The Colorado Springs-based Mountain West announced Tuesday that Grand Canyon University , the largest private Division I university in the country with a total enrollment of over 100,000, will join the conference for the 2025-26 academic year, a year earlier than planned.

C OLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (KOLO) - Grand Canyon University will be joining the Mountain West Conference for the 2025-2026 academic year. Officials with the Mountain West made the announcement on Tuesday. GCU had been offered to join the Mountain West in July of 2026, but officials will now allow the school to compete immediately.

A present comes early for Lopes fans. GCU left the WAC and will be heading to the Mountain West for this school year. The school initially announced it was headed to the WCC before accepting a last-minute bid to the Mountain West instead. The Mountain West invite was set for 2026-2027 season.