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 University has officially joined the Mountain West a year early. On Tuesday, the conference announced that GCU has joined the league as a member for the 2025-2026 season. The Lopes are eligible to compete for Mountain West conference championships and NCAA postseasons immediately.