Pac-12 to add Boise St., Fresno St., San Diego St., Colorado St. in 2026, poaching Mountain West

On Thursday, the Pac-12 announced plans to add Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, starting in 2026. They’ll join Oregon State and Washington State in a rebuilt Conference of Champions.

The additions rob the Mountain West of four of its more prominent schools and successful football programs, most notably Boise State. It leaves the Pac-12 two schools short of the eight it needs to have in place in two years to be recognized as a conference by NCAA rule.

The Pac-12 and the departing schools likely will be responsible for about $110 million in exit fees and penalties to the Mountain West.

Still, it is a remarkable comeback for a conference that was left for dead a year ago when 10 members scattered to competitors across the country after it was unable to secure a media rights deal that schools believed would not keep it competitive with other conferences. Most notably, the Big Ten, which includes Penn State, took four former Pac-12 giants in the offseason in Oregon, Southern Cal, Washington, and UCLA.

“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Pac-12 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. A new exciting new era for the Pac-12 Conference begins today.”

Currently operating as a two-school conference, with Oregon State and Washington State the only remaining members, the Pac-12 is taking advantage of NCAA rules that allow for a two-year grace period. Oregon State and Washington State also have an affiliate membership in place for this school year and next with the West Coast Conference for men’s and women’s basketball and other Olympic sports.

The Mountain West will be left with Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, Utah State, New Mexico, Wyoming, San Jose State, Hawaii — and an uncertain future.

Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement late Wednesday night after the news of the Pac-12′s move leaked, that the Mountain West’s board of directors was meeting to discuss the next steps.

“All members will be held to conference bylaws and policies should they elect to depart,” she said. ”The requirements of the scheduling agreement will apply to the Pac-12 should they admit Mountain West members.”