The Pac‑12, long‑standing “Conference of Champions,” has emerged from a four‑year crisis to launch a revitalized league for the 2026 football season. After a mass exodus that saw ten schools depart between 2022 and 2024, the conference was left with only Oregon State and Washington State. Commissioner Teresa Gould described the effort as “literally launching a new league,” noting that the organization has rebuilt the structures that were previously dismantled.

New membership and schedule

On July 1, the Pac‑12 added seven new members: Fresno State, Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Utah State, Gonzaga (basketball‑only) and Texas State. This brings the football roster to the eight schools required for an FBS conference. The season opens with Fresno State traveling to No. 14 Southern California, and Washington State closing the week with its traditional Apple Cup against No. 17 Washington.

Legal and media hurdles cleared

The league faced lawsuits over “poaching” fees and exit‑fee disputes with the Mountain West, all of which were settled earlier this year. Gould also secured new media rights with CBS, USA Network and The CW, guaranteeing linear‑TV coverage for football and most basketball games—ending the era of “Pac‑12 After Dark” streaming.

College Football Playoff outlook

Re‑classified as a Group‑of‑Six conference, the Pac‑12 no longer receives an automatic College Football Playoff bid under the new 12‑team format. To improve its chances, the league plans to schedule flexible “flex” games late in the season to create compelling rematches.

Local excitement

Washington State head coach Kirby Moore, a native of the state, expressed enthusiasm about being part of history, saying, “Very few times do you get to be a part of history and be the first in the Pac‑12 Conference coming back together.” The revived conference aims to restore its historic prestige while providing more televised exposure for its member schools.

Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.