Ross Dellenger from Yahoo! reports the schools have already applied for or are expected to apply for membership.
Early last week, various media reports indicated the Pac-12 and Mountain West wouldn’t be continuing their scheduling partnership in 2025. The thought, at least at the time, was that the conference was exploring other options, something OSU AD Scott Barnes indicated in an interview with The Oregonian and the Canzano and Wilner podcast.
Turns out, there may have been another reason!
Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the Pac-12 is targeting Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Colorado State to expand the Pac-12 to six teams. Dellenger adds the teams either have already or are expected to apply for membership with the possibility of ink on paper by the end of this week.
The schools would join the conference in 2026 and bring the Pac-12 to six member institutions. Each incoming university would owe the Mountain West Conference close to $30 million in fees to depart, something the current Pac-12 has been holding onto their war chest from a lawsuit against the ten departed schools to help pay for.
The Pac-12 is currently in a two-year grace period approved by the NCAA which allows them to operate with just two teams. By the end of the two-year term, the league must have a minimum of eight schools to be considered FBS. With the addition of the four above schools, the league would of course still be two short but Dellenger says league sources indicate this is a ‘multi-phase expansion endeavor”. Who the Pac-12 would invite beyond that is anyone’s guess, Stanford and Cal would be natural choices given their current conference affiliation but the ACC’s contract, as Florida State and Clemson are finding out, is very difficult to break. UNLV would also be another, practical partner but they are not mentioned in Dellenger’s report.
To say the least of it, if it comes to fruition, this is an aggressive move to rebuild the Pac-12 on their terms by Washington State and Oregon State. Though an invitation to the Big 12 or ACC was likely preferred, this is the next best option. And with so much more moving and shaking to do, it’s likely not (nor can it be anyway!) the last you’ll hear of teams being invited into the Pac-12.