UC Davis Athletics Joining Mountain West - Football to Follow My understanding why the Mountain West added Northern Illinois was to increase the footprint and another time zone since that is what linear TV wants to see. It's also my understanding that PAC-12 wants to add Texas State and the Mountain West wants to add Tarleton State for the same reason. Therefore, I could see why the Big West is adding Utah Valley.
I think the main reasons that the Big West are adding those two schools are because they are next best two available, and the Big West needs to be proactive or be left behind. Now the WAC is screwed.