them out [[link removed]]. The WNBA announced numbers for its record-setting season [[link removed]], including 154 sellouts and its highest total attendance in 22 years. On Thursday, the Athletics played their final home game at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum in front of a sold-out crowd with heavy hearts. Take a look [[link removed]] at the scene. Editors’ Picks Chiefs Have Replaced Cowboys As NFL’s No. 1 TV Team [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]Dallas dominated ratings wars for decades, but the trend has shifted. French Star Gabby Williams Blasts WNBA’s Low Salaries, Prioritization Rule [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]“It’s still not enough for us international players to want to stay here.” Lawyers File New Documents in Attempt to Save House v. NCAA Settlement [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]Judge Claudia Wilken had concerns about the definition of the word “booster.” Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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