Eric Boggs 
The New Pac 12 Conference.
The Pac-12 is taking bold steps to secure its future by adding four Mountain West schools to its ranks. Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Fresno State have been officially accepted into the Pac-12 and will join Oregon State and Washington State beginning July 1, 2026. This strategic move aims to stabilize the conference after ten of its original 12 members departed in 2024 for other leagues.
These four schools, considered top-tier programs in the Mountain West, have long been in discussions for potential inclusion in a power conference. Their addition brings the Pac-12 closer to the NCAA’s minimum requirement of eight teams for FBS conference status. To maintain its FBS standing, the Pac-12 must add two more programs, a task that looms large for the league as it looks to expand further.
“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue bold, cutting-edge opportunities for growth and progress to best serve our member institutions and student-athletes. I am thankful to our board for their efforts to welcome Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, and San Diego State University to the conference. An exciting new era for the Pac-12 Conference begins today.”
The Pac-12’s decline began when four schools—Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA—departed for the Big Ten, with others following suit to the Big 12 and ACC. Oregon State and Washington State were left behind, but after winning a legal battle for control of the remaining conference assets, including $250 million in resources, they began crafting a plan to revive the Pac-12. These funds will also help offset the estimated $113 million cost to buy out the four Mountain West schools.
The conference expansion reflects a growing need for survival amid college football’s shifting landscape. As realignment continues to disrupt traditional rivalries and geographical logic, Oregon State and Washington State found themselves forced to look at other Group of Five programs to rebuild their conference.
Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez acknowledged the situation, stating, “The Mountain West Conference is aware of media reports regarding the potential departure of several of our members. We will have more to say in the days ahead. Our Board of Directors is meeting to determine our next steps. The Mountain West has a proud 25-year history and will continue to thrive in the years ahead.”
While Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Fresno State prepare to transition, the remaining Mountain West schools face an uncertain future. The conference’s current deal with CBS Sports and Fox Sports ends after the 2025 football season, and the departures of its top programs have thrown the league into disarray. Now, the Mountain West must decide whether to reconfigure with the remaining schools or scatter its members across other conferences.
For Oregon State and Washington State, rebuilding the Pac-12 is their top priority. Athletic directors from both schools have expressed hope that continued upheaval in college sports could eventually lead to their reentry into a Power Five conference. In the meantime, the focus remains on securing two more members to meet NCAA requirements. Reports suggest that schools from the American Athletic Conference, such as UTSA, Rice, and North Texas, as well as Mountain West institutions like Air Force and UNLV, could be potential targets for further expansion.
The road ahead for the Pac-12 is uncertain, but this latest move signals a determined effort to restore its relevance in college athletics. Whether the Pac-12 can reestablish itself as a power-level league remains to be seen, but for now, the conference’s future is beginning to take shape as it navigates the chaos of conference realignment.
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