Mountain West quartet reportedly turns down realignment with AAC

After a heavy courtship of four Mountain West programs, the AAC is going to come up completely empty.

Air Force, Colorado State, Boise State, and San Diego State are all electing to remain in the Mountain West instead of joining the AAC, according to Yahoo Sports reporter Pete Thamel:

Sources: Air Force and Colorado State will also be staying in the Mountain West. They had been heavily courted and considered the AAC, along with Boise State and San Diego State. All four schools will remain in the Mountain West.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 1, 2021

AAC commissioner Mike Aresco released a statement which indicated that no offers were formally made:

Statement from AAC commissioner Mike Aresco.

Like when you only “offer” the head coach who accepts your job, the same goes for conference members. pic.twitter.com/XUfjtWFF5Q

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 1, 2021

After Texas and Oklahoma’s decision to head to the SEC, the Big 12 responded by collecting BYU and AAC schools UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston.