Mountain West Set to Add UTEP as Full-Time Conference Member

After almost 20 years in Conference USA, UTEP appears to have a new conference home. Multiple reports trickled in late last night that the Mountain West pursued UTEP as a full member and the announcement is set to be official on Tuesday.The Miners have allerted CUSA officials of the intention to leave the league, per Pete Thamel of ESPN.

UTEP will join a conference that is shaping up to look like UNLV, San Jose State, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico and Air Force. If Texas State accepts its invitation to the Mountain West, that will make eight full time members, which is the NCAA minimum to be recognized as a formal conference. Hawaii is a football-only member in the conference, while MAC schools like Toledo and Northern Illinois are currently being pursued as football-only universities for the Mountain West as well.

For travel purposes and for fans, this move is an absolute no-brainer for UTEP.

The Mountain West is currently continuing to rebuild itself after losing five schools to the Pac-12 over the past two months. Schools like Utah State, Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Colorado State announced their departures from the league to the Pac-12.

Even though UTEP hasn't had the on-field success with football, they have a fan base that shows up. The Miners drew 41,633 fans to their home opener against Southern Utah this year. The problem is the fact that the Miners have only two winning seasons in the last 18 years, including a 41-101 overall record over the last 12 seasons.

Men's basketball will immediately reap the benefits of the jump. UTEP's basketball history is storied and one that is rich with a National Championship (1966) and 17 NCAA Tournament appearances. Although UTEP is seeking its first tournament appearance since 2010, they have a better chance in a possible two/three bid Mountain West conference, compared to the one-bid CUSA league.

The transition could come by the 2026 athletic season. For now, UTEP will suffer through the final years of being a CUSA member. But the future looks bright for competition in athletics for the Miners.

Southern Utah Beats UTEP, 27-24, in Overtime

Gallery Credit: Jorge Salgado