Pac-12 conference officially announces addition of four schools for 2026 season

The Pac-12 Conference Board of Directors reached a unanimous decision to admit Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State of the Mountain West Conference into the conference for the 2026-27 academic year, t he conference announced Thursday, Sept. 12 .

“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould said in a press release Thursday. “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.”

The announcement comes just a few hours after Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports broke the news that the conference was making moves to add the four schools.

REPORT: Pac-12 Conference working to add four Mountain West schools

Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Colorado State will all officially join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026 and begin competing under the Pac-12's banner for the 2026-27 school year.

“We are honored to welcome the distinguished leadership of Boise State University President Dr. Marlene Tromp, Colorado State University President Amy Parsons, California State University, Fresno President Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, and San Diego State University President Dr. Adela de la Torre to the Pac-12 Board of Directors," Oregon State University President Jayathi Murthy and Washington State University President Kirk Schulz said in a press release issued Thursday. "We eagerly anticipate their uniquely insightful contributions during this transformative era for the conference and collegiate athletics.”

The Pac-12 will now be on the hook for a fee of $10-12 million fee per school, while each school will individually owe the Mountain West Conference $17 million in exit fees.

The Pac-12 has been operating as a two-team conference as a part of the NCAA's grace period after the demise of the Pac-12's old 12-member roster. With the addition of the four Mountain West schools, the Pac-12 has reached six total members — still two away from the NCAA-required minimum of eight, but the conference has a two-year grace period to get to eight by 2026.