Utah State Joins Pac-12, Adding Five Mountain West Schools Overall

The Pac-12 has confirmed the addition of Utah State as its seventh member, set to officially join the conference on July 1, 2026. This announcement was made on Tuesday night, marking a significant moment in the ongoing shifts within college athletics.

Utah State will become the fifth school from the Mountain West to transition to the Pac-12, following the announcements of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State less than two weeks prior. The Pac-12’s board of directors voted unanimously in favor of this admission, and Utah State will compete across all sports starting in the 2026-27 academic year.

In a statement, Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould expressed enthusiasm for Utah State’s membership. She noted that the university would offer valuable strategic insights and historical competitive success, which would ultimately enhance the conference. “Today marks another exciting step for the Pac-12 – and it’s just the beginning of phase two,” Gould added.

With the arrival of the Aggies, the Pac-12 now boasts seven member institutions. In addition to Utah State, the conference is comprised of Washington State and Oregon State, the only remaining members following a significant exodus this summer. This change reflects the shifting landscape of college football, as many programs are in search of improved financial stability and exposure.

The announcement concerning Utah State coincides with another significant development: the Pac-12 filed a lawsuit against the Mountain West on the same day. This legal action appears to stem from a financial dispute, with the Pac-12 seeking declaratory relief regarding millions of dollars in penalties that the Mountain West claims the Pac-12 owes them. Currently, there exists a scheduling agreement between the two conferences for the season, particularly concerning matchups involving the Cougars and Beavers.

According to reports, the scheduling agreement requires the Pac-12 to pay a withdrawal fee to the Mountain West. The fees are set at $43 million for the poaching of four Mountain West teams and $67.5 million if six teams are taken. This financial context underlines the complex relationship between the two conferences as they navigate ongoing membership changes.

As the Pac-12 adapts to this latest shift, it finds itself just one institution shy of the eight universities needed to comply with NCAA regulations governing the Football Bowl Subdivision. For now, the Pac-12 is permitted to operate with its current two-team structure under a temporary two-year grace period, which lasts until July 2026. This provision gives the league a window to strategize its future after several member institutions departed in search of greater financial incentives.

The Mountain West, facing the departure of Utah State, will also be left with only seven members and may need to consider its own expansion to meet NCAA requirements in light of this shifting membership landscape.

In recent discussions, the Pac-12 expressed interest in acquiring members from the American Athletic Conference, specifically targeting schools like Memphis, South Florida, Tulane, and UTSA. However, those programs reaffirmed their commitment to the AAC earlier this week, narrowing the Pac-12’s options moving forward.

The Pac-12’s current focus is on collaborating with its seven members to explore additional potential memberships and future conference considerations. The addition of just one more school could provide the necessary stability and compliance required for the conference as it navigates this transformative period.

As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, the Pac-12’s efforts to rebuild and expand demonstrate the broader competition among conferences for athletic prestige, financial viability, and institutional alignment.

Source: USA Today