The Mountain West consulted its legal counsel and wrote back, informing SDSU that it interpreted the letter as a notification of departure, which, according to the bylaws, must be sent to the commissioner and the 11 other presidents (and it was). With the June 30 deadline rapidly approaching, multiple conference sources said President Adela de la Torre sent a letter to Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez and all 11 other presidents last week indicating SDSU’s “intent” to leave the conference and inquiring about the flexibility in the exit terms. “Everyone is aware of that, so we’re continuing to have conversations about that.” “We can’t pay the (extra) amount,” Athletic Director John David Wicker said recently of a projected 2024-25 departure. It could still depart after June 30, but it would cost $34 million for 2024-25 or they’d have to wait until 2025-26 for $17 million. So if SDSU provides notification by June 30, it would spend the upcoming 2023-24 season in the Mountain West and then leave in 2024-25 for a $17 million exit fee. Mountain West bylaws require an exit fee of three times the average annual payout per school, or roughly $17 million, if you give one-year notification by June 30. Now it’s suddenly become: Did the Mountain West just kick out its marquee school? Before, the question was whether SDSU would be swept up in conference realignment and receive an expansion invitation from the Pac-12 or Big 12.
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