Mountain West Conference Secures Multi-Year TV Deal to Broadcast Games on TruTV, Max
The Mountain West Conference is set to make a significant move in the upcoming season by partnering with TruTv and Max, the former HBO Max. The exclusive broadcasting rights for Mountain West games will be held by these two channels starting in 2024. This development was shared by college football reporter Brett McMurphy in a recent tweet.
According to McMurphy, there is a multi-year agreement between TNT Sports and the Mountain West for a full schedule of live college football games to be aired exclusively on TruTv and Max beginning this season.
In a separate announcement, the Mountain West Conference, Oregon State University, and Washington State University have finalized a scheduling agreement for the 2024 season. The agreement also involves the Pac-12 Conference. This collaboration will see all 12 Mountain West teams playing seven traditional conference football games along with one match against either Washington State or Oregon State, totaling eight games with four home and four away games. Importantly, the games against these Pac-12 schools will not impact the conference standings, and neither Washington State nor Oregon State will be eligible for the Mountain West championship game.
The Mountain West is currently in the process of finalizing the football schedule and will soon release the matchups for the upcoming season. This scheduling alliance is structured around a 7+1 format, where Mountain West teams will play seven conference games and one game against either Washington State or Oregon State.
The agreement for this season involves a payment of approximately $14 million to the Mountain West Conference. The 7+1 format allows for flexibility and an option to extend the deal to the 2025 season. Washington State and Oregon State will not be eligible for the Mountain West championship and will compete as quasi-independents under the Pac-12 banner. Mountain West schools with previously scheduled non-conference games against one of these two schools will now face the other during the same season.
While there is no contractual obligation for a long-term merger between the entities, there is an expressed intent and understanding for potential full-time membership of Oregon State and Washington State in the Mountain West Conference or a merger in the future.