(VOR News) – The Pac-12 is pulling institutions from the Mountain West, where poaching nearly wiped them out.

On Thursday, the Pacific-12 Conference of Champions announced that Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Oregon State, and Washington State will join in 2026.

Four of the Mountain West’s top institutions and football programs—including Boise State—have left due to expansion. Because the Pac- is two institutions short of the eight it needs to have in two years to be approved by the NCAA, more adjustments are expected.

Mountain West exit costs and penalties totaling $110 million will likely fall on the Pac-12 and departing institutions.

This is an incredible comeback for a conference that was thought to be dead a year ago when ten of its members left for other leagues after failing to land a big media rights contract that would have allowed former Pac-12 schools like Stanford, Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and others to compete.

“The Pac-12 Conference has been recognised as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics for over a century,” stated Commissioner Teresa Gould. “We look for innovative and risk-taking developments that will help student-athletes and member schools.

The Pac-12 Conference enters a thrilling new chapter today.

The Pac-12 evaluates prospective new members based on academic and athletic performance, media and brand assessment, dedication to athletic excellence, geography and logistics, and student-athlete culture and welfare.

Pac-12

Oregon State and Washington State are the only teams left in the Pac-12 because of NCAA rules that give them two years to play. Washington State President Kirk Schulz and Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy said hello to their new conference partners in a statement.

Added, “We look forward to their incredibly perceptive contributions during this pivotal period for conference and collegiate athletics.”

Oregon State and Washington State will play six Mountain West teams this season per their schedules. The initial deal extension deadline of September 1st passed.

The Pac-12 agreed to pay millions if it took Mountain West universities.

Oregon and Washington should be able to afford the remaining fees. The institutions have $250 million in assets from the two remaining years of the College Football Playoff agreement, a Rose Bowl contract that expires after 2025, recent NCAA men’s basketball tournament revenue, and Pac-12 Network assets, despite their public denials.

For the current and future academic year, Oregon State and Washington State will be West Coast Conference affiliates for men’s and women’s basketball and other Olympic sports.

Leading the pack

Unless invited by a large conference, Oregon State and Washington State authorities have prioritised Pac-12 maintenance since the breakup.

While the Pac-12 is unlikely to ever again be considered a significant conference like the Big Ten, Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, and Big 12, it is trying to shine, especially in football.

The most notable addition is Boise State, which has had the greatest and most stable football program outside the majors for almost 20 years. Since joining the WAC in 2002, the Broncos have had 16 seasons with 10+ wins.

What a great day to be a Bronco! Boise State sports director Jeramiah Dickey said.

Boise State is finally advancing, but its Conference of Champions roots are barely visible in the Pac-12 it joins.

Three difficult years of conference realignment in collegiate athletics, which began this year and brought the super conference era, ended with the Pac-12’s dissolution.

There are 18 Big Ten coast-to-coast universities. Stanford and California, former Pac-12 teams, are among 17 ACC football teams. Both Big 12 and SEC have 16 schools.

Instead of joining the 12-member Mountain West, the Pac-12 may create a smaller conference.

Keep back

Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, Utah State, New Mexico, Wyoming, San Jose State, Hawaii as a football-only member, and an unclear future will be the Mountain West’s last members.

Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said the MWC board of directors met late Wednesday to discuss future steps.

If they quit, “all members will be held to conference bylaws and policies,” she said. If the Pac-12 admits Mountain West members, the scheduling agreement will apply.

SOURCE: AP