It was announced on Friday that Boise State University will be leaving the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) when Mountain West Conference (MWC) commissioner Craig Thompson officially welcomed the Broncos to his conference through a press release. The move, which was more than expected for years now, is just another power move in the business that is college athletics.

The college football world has been shaken like a snow globe this off-season, with a few schools already making the move to new super conference digs.  Texas and a few other Big 12 schools could join the Pac-10 as soon as next week, with the other remaining Big 12 schools potentially looking for homes in the Mountain West, Big Ten, or a completely different BCS conference.

Late last year, Nevada was mentioned as a potential candidate in the Mountain West, though Boise State gives the conference an even 10 schools now, and it appears that the Mountain West wants to initially look at some of the potential leftover Big 12 schools, including Kansas, which sports one of the most lucrative hoops programs in the country, before expanding to 12 or 14 schools. Boise State’s move, which was essentially a standing eight-count for the WAC, means that WAC Commissioner Karl Benson could look at expanding the conference to an even 10 schools; something he has previously stated was his preference.

But no matter where Nevada’s shoe eventually fits, whether it be in an expanded Mountain West with Boise State or in the current digs with the WAC under expansion itself, the important aspect of everything is to follow the money trail.  At the core of every conference adjustment, whether it was the Broncos or Buffaloes, money was the key reason.  And if Nevada does indeed stay with the WAC, this could a very good thing for the Wolf Pack in 2010 and beyond.

With some of the school’s desire for realignment simply a power play for more money, that’s not the case for others.  Money is first and foremost in this day of college athletics, and with the faint heartbeat of the Nevada economy still in play, it is important for Nevada to do what’s in their best interests to gain more financial power. Truth be told, the upcoming 2010 football season could be a cash windfall for the WAC, and subsequently the Nevada Athletic Department, if things shake down correctly.

WAC Commissioner Karl Benson

WAC member guidelines state that any team leaving the conference does not receive money from the conference in their final year as a member as the WAC code book states:

“3. Withdrawal: Each member reserves the right to withdraw from the Conference by written notice given to every other member and to the Commissioner of the Conference on or before September 1 of any year, in which event the withdrawal shall be effective the following June 30. Any withdrawing member shall, however, play all approved athletics competitions scheduled with the other members in accordance with the governing contracts unless such competitions are waived by written consent of the parties affected. Any member withdrawing from the Conference will forfeit its entire share of year-end conference revenues in its final year as a member. [6/99]” – WAC Code Book 2009-10, Page 7

Athletically speaking, the only sport Boise State dominated in the WAC was football, as Broncos Head Coach Chris Peterson is 49-4 with three conference championships in the past four years. The Broncos return 21 of 22 starters to a team that won the Fiesta Bowl a year ago. Of course, football is the most lucrative sport to dominate, paying for itself plus a number of other programs at most schools.  In fact, that Fiesta Bowl win was worth the bigger cut of the $17-million-dollar purse, a purse that Boise State ended up sharing, in part, with their fellow WAC members.

So what happens if Boise State (#4 ESPN, 3 Coaches) repeats their undefeated performance from a year ago?

With most of their team returning and Virginia Tech as their only Top 25 ranked opponent in 2010, this Boise State team could find themselves playing for more than a 17-million dollar purse.  Whether or not Boise State makes it there is another story (you better believe Nevada would love to rain on that BCS parade on November 26th in Reno). Nonetheless, that is a huge financial fallout for the WAC if that indeed does happen.

If Nevada stays in the WAC, how will the conference replace Boise State?

“While I am disappointed that Boise State has elected to leave the WAC, I am very optimistic that the WAC will continue to have success in the future and that this change in membership will allow us to build even a better WAC for the future,” WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said in a statement.

Obviously, there’s really nothing substantial yet in play, though the WAC could once again look to pull teams from the Big Sky—-just as they did Boise State earlier this decade—-in an effort to rebuild.  Benson has stated that in past interviews as well.

But realistically, how bad is Boise State leaving the WAC?

Beyond leaving the conference with just 8 schools now, we don’t see it as a bad thing at all. In fact, being at the top of any conference is a good thing. Boise State would not be in the position they are in with football had they not joined the conference in the first place. And Nevada, which has gone 13-2 against other WAC programs since the beginning of the 2008 season, would certainly be the heir apparent. So being on top of the WAC is not a bad thing, whether it comes from realignment or expansion, it doesn’t really matter.

Nevada runs one of the most dynamic and powerful offenses in the country, and heading into 2010, the Pack are expected to make big strides defensively with a new scheme brought in by former Nevada player and former Stanford defensive coordinator Andy Buh.  We doubt that after this November tilt in Reno between the Pack and Broncos that the Silver and Blue faithful will actually miss any of the orange taunting Bronco invaders either.

Granted, Nevada would have to prove themselves in their non-conference slate against elite schools (just as Boise State has done nationally), and they’ll have to do it for more than just a season or two in order to build up that consistency.  But it is something that can be achieved no matter what conference you come from.  Nevada already has a solid hoops tradition in place that second-year head coach David Carter is aiming to get back to the top of the conference, and the Broncos are certainly not in Nevada’s way whatsoever in that capacity.

It doesn’t matter whether you are Butler or Boise State, you can win on the big stage from a non-BCS conference.

“These are unprecedented times in collegiate athletics and we will continue to carefully and thoroughly analyze the changing landscape so that we do what is in the best long-term interest of the University of Nevada,” Wolf Pack athletic director Cary Groth said. “We have enjoyed a decades-long rivalry and partnership with Boise State and wish them the best. We also hope to maintain that competition with Boise State in future years regardless of conference affiliation.”

Moving to the MWC should be a good decision for Boise State, both financially and competitively. It could be the best decision for Nevada at some point too.  But remaining in the WAC for the Pack isn’t going to be a bad thing whatsoever.