Over the past few days, we’ve seen a rise in reports of Boise State likely bolting from the WAC to the Mountain West.
First there was Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News, who reported that “there’s at least a decent chance” that the Broncos will get an invite from the MWC before July 1. Then, Friday night, Joe Schad of ESPN.com reported that BSU is “more likely than not” to get an invite from the conference in June.
And, according to a report in the Idaho Statesman, there’s good reason for the surge in speculation.
On Friday, per the Statesman, the WAC moved up the deadline for BSU to decide it’s league future to July 1. Previously, the paper reports, the deadline was Sept. 1.
The Statesman also notes the penalty for the Broncos leaving the WAC, although it’s hard to call it a penalty. BSU would reportedly forfeit their share of conference revenue for 2010-2011, which is projected to be somewhere between $1 million and $1.5 million.
(You, in the back. Yeah, Mr. Big Ten. Stop gigglin’. It’s very disrespectful.)
One of the things in the financial favor of the Broncos is that, if they announce their intentions of leaving the WAC this July and qualify for a BcS bowl game following the 2010 season, they will be allowed to keep the $3 million bonus for making it to a BcS game.