What you should know about the chaotic day when Pac-12 and Mountain West battle for membership

The Pac-12 planned a gradual restructuring.

It began when the conference poached four members – Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State – from the Mountain West.

These four, along with Oregon State and Washington State, were to form the core of a rebuild of the Pac-12 after the rest of the conference dropped out due to other opportunities.

A lot happened on Monday, in a wild whirlwind of movement and non-movement. Here's what we know so far.

Memphis and others from the American Athletic Conference reject Pac-12

Ever since the four MW schools moved to the Pac-12, Memphis was expected to be the next big target. Signing Memphis and a few others (national reports said Tulane and South Florida were the other leading AAC targets) would have made the Pac-12 a coast-to-coast conference.

On Monday morning, these schools and the AAC publicly announced their commitment to each other.

This seemingly excluded the AAC teams from the Pac-12 rebuild.

More: What Colorado State President Amy Parsons and AD John Weber said about the move to the Pac-12

Power struggle in the West

With the AAC teams seemingly eliminated, the ongoing power struggle between the remaining Mountain West teams and the Pac-12 intensified.

According to national reports, Air Force reaffirmed its commitment to the MW on Monday. The Mountain West has been trying to keep the remaining members. Several national reports said later Monday that UNLV (another potential Pac-12 destination) had also pledged to stay in the MW.

According to Ross Dellenger (Yahoo Sports), Pete Thamel (ESPN) and others, Utah State was then offered and accepted membership in the Pac-12.

The move would bring both the reconstructed Pac-12 and the Mountain West to seven football members, eight of which the leagues need to meet NCAA requirements.

Thamel and others reported later Monday that Utah State's move has now caused UNLV and Air Force to reconsider their MW commitment.

No changes (or non-changes) have been publicly announced or confirmed by the leagues.

What about Gonzaga?

Gonzaga is another potential pivot point in the negotiations. Gonzaga may not be a football school, but it is a major national brand.

Brett McMurphy of Action Sports reported Monday that Gonzaga would join the Pac-12's rebuilding effort and receive full revenue sharing despite not being a football member. That report was disputed by the other national executives on the realignment news, while many said there are and have been talks between the league and the school.

McMurphy wrote Monday night: “Action Network stands by its coverage” of Gonzaga.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared in the Fort Collins Coloradoan: What to know about the chaotic day when Pac-12 and Mountain West battle for membership