The 2025 Season marked the end of an era for the Pac-12 when teams like Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA left for new beginnings. Those four teams joined the B1G, while Utah and Colorado joined the BIG 12. The Pac-12 Conference also saw Cal and Stanford leave for the ACC, though there’s a possibility they return. More on that later.
With those teams leaving, Oregon State and Washington State remained committed to rebuilding the Pac-12. The Conference realignment this season left Oregon State and Washington State home alone in the Pac-12. They had to agree with the Mountain West Conference to play an MWC schedule. However, the two parties couldn’t agree on a scheduling model beyond next season.
On Thursday, multiple sources, including the PAC, announced that they will add four teams in the 2026-27 season. The four teams to join the Pac-12 are Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State. All four of whom come from the Mountain West Conference.
“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” 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.”
Each team will be required to pay the Mountain West Conference an exit fee of roughly $18 million with two years’ notice. In order to be considered an FBS Conference, the Pac 12 still needs to add two more teams. Right now, the conference is under a grace period. The conference has enough history and tradition that they shouldn’t have a problem getting two more West Coast teams.
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