Grand Canyon will be one of 14 schools competing in the conference next season. The accelerated transition comes after five Mountain West schools announced they intend to depart the conference and join the Pac-12 in 2026. Those schools are Utah State, Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State.

San Diego State and the other four schools departing for the Pac-12 next year opposed early entry by Grand Canyon, according to conference sources

Grand Canyon University was added to the Mountain West Conference on July 8, 2025, expediting its move a year early.