Four Mountain West Conference schools will join the Pac-12 Conference in 2026, it was officially announced on Thursday morning.
The Boise State Broncos, Colorado State Rams, Fresno State Bulldogs, and San Diego State Aztecs will each join the Pac-12 Conference in all sports on July 1, 2026. Those four schools will join Oregon State and Washington State, the only two remaining members of the Pac-12.
“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Commissioner Teresa Gould stated. “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.”
NCAA bylaws state that Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences must have a minimum of eight teams, so the Pac-12 will still need to add at least two additional schools to meet that threshold.
The league has a two-year grace period, per NCAA bylaws, so it can play under the minimum this season and in 2025.
Per a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the expansion of the Pac-12 will be costly.
Each Mountain West school is contractually bound to a $17 million exit fee, and the Pac-12 is on the hook for an additional $10-12 million penalty fee for every school they acquire as part of a scheduling agreement the conference struck with the Mountain West.
Which other schools will the Pac-12 entice to join? That remains to be seen, but there are several possibilities. Two more Mountain West teams is certainly not out of the question.
Other schools mentioned for possible Pac-12 inclusion are from the American Athletic Conference, such as Memphis, Tulane, and UTSA. Two former Pac-12 schools — California and Stanford — could also be possibilities if chaos ensues in the ACC.
Below are quotes from the four Mountain West schools joining the Pac-12 in 2026.
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. Marlene Tromp, Boise State president
“Boise State University has excelled across every metric by which we are measured, from the lab to the classroom to the field of play. We have shattered records for research awards, graduation numbers and philanthropic giving. Our exciting trajectory matched by the prowess of our storied athletic programs makes this the moment to advance to the Pac-12 conference.”
Jeramiah Dickey, Boise State Director of Athletics
“What a great day to be a Bronco! I extend my gratitude to Dr. Tromp, our Office of General Counsel, and the many members of our state board, university, and athletics leadership groups who contributed to this process. We evaluated this move from many angles and considered it with our head and our heart, and most importantly, with our 350+ student-athletes in mind. When it came down to making the final decision, we chose this path because it puts Boise State in the best position for success, and is in the best interest of this university and community. From the storytelling opportunities with Pac-12 Enterprises to recruiting and revenue opportunities, we feel this best aligns with our department’s goal of elevating its national reputation through competitive excellence and aggressively moves us into What’s Next. We won’t ever stop!”
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
Amy Parsons, Colorado State president
“We are taking control of our future at CSU by forming an alliance of six peer institutions who will serve as the foundation for a new era of the Pac-12. This move elevates CSU in a way which benefits all our students, bolsters our core mission, and strengthens our reputation for academic and research excellence. CSU is honored to be among the universities asked to help carry on the history and tradition of the Pac-12 as a highly competitive conference with some of the nation’s leading research institutions.”
“We have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for the Mountain West and its members. There will be conversations going forward about the Mountain West exit fees and Pac-12 support for our transition. We are confident the path forward will not impact our current university budget and will set CSU up for incredible opportunities to come.”
John Weber, Colorado State Director of Athletics
“These six institutions are committed to rebuilding the Pac-12 into an innovative, nimble, conference with sports programs which put student-athletes first, strive to compete at the highest level and deliver amazing fan experiences and compelling content. This is a historic, transformative moment for CSU and a massive opportunity for our student-athletes. Joining the Pac-12 is an important step forward as we seek to deliver on an ambitious vision for the future of Ram Athletics.”
“These historic rivalries are important to our fans and institutions, and we very much want to ensure that they continue into the future. It will be exciting to see new rivalries come out of this, too. The power of the Pac-12 lies in the fact the member institutions are situated in the West, have passionate fan bases and renowned sports histories.”
“This moment has been a long time coming. I know our students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and fans are hungry for this move and are going to love what comes next as CSU charts a transformational new course as a member of the Pac-12.”
FRESNO STATE UNIVERSITY
Garrett Klassy, Fresno State Director of Athletics
“Joining the Pac-12 Conference is a transformative moment for Fresno State. This move not only elevates our national profile but also brings tremendous opportunities for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level. We are committed to upholding the values and traditions of both Fresno State and the Pac-12 while embracing the innovative future ahead. Together with our new conference peers, we will continue to grow, succeed and lead in both athletics and academics. The Red Wave is ready for this historic journey.”
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Adela de la Torre, SDSU President
“The move to the Pac-12 is a transformative moment for our entire university. Joining the Pac-12 opens the door to exciting partnerships and financial growth, all of which will contribute to the success of our student-athletes and the vitality of our university community. This is just the beginning — we are poised to attract even more top-tier talent, compete at the highest national level and identify new opportunities that will benefit our One SDSU community and the San Diego region.”
