The Pac-12 is adding Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State, starting in 2026, to join Oregon State and Washington State in a rebuilt Conference of Champions.
“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,” CSU President Amy Parsons said. “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've made investments like this football stadium. We've been working for a long time to make sure that CSU is properly positioned as the landscape continues to change in collegiate athletics. The sky's the limit on what we're going to be able to achieve here in our new league," Parsons continued.
CSU and the three other schools joining the Pac-12 rob the Mountain West of four of its more prominent schools and successful football programs. However, the Pac-12 is still two schools short of the eight they need to have in place in two years by NCAA rule.
The Pac-12 and the departing schools will likely be on the hook for about $110 million in exit fees and penalties to the Mountain West.
Still, it is a remarkable comeback for a conference left for dead a year ago when 10 members scattered to other power conferences after it was unable to secure a media rights deal that schools believed could keep them competitive with other leagues.
“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.”
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CSU said it will work to preserve its traditional rivalries.
“These historic rivalries are important to our fans and institutions, and we very much want to ensure that they continue into the future,” CSU Director of Athletics John Weber said. “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.
"I really look forward to working with our other athletic directors, and working with our commissioner within the Pac-12 to figure out a way for us to produce and operate in a way that is really going to differentiate the conference and all of us member institutions," Weber continued.
Gov. Jared Polis even weighed in on the decision, releasing a statement Thursday morning.
“Pac-12 football is back in Colorado! Colorado is known for our outstanding athletic achievements and talented student-athletes, and I am thrilled to celebrate our student athletes at Colorado State University who are bringing Colorado’s world-class academic and athletic success to the Pac-12 Conference. Go Rams!” Polis said.
Parsons said there are still things to be worked out in the coming months, including media rights, conference membership and the financial details involved with separating from the Mountain West. However, the four new schools will receive immediate voting privileges on membership and media rights in the Pac-12.
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