It looks as if Air Force is pushing its chips to the middle of the Mountain West’s table. And vice versa.
But unfolding events could result in a misdeal.
Air Force on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to the Mountain West and declined an offer to join the American Athletic Conference, according to a report from Yahoo Sports. This came hours after the same outlet reported that the Colorado Springs-based Mountain West would use some of the money it will receive from recent departures to the Pac-12 to entice Air Force and UNLV to remain in the conference, in the form on a one-time payment.
The Falcons were also being considered for the Pac-12. Those talks stalled when the Pac-12 declined to pay Air Force’s $17 million exit fee from the Mountain West, a source told The Gazette. The Pac-12 would have loaned Air Force the exit fee and paid the $11 million poaching fee it would have owed the Mountain West as part of a scheduling agreement.
Air Force declined to issue a comment on Monday afternoon.