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Conference USA, MWC merger reportedly on hold

MWC-CUSA

The Conference USA-Mountain West merger is a mess. At this point, it’s just as likely not to happen.

A report from Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com (via our friends at CFT) indicates the leagues are moving from the initial idea of dissolving, then reforming as one league – to nullify current TV deals and maximize media revenue – to either merging without the dissolve, or simply staying as separate leagues.

“Both are still viable,” a source told McMurphy. “There’s really no clubhouse leader.”

Myriad factors remain in the deal, including revenue questions, numbers of schools involved, etc. Merging would create a league in 2013 that would include 16 schools: East Carolina, Marshall, Rice, Southern Mississippi, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB and Texas-El Paso (all from C-USA) and Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV and Wyoming (from the MWC). Hawaii would be a football-only member.

The leagues have divided into subgroups to discuss the options. At this rate, it’ll serve as more realignment drama for the summer.

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.