Pac-12 rebuilding/ Mountain West realignment/ Pac-12 adds teams/ college football expansion/ Newslooks/ The Pac-12 will add Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Colorado State in 2026, rebuilding the conference after its near collapse. These additions from the Mountain West leave the Pac-12 two teams short of the NCAA minimum to be recognized as a conference. This move comes after the Pac-12 faced massive defections, including top programs like USC and Oregon.
Pac-12 Conference Expansion Quick Looks:
- Pac-12 adds Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Colorado State for 2026.
- These schools exit the Mountain West, leaving the conference’s future uncertain.
- Pac-12 now needs two more schools to meet NCAA conference minimum.
- Oregon State and Washington State will lead the rebuilt conference.
- Pac-12 to pay around $110 million in exit fees to Mountain West.
Pac-12 Adds Four Teams from Mountain West, Eyes Rebirth in 2026
Deep Look:
In a significant move to revive its storied history, the Pac-12 Conference announced Thursday that it will add Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Colorado State in 2026. The additions, all from the Mountain West Conference, aim to restore the “Conference of Champions” after its near collapse last year when 10 schools left for other major conferences. This marks a new chapter for the Pac-12, which now finds itself in the process of rebuilding after being left with only Oregon State and Washington State.
The departure of these four schools from the Mountain West comes at a steep price, with exit fees totaling about $110 million. These costs will be shared between the departing schools and the Pac-12. Despite these financial obligations, the conference has made a remarkable turnaround after being written off as obsolete following its failure to secure a lucrative media rights deal.
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould expressed optimism for the future of the conference, emphasizing the historical significance of the Pac-12 in collegiate athletics. “For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” she said. “We will continue to pursue bold, cutting-edge opportunities for growth and progress.” The Pac-12 evaluated new members based on five main criteria: academic and athletic performance, media value, commitment to athletics success, geography, and student-athlete welfare.
The decision to bring in Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Colorado State solidifies the Pac-12’s strategy of targeting successful mid-major programs. Boise State, in particular, stands out as a consistent football powerhouse, having amassed 16 seasons with double-digit wins since 2002. Boise State’s athletic director, Jeramiah Dickey, said, “What a great day to be a Bronco!” as the program finally joins a higher-profile conference.
Although these additions mark a positive step forward for the Pac-12, the conference still faces challenges. It remains two teams short of the eight members required by the NCAA to be considered an official conference. Oregon State and Washington State, the only remaining Pac-12 schools, have a football scheduling agreement with the Mountain West for this season, but it remains unclear how that relationship will evolve as the Pac-12 continues to poach Mountain West teams.
The financial health of Oregon State and Washington State is expected to be supported by remaining revenue streams from the College Football Playoff and Rose Bowl agreements, as well as assets from the Pac-12 Network. This, along with revenue from NCAA basketball tournaments, should provide enough financial security for the two schools as they rebuild the conference. Additionally, Oregon State and Washington State have secured affiliate membership with the West Coast Conference for basketball and Olympic sports through the 2024-2025 season.
While the Pac-12 is focused on regaining stability, questions remain about whether it can reclaim its former status as a “power conference” alongside the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, and Big 12. With its current membership structure, that appears unlikely. However, the conference is positioning itself as the premier league among non-power conferences, especially in football.
In the broader landscape of college sports, the Pac-12’s realignment is part of a larger trend that has seen the rise of superconferences. The Big Ten, for example, now spans the entire U.S. with 18 schools, while the ACC has 17 football-playing members, including former Pac-12 schools Stanford and California. The SEC and Big 12 both expanded to 16 schools, solidifying their positions as dominant conferences.
Rather than merging with the Mountain West, the Pac-12 has opted for a more selective approach, picking only the top programs. The Mountain West is left with just eight members: Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, Utah State, New Mexico, Wyoming, San Jose State, and Hawaii. Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez issued a statement in response to the Pac-12’s decision, saying the conference’s board of directors is meeting to discuss next steps. “All members will be held to conference bylaws and policies should they elect to depart,” Nevarez stated.
With the Mountain West weakened, its future is now uncertain. The loss of four of its top programs leaves it in a precarious position as the broader landscape of college athletics continues to shift. For now, the Pac-12 has begun the process of rebuilding and is focused on stabilizing its future, although significant challenges lie ahead.