John David Wicker, SDSU Director of Athletics
“We are ecstatic to be joining the Pac-12 Conference. While we are grateful to be a founding member of the Mountain West with 26 years of success in the conference, we are excited at what lies ahead with these new opportunities. We will continue to compete for conference championships on the field and to graduate leaders in the community.”
As A Boise State Fan I have full pledge support for them make the switch to PAC 12.
If I had two athletic programs that could be in PAC 12 it would be Montana State & Montana if they ever want to make transition from FCS to FBS however if it does happen both Montana State & Montana would be Independent for a year or two before PAC 12 open the door for Bobcats & Grizzles.
no way. much too small a population bases and their stadiums only seat 20.000-25,000 fans
The Montana schools are most likely to get to FBS by joining the WAC for non-football sports and the UAC for football.
Stadium size is a poor argument and you should have done research toward that end. In Bozeman, they are at 17 or 18K, but as we have seen, all the state legislature needs to do is decide things are fair and they would have a new stadium in place if nothing else. Montana would have to raise money from private sources as they do with any project if they want to get seating expanded above their current just under 26,000 capacity, but that is inline with many of these teams already.
Oregon State 26,000, Washington State 33,000, Boise State 36,000, Colorado State 41,000, Fresno State 41,000 and San Diego State 35,000.
Take a look at the yearly attendance numbers and you will probably see Montana is right with them on average attendance too, but the real issue is the academic fit for the Griz and Cats isn’t there it has nothing to do with stadium size.
Additionally, with the Mountain West, many of the current teams there were absorbed from the WAC when Montana was extended an invitation they declined. While a lot of folks said they didn’t move because Bozeman was not considered for membership, I don’t buy that completely since the schools have only been in the same conference since the formation of the Big Sky and they could still play a nonconference game every year much like Colorado/Colorado State, Iowa/Iowa State and now Washington/Washington State and Oregon/Oregon State.
The matter is whether they want to move up in the case of Montana and once the power five gets settle into something that matters where the rest of FBS is left out of any championship consideration, the group of five leftovers are going to have to form into something that produces more than a meaningless bowl game. Maybe the result of that is the formation of a new FCS type of level where those teams that are at the bottom, such as CCSU and those teams referenced by another post, end up in D-II.
Hopefully it doesn’t result in a third level of D-I, but honestly the NCAA should do something like the FCS for basketball as well since the titles there are dominated by power 5 teams who have so many at large teams in that the conference tournaments mean very little when all is said and done.
It’s all about the money though and whatever makes the NCAA the most money will be the path they take.
To the original point again, check those season attendance numbers, it has nothing to do with attendance, Montana would fit in fine there, but there are other factors that I would agree will hold them out of a move either way.
Anyway I am very blessed & happy with My Montana State Bobcats & fellow state rival Montana Grizzles still as FCS Teams in Big Sky Conference.
Just want to let you know that was a little suggestion that I gave about Montana Schools going to PAC 12 & excellent news that is definitely not a priority.
Please dave, Z-Man & on do not be concerned about My post greatly appreciate it.
Cal and Stanford should ask to move back by 2027…
I wonder which other schools will join the Pac-12?
I would like to see Cal and Stanford back in there, but I don’t know if they would go back right now.
Also, I wonder which schools the Mountain West will invite? Montana and Montana State? UTEP and NMSU? North Dakota State and South Dakota State?
It will never end. Now the MWC has to scramble but what options are left? Are we going to raid CUSA again? I would think the list for the MWC will include
Montana
Montana State
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
Idaho
Idaho State
The entire Big Sky?
I hate to say this, but FCS level football should be eliminated. Why does CFB have four divisions and the rest of the sports have three? What they should do is force the top FCS schools into FBS and let the rest of the FCS schools play Division 2 football. This strengthens Division 2 football and cleans everything up.
Schools like Colgate, Marist, Central Connecticut could stay in Division 1 for their sports, but play Division 2 in football. They do this in hockey, so it is not a far-flung idea by any means.
Albany (where I live) has an 8500 seat-stadium. Let them play D2 football with the similar FCS schools and stay in the America East for hoops and everything else.
This would also put an end to school leaving FCS for FBS and schools leaving D2 for FCS. There are too many Merrimacks leaving D2 for FCS. This would stop that for a while until it all blows up again.
FCS (formerly known as I-AA) was formed in the late 70s so smaller D1 schools could keep their football programs while maintaining D1 status. Football is unlike any other college sport, there’s a bunch of roster spots and scholarships.
The hockey example that you mentioned–there’s a bunch of D2 schools that are D1 in hockey, NOT the other way around.
I would welcome Montana State to Mountain West.
Go Bobcats!!!
1979 was when the split started but came down to a lot of different issues which led to the split along with potential lawsuit. But you have different rules governing both because once you drop out of Division II you only have 36 scholarships to offer and Division III you don’t have any. and that is one of many little rule changes.
