Grand Canyon University will officially join the Mountain West Conference by July 1, 2026, setting the stage for a budding rivalry with UNLV as the league undergoes major realignment.

Grand Canyon University announced Tuesday its move to the Mountain West Conference will begin immediately. The school in Phoenix was initially scheduled to transition from the Western Athletic Conference to its new league on July 1,

Grand Canyon has finalized a deal allowing it to join the Mountain West Conference in time to participate in the 2025-26 athletic calendar, sources confirmed to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander. Grand Canyon was originally set to join the Mountain West no later than July 1,