Why would UC San Diego jump to the WCC? We followed the money.

Happy Friday,

Did you think conference realignment news was over? Silly you! It’s the gift that keeps on giving all year long. As any good gumshoe is wont to do, our buddy KC Smurthwaite stumbled upon a significant realignment nugget via a public records request, so I’m turning things over to him today for a bonus newsletter that spotlights the unique reporting we do here at NIL Wire.

KC’s information-gathering resulted in a story that will raise eyebrows across the college sports ecosystem. Enjoy!

— Kyle

Why would UC San Diego jump to the WCC? We followed the money.

by KC Smurthwaite

In September, a realignment curveball hit when UC San Diego accepted an invitation to the West Coast Conference. At first glance, the move raised more questions than answers.

The WCC had been navigating its own uncertainty. Gonzaga was gone, Grand Canyon had backed out, and there was continued smoke around St. Mary’s long-term future as a potential domino elsewhere. Historically, the conference had leaned heavily toward private and faith-based institutions, while the Big West, where UC San Diego has competed since it joined Division I in 2020, has been almost entirely public and deeply rooted in California. In recent years, the Big West has been stable, adding Utah Valley, Cal Baptist and Sacramento State.

Yet the WCC made its move — and it paid big to do so.

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