The conference reconstituted its roster after a period of contraction. The Pac-12 was reduced to two members, Washington State and Oregon State, following the departure of other member institutions. Washington, Oregon, UCLA, and USC joined the Big Ten Conference.

Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah joined the Big 12 Conference. California and Stanford joined the ACC.

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State joined the Pac-12 from the Mountain West Conference. Texas State joined the Pac-12 from the Sun Belt Conference. The addition of prominent Mountain West programs weakened that conference by removing four of its most prominent football programs.

Oregon State University President Jayathi Murthy collaborated with Washington State's president to secure the Pac-12's reconfiguration. This effort included negotiating Kliavkoff's severance and orchestrating the conference's expansion from the Mountain West and Sun Belt. Washington State University President Kirk Schulz negotiated the severance agreement of Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Kliavkoff. Schulz supported the appointment of Teresa Gould as his replacement in 2024.

Jim Mora is the head coach at Colorado State. Jim Mora was previously the head coach at UCLA. Texas State won a bowl game in each of the three seasons prior to 2026.

Fresno State qualified for a bowl game in 2025. A Group of Six team must be ranked higher than every other Group of Six opponent in the final top 25 to reach the College Football Playoff.

Why It Matters

The events described span 9 years, from 2017 to 2026. The Pacific Coast Conference was formed in 1915. Washington defeated Oregon in the 2023 Pac-12 Championship Game. Washington clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff by winning the 2023 Pac-12 Championship Game.

Timeline

Gonzaga reached the NCAA national championship game in 2017. Gonzaga reached the NCAA national championship game in 2021.

The Pac-12 football membership consists of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Texas State, Oregon State, and Washington State. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State joined the Pac-12 from the Mountain West Conference.

What's New

Oregon State University President Jayathi Murthy collaborated with Washington State's president to secure the Pac-12's reconfiguration, including negotiating Kliavkoff's severance and orchestrating the conference's expansion from the Mountain West and Sun Belt. The Pac-12's addition of Colorado State, along with Boise State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, significantly weakened the Mountain West Conference by removing four of its most prominent football programs,

Washington State University President Kirk Schulz negotiated the severance agreement of Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Kliavkoff and supported the appointment of Teresa Gould as his replacement in 2024. Washington State is public university in Pullman, Washington, USA. Oregon State is public research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. Colorado State is public land-grant research university in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States.