Reports: UTEP Set To Become Newest Member of Mountain West

LARAMIE -- Remember when 6-foot-9, 215-pound Antonio Davis and Jon Sommers went toe-to-toe inside the Arena-Auditorium back in February of 1988?

Fifty fouls were called that night in Laramie. The two enforcers were eventually ejected for fighting.

The Cowboys outlasted visiting UTEP, 73-59.

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Those two would meet again in the WAC Championship game in Provo the following month. Wyoming also won that one, earning the automatic NCAA Tournament berth. The Miners also made it to the Big Dance.

That wasn't the last time these old rivals duked it out -- literally -- on the basketball court. In 1996, Derek Washington and assistant coach Reggie Rankin received a suspension from the league. So did UTEP forward Sharif Fajardo and associate Luster Goodwin.

Wyoming's Sly Johnson and Miners Jeff Spillar and Kevin Beal got an early shower for an on-court altercation in El Paso.

Chad Blakely graphic

Who can forget Paul Roach being hoisted up on shoulders in 1987 following a dominant 37-13 victory inside the Sun Bowl. The Cowboys were regular-season champions. They beat UTEP once again the following year inside War Memorial Stadium to claim the conference crown. Two-time Defensive Player of the Year Mitch Donahue pulled off his famous backflip after the final buzzer.

Wyoming fans took the goal posts for a ride down Grand Avenue.

If national reports are indeed true, these two could soon make new memories as conference mates. UTEP, according to Action Network's Brett McMurphy, ESPN's Pete Thamel and others, is set to officially accept an offer to join the Mountain West on Tuesday, becoming the seventh full member institution.

Hawaii remains in the league, but on a football-only basis.

That means Gloria Nevarez and Co. still need to add one more program to meet FBS standards. Additional reports say that team could be Texas State. Yahoo Sports writer Ross Dellenger also tweeted Tuesday that Tarleton State, an FCS school in Stephenville, Texas, could be in play.

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Wyoming's Director of Athletics Tom Burman said on Monday a few "high-level FCS programs" are on the board. He failed to elaborate and refused to say what teams the league is targeting.

Wyoming, along with UNLV, Air Force, San Jose State, New Mexico, Nevada and Hawaii, all signed a Memorandum of Understanding last Thursday to remain together in the Mountain West through the 2032 season.

That came after San Diego State, Fresno State, Boise State and the Cowboys' Border War rival, Colorado State, bolted Sept. 12 for the new-look Pac-12. Utah State, in a surprise to many, including Burman, also left for that league one week ago.

UNLV, who was offered by the Pac-12, and Air Force, who was reportedly courted by the AAC, will both receive a financial distribution of 24.5% for staying put. Wyoming, New Mexico, SJSU and Nevada will get 11.5% and Hawaii takes home 5%. That money -- nearly $150 million -- comes from the exit fees assessed to the five programs who left.

"Poaching fees" are in excess of $43 million.

The Pac-12 in turn filed an antitrust complaint against the Mountain West last week over those latter fees, stating they are "unlawful and unenforceable" despite signing an agreement last December. That came at the same time the two remaining members of the Pac-12 -- Washington State and Oregon State -- inked a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West.

"It's been extremely stressful," Burman admitted. "Probably as stressful a time as I've experienced as an athletics director."

The Cowboys and Miners have met 33 times on the football field. Wyoming holds a 26-6-1 advantage in the overall series and has won three straight, including nine of the last 10. The two played to a 28-28 tie in Laramie back in 1991.

In men's basketball, the series sits at 43-23. Advantage: UTEP. These two met in El Paso at the Sun Bowl Classic last December. The Miners rolled to a 78-67 victory.

UTEP, which has been a member of Conference USA since 2005, would start Mountain West competition in 2026.

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert Gagliardi, Jared Newland, Ryan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB