Pac-12 adds Boise State, SDSU, CSU, Fresno State from MWC
The Pac-12 is rising from its ashes.
The conference - which currently only consists of Washington State and Oregon State - announced Thursday the arrivals of Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Fresno State from the Mountain West starting in 2026.
"For over a century, the Pac-12 conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics," commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. "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."
With the latest additions, the Pac-12 only needs two more schools to be deemed an FBS conference.
Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Fresno State are expected to pay roughly $18 million each in exit fees to leave the Mountain West with two years' notice, according to Kyle Bonagura and Pete Thamel of ESPN. The Pac-12 will also be covering another $10 million to $12 million as part of a deal with the opposing conference over scheduling, sources told Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports.
"Our exciting trajectory matched by the prowess of our storied athletic programs makes this the moment to advance to the Pac-12 conference," Boise State president Dr. Marlene Tromp said Thursday.
The Pac-12 hired Gould to succeed George Kliavkoff as its new commissioner in February. Under Kliavkoff, the conference lost 10 programs to other Power 5 conferences.