What is the story about?
What's Happening?
The Mountain West Conference has announced its men's basketball schedule for the 2025-26 season, featuring a 20-game format where each team will play 10 home games and 10 road games. The conference play is set to begin on December 17, 2025, with Air Force facing San Diego State, and will conclude on March 7, 2026. The schedule includes national television coverage, with CBS Sports broadcasting 47 games, including the Mountain West Men's Basketball Championship. FOX Sports will televise 24 games, with the first broadcast on FS1 featuring New Mexico at Boise State on December 30, 2025. The championship games will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas from March 11-14, 2026, with CBS Sports Network covering the quarterfinals and semifinals, and the CBS Television Network and Paramount+ streaming the championship game.
Why It's Important?
The announcement of the Mountain West Conference's basketball schedule is significant as it highlights the growing visibility and competitiveness of the conference on a national scale. With major networks like CBS Sports and FOX Sports providing extensive coverage, the conference's teams and athletes will gain increased exposure, potentially enhancing recruitment and fan engagement. The national broadcasts also underscore the importance of college basketball in the U.S. sports landscape, offering fans across the country access to high-quality games. This visibility can lead to increased revenue opportunities for the conference and its member institutions through advertising and sponsorships.
What's Next?
As the 2025-26 season approaches, teams within the Mountain West Conference will prepare for the competitive schedule, focusing on strategies to maximize their performance in both home and away games. Coaches and players will likely analyze the schedule to identify key matchups and plan their training accordingly. The conference will also continue to coordinate with broadcasting partners to ensure seamless coverage and promotion of the games. Fans can anticipate the release of ticket sales and promotional events leading up to the season's start, fostering excitement and engagement within the college basketball community.
Beyond the Headlines
The Mountain West Conference's decision to structure its schedule with national broadcasts reflects broader trends in college sports, where media partnerships play a crucial role in shaping the visibility and financial health of athletic programs. This move may influence other conferences to seek similar arrangements, potentially leading to shifts in how college sports are marketed and consumed. Additionally, the emphasis on national coverage may drive discussions on the balance between commercial interests and the traditional values of collegiate athletics.
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