NCAA doesn’t have the power to make schools do anything or move up or down, for most schools if they moved down it would possibly destroy their programs with all the cuts they would have to do to meet rules and such.
Lot’s of bad basketball and meh football…
I think a full merger of the MW and Pac-12 should be occurring.
I totally agree with you on this, Z-Man! The Pacific-American Conference (PAC) is coming in 2026. #merger #backthepac
OSU and WSU pushed that away over a year ago, their #1 goal was to rebuild the Pac-12 from schools from MWC and AAC, have stated several times and sounds like was even part of the contract they signed with MWC this football season
UTEP + NMSU make most sense.
.
The fee to go from FCS to FBS goes up again so doubt we’ll see that much after Delaware and Missouri State.
The ACC reluctantly took in Cal and Stanford. Current ACC teams and the new schools have travel concerns, especially for student athletes in nonrevenue sports. The ACC *should* let Cal and Stanford out without penalty if they wish to return to the Pac-X, but might fear that Clemson and Florida State will cry that they want ‘out’ for free also.
I’d add Sacramento State and UC Davis to John Furgele’s list of schools to repopulate the Mountain West.
Maybe Northern Arizona too
All Big Sky schools are much further away financially from the remaining Mountain West members. This is partly due to media rights revenue, but as an example, SAC St couldn’t even fundraise enough for a new basketball arena despite playing in one of the smallest gyms in D1.
They are instead retro fitting their student events center space. How SAC St would be able to afford to keep up in an FBS budget I cannot fathom at this stage.
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned adding UNLV? Money rules all athletics, and Las Vegas is the ‘honeypot’ of the West. Vegas has the BB tourneys, and offers a lot of revenue that will eventually filter down to the entire new Pac-12. To get UNLV and it’s riches, the conference might have to also to include Nevada, History has shown that leagues have often been forced to take an “ugly sister” in order to get a school that they really want. Nevada is ugly only in regard to it’s smaller stadium size… perhaps a commitment from ‘the Pack’ to enlarge their facilities, and their athletic budget, might make their joining easier to take. Let’s get real here…. the new conference will need to have Power four leagues schedule games with them, and they won’t ever want to come to most of the other schools mentioned for possible inclusion in the leagues’ future plans.
Here is what I believe is the best solution for everyone in this case.
Washington State, Oregon State, and the entire Mountain West Conference should all merge into one conference and invite both New Mexico State and UTEP from CUSA. The new 16-team league can be called the Pacific-American Conference (PAC).
Two conferences, one merger, sixteen schools, one league, and one family. Problem solved, if not checkmate!
Washington State University ($85.0 million) and Oregon State University ($83.5 million) generated the lowest amount of athletic revenue in the old PAC-12. (Which generated approximately $114 million annually per school.) For them, the level of Power Conference annual athletic revenue has ceased.
The Mountain West generates an average annual athletic revenue of $52.1 million (~46% that of the old PAC-12 number) and the two leftovers have clearly decided that joining the MWC would be financially devasting. So, onto plan B… where they will rekindle a PAC-*, by culling the bottom of the money earner from the MWC (something that conference cannot nor could not do) and invited the upper cust of San Diego State ($65.9 million), Colorado State ($61.3 million), Fresno State ($64.1 million) and Bosie State ($50.6 million). They probably would have like to have added UNLV ($64.2 million) but it would appear they decide to remain aligned with uninvited Nevada. They now have paused at six total members, with the small hope of enticing Cal ($118.2 million) and Stanford ($134.1 million) back into the fold. Good Luck. Both of these schools are currently running at shortfalls and to make move to a conference that would generate only 46% of needed income would turn a shortfall into a landslide.
For a simple review of these numbers, one would conclude that Washington State and Oregon State, even with the approximately $65 million they received from the departing 10 former members of the PAC-12, are headed to Group-of-Five relegation for a long foreseeable future.
Well the Pac12 became the Pac 2 now it is back to at least the Pac 6, however, I would ask, California and Stanford to return, being in the ACC will be a killer especially for small sports, with all the travel. If those two come, I would also see if Arizona and Arizona State might want to return, I believe those two, might since it wouldn’t be that far to travel. If that doesn’t work I would try Nevada and UNLV to possibly get back to at least 8 maybe 10.
The AZ schools simply won’t give up much more money by being in the B12 just for travel.
They both have repeatedly said they don’t want anything to do with Mountain West schools so changes of them coming back are slim to none, they are still in a much better place now than they would be with the new Pac-12
The only way they’d return is if the ACC were to suffer a large exodus of schools, possibly as a result of FSU/Clemason finding a way out of the GOR that allows the likes of UNC/UVA to join the SEC or B1G. There’s no doubt that the ACC’s current media deal will still be significantly larger than the rebranded PAC’s, regardless of who is added.
They could add UNLV+somebody (USU?) but are more likely to add Memphis + UTSA/Tulane.
