Boise State, 3 Other Schools Joining Pac-12 Effective 2026

© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA TODAY NETWORK

The Pac-12 Conference is breathing new life into its makeup by adding Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Jose State, effective in 2026. These four schools join Oregon State and Washington State, putting the Pac-12 on course to potentially get FBS status with two more schools. A minimum of eight schools is needed for that classification.

The predominantly West Coast and Western states conference lost schools to the Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference and/or the Atlantic Coast Conference. In doing so, it left the Pac-12 with just two members entering this college football season.

Now, with these Mountain West Conference schools leaving for greener pastures, it gives the Pac-12 six members.

Pac-12 Leader Very Happy

Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould praised these four new conference schools in a statement released on Sept. 12.

"For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics," Gould said. "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."

After 10 schools left the Pac-12 prior to this college football season, the Mountain West and Pac-12 entered into a scheduling agreement between them both. This allowed MWC schools to fill in gaps on Oregon State's and Washington State's football schedules. Talks recently broke down over extending this agreement.

An ESPN report indicated that the Pac-12 will be helping these four schools pay their MWC exit fees. This will amount to the four schools paying nearly $18 million each to leave. In addition, due to the scheduling agreement, Boise State, Fresno State, San Jose State and Colorado State will be facing an additional $10-$12 million penalty.

Fresno State Fired Up

Garrett Klassy, Director of Athletics for Fresno State, expressed his joy over making this move.

"Joining the Pac-12 Conference is a transformative moment for Fresno State," Klassy said in a press release from the school. "This move not only elevates our national profile but also brings tremendous opportunities for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level. We are committed to upholding the values and traditions of both Fresno State and the Pac-12 while embracing the innovative future ahead. Together with our new conference peers, we will continue to grow, succeed and lead in both athletics and academics. The Red Wave is ready for this historic journey."

“We are taking control of our future at CSU by forming an alliance of six peer institutions who will serve as the foundation for a new era of the Pac-12,” Colorado State President Amy Parsons said in a statement. “This move elevates CSU in a way which benefits all our students, bolsters our core mission, and strengthens our reputation for academic and research excellence. CSU is honored to be among the universities asked to help carry on the history and tradition of the Pac-12 as a highly competitive conference with some of the nation’s leading research institutions.” 

These schools' moves to the Pac-12 will take effect entering the 2026-27 academic year. Watchful eyes from the college football world, though, will look to see if two other schools are going to become Pac-12 bound anytime soon.