Washington StatePac-12 enters rebuilt era with eight football schools
Washington State and Oregon State add six football members for 2026-27 after a $49 million exit-fee settlement, while Gonzaga joins for basketball.
The Pate StateSchools that departed for other power conferences
Mountain West exit-fee settlement
Four days before Boise State opens at No. 2 Oregon on Saturday, the Pac-12 enters its rebuilt 2026-27 era with Washington State and Oregon State joined by Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State in football. Gonzaga joins the conference for basketball.
The additions bring the league from two remaining schools after 10 departed for the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC back to the NCAA’s eight-school FBS minimum. The NCAA gave the Pac-12 a two-year window to reach that mark.
That puts Washington State and Oregon State in position to make the Pac-12 a lasting FBS home rather than become targets in another round of realignment.
“The name of the conference is very familiar to me. The structure and the teams is brand new, and I don't really know what to expect.”
Jim MoraCommissioner Teresa Gould framed the rebuild as a new version of a 110-year-old league.
“We're marrying tradition with transformation,” Gould said. “We're taking the legacy and the 110-year history, and we're reimagining it into something new and modern in 2026.”
Washington State and Oregon State kept authority over the conference and millions of dollars in assets after their November 2023 legal victory over the departing schools. The Pac-12 Network later shut down amid massive layoffs, and a court fight over Mountain West exit fees ended in a $49 million settlement.
Boise State went 9-5 last season, while Washington State finished 7-6.
Colorado State coach Jim Mora, who coached UCLA for six seasons in the former Pac-12, described the new structure: “The name of the conference is very familiar to me. The structure and the teams is brand new, and I don't really know what to expect.”
01 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Can the Pac-12 become a lasting FBS home for Washington State and Oregon State?
The answer hinges on whether the restored eight-school football membership gives the two holdovers enough stability to avoid becoming targets in another round of realignment. The 2026 transition is the key point, after the NCAA gave the league a two-year window to reach the eight-school FBS minimum. The membership staying intact is the tell.
What will the new Pac-12 look like on the field?
Colorado State coach Jim Mora says the conference name is familiar but the structure and teams are brand new. Boise State's Saturday opener at No. 2 Oregon is the first named game in the article, while Boise State's 9-5 and Washington State's 7-6 records provide the existing on-field baseline. Early results supply the tell.
02 · The Watch ListWhat to Watch Next
Can Boise State build on a 9-5 season at Oregon?
Boise State opens at No. 2 Oregon on Saturday after going 9-5 last season. The score and how the Broncos perform against the second-ranked opponent offer the first on-field read before the rebuilt era.
Does Washington State improve on 7-6?
Washington State finished 7-6 last season and, with Oregon State, kept authority over the conference. Its results will be part of the early football picture for the rebuilt Pac-12.
What does Colorado State look like in the new structure?
Jim Mora said the conference name is familiar but its structure and teams are brand new. Colorado State's games will provide the results behind that uncertainty.