IF the NEW Pac 12 were to raid the AAC for Memphis, Tulane, UTSA, and South Florida……those schools have decent athletic programs, and budgets, the conference would easily be the best Group of 5/6 conferences. The chance of a Pac 12 playoff spot would be extremely high. The league will never regain Power Five status: but an almost guaranteed playoff team will be how the conference get a revenue boost. Also, the old MWC teams coming over, have made a boatload of dinero recently from March Madness. With the right membership, the conference will still be able to attract quality players, and several schools are upping their NIL pot of gold too!
I agree that this is very astute analysis. The Pac is trying to corner that G5 CFP slot, which doesn’t mean too much in terms of money but does in terms of prestige.
– UNLV was likely invited but has some lingering hope they’ll be part of the Big 12 so declined for now.
– One wonders if Air Force would bolt to the American to be paired with Army and Navy or pursue this west coast partnership. I could see it either way. They are the other major get, though Utah State isn’t nothing.
– Obviously the Pac 12 would prefer to have Cal and Stanford back – they may be making a play there.
– The remaining Mountain West could go one of three ways:
1. Add UTEP, NMSU, Montana, Montana State, etc.
2. Merge with the American – especially if the ACC raids the top of the American (Memphis, Tulane) at some point.
3. Perhaps fully merge with the Pac 12 and the reverse merger everyone predicted comes true.
If the Pac only took 4 MWC schools, they’re likely now angling to add the top remaining AAC schools (definitely Memphis and UTSA; maybe Tulane + USF too).
If the Atlantic Coast Conference can stretch all the way to CA, there’s no reason the Pac-whatever can’t stretch to FL.
Although Army is now a member of the American with Navy their football game at the end of the season is a non conference game. Both schools are football only in the Amreican and are committed to playing Air Force in football. I do not see the advantage for Air Force to change, football might bring in a little more money, but in other sports they are taking a huge hit in money, prestige and travel.
I really like all the comments from everybody agree or disagree they were all excellent.
What’s the magic here? How is this going to be anything more than a G5/G6 conference.
Sad to see this happen to the MWC unless all of it eventually gets folded into the reincarnated PAC.
It means potentially more media rights money for the new PAC members, even if it’s a “non-power” conference. And given the brands involved, there’s inherently more interest in these schools competing as part of a playoff bid with perceived strength of schedule benefits.
Potentially kinda sorta maybe.
Looks very speculative to me that this is anything more than marginally better than being in the MWC.
And the breakeven, factoring in exit costs, could take at least 5-10 years.
@Jesper The cold hard facts are those very 4 schools have the largest football budgets in the MW who felt were losing out on media rights distribution revenue because of the MW’s current makeup of programs. A few million may seem marginal in comparison to the P2 or P4 but for these schools that may end up being double what they earned in the MW.
With the house settlement looming and the challenge to stay relevant recruiting within the FBS division these schools weren’t going to lose much by taking this calculated risk. They’re no worse off than before so why not try it if the potential upside makes them better off both in revenue and exposure then doing nothing and continue to diminish in value.
I could see UNLV and Wyoming joining the Pac8. I think four left, so that the M/W would remain active with eight teams. New Mexico St. and UTEP of CUSA could join the M/W and put them back at eight.
The out-of-the-box addition that will make the reincarnated PAC a major-market media power is the University of British Columbia.
But gonna gave to convince them of the virtue of 11-man ball and to forego the allure of the rouge.
I would like to see this. I know this would never happen.
MWC:
Air Force
Hawaii
Nevada
New Mexico
San Jose St
UNLV
Utah St
Wyoming
Montana
Montana St
North Dakota St
South Dakota St
Sam Houston St
New Mexico St
UTEP
Sacramento St
(Maybe)
Eastern Washington
Northern Arizona
The problem the remnants from the Mountain West face is a loss revenue. The FCS schools and the two Conference USA members you have suggested to be invited to join the Mountain West generate an average athletic revenue of $26.0 million. That figure would not even come close to replacing the average lost athletic income of $58.0 million of the departing members. Even just considering the 8 remaining members, (which generate an average athletic income of $48.0 million), this figure falls far short of serious deliberation. You’re correct, it will never happen.
Do not feel bad Steve I was hoping for Montana State & Montana would head to PAC 12 however on second thought I am blessed & happy that both Bobcats & Grizzles are still in FCS Big Sky Conference.
I have no dog in any of these fights, but I believe the CUSA schools you keep mentioning will be hard to move. The CUSA schools are the only Group of 5 conference to have a grant of rights agreement like the ACC currently has and its made it tough for the schools trying to leave the ACC. The last raid of the CUSA brought forth the grant of rights deal to fend off future raiding. I think its tied to their TV deal with ESPN so, they are pretty much locked in at least until that TV contract ends.