The American Athletic Conference wasted no time in reaching out to Air Force when the latest round of conference realignment began unfolding.
According to a source, the AAC reached out to the academy on Friday to begin talks about joining the conference. This was the day after Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State abruptly announced they were leaving the Mountain West.
News of the talks broke on Tuesday, with ESPN first to report that the AAC is intrigued by the idea of adding Air Force, thus placing all three service academies in the same conference. The Sports Business Journal took it further, citing an unnamed source as saying "the AAC has held serious conversations with Air Force about joining the league."
The Gazette confirmed the reports of talks and established the timeline.
No reports have indicated mutual interest from Air Force, or specified what would happen with the academy's other sports. Army and Navy are football-only members in the AAC, with most of their other teams playing in the Patriot League. Also unanswered is the financial side of a potential move, and that is a substantial variable.
The AAC's annual media rights payout is slightly higher than the MW - about $7 million per school vs. about $5 million in the MW under a deal that expires in the summer of 2026 (when the four schools officially leave for the Pac-12).
The Mountain West stands to receive around $110 million in exit and penalty fees (roughly $17 million each from the four departing schools and more from the Pac-12 as a condition of a scheduling agreement). If Air Force were also to leave, it would be on the hook for $17 million.
Sign Up for Pikes Peak 5 Game analysis and insights from The Gazette sports staff including columns by Woody Paige and Paul Klee.
Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Featured Local Savings
However, if the Mountain West opts to use that money to be aggressive in backfilling, it could be the one poaching from the AAC. The Pac-12, now at six teams and needing to get to eight to be recognized as an official conference, is clearly not finished adding teams. If the AAC were to lose some of its top brands to the Pac-12 or the suddenly cash-infused Mountain West, would it make sense for Air Force to join it?
Staying in the Mountain West comes without a rise in travel expenses - Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming are the teams, as of now, remaining in the Mountain West. Staying would also eliminate the need for an exit fee.
Joining the AAC would place the Falcons as the only program located in the Mountain Time Zone in a football conference with Army, Navy, Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Memphis, North Texas, Rice, South Florida, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB and UTSA.
The AAC, under different conference leadership, made a run at Air Force (along with Colorado State, Boise State and San Diego State) in Oct. 2021, with the teams ultimately opting to stay in the Mountain West.
The AAC issued a statement Monday, though it did not address any specific realignment rumors.
"The American Conference is a pioneering brand, firmly grounded in grit and hard work, with powerful and prestigious member institutions." The statement from commissioner Tim Pernetti read. "In the past five months, we have priorities seizing every opportunity that enhances value for our member institutions and student-athletes. Whether through private capital, naming rights, innovative partnerships, or realignment, we have proactively assessed each opportunity, and are prepared to collaboratively take action-steps, to be at the forefront of success and sustainability."