• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Pac-12 Announces Addition of Utah State in 2026

  • Utah State is the fifth Mountain West school set to join the Pac-12 in 2026.
  • The news comes on the same day the Pac-12 filed a lawsuit against the Mountain West.
Sep 14, 2024; Logan, Utah, USA; Utah State Aggies interim head coach Nate Dreiling leads his team out onto the field before playing against the Utah Utes at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

On Tuesday evening, the Pac-12 announced it will add Utah State in 2026. It’s the fifth current Mountain West Conference member to commit to joining the Pac-12 in 2026, following Boise State, SDSU, Colorado State, and Fresno State.

The announcement came a few hours after the move was confirmed in court documents related to a new lawsuit the Pac-12 has filed against the Mountain West.

The Pac-12 now only needs one more FBS-playing member to meet the NCAA’s eight-school minimum, as well as that of the College Football Playoff.

Realignment negotiations for the now-rivals of the Pac-12 and Mountain West heated up Monday, when four AAC schools announced they will stay put. Throughout the day Monday, Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez was working to get existing members to sign a written commitment to stay in the conference, which included financial incentives, a source confirmed to Front Office Sports. At least four schools signed before news trickled out that Utah State didn’t sign the agreement—and now, the status of the written agreement is up in the air.

The next salvo from the Pac-12 came Tuesday in the form of a lawsuit against the Mountain West over a portion of a football scheduling agreement between the two conferences that allows Oregon State and Washington State to be slotted into Mountain West conference play. The agreement includes a stipulation requiring that the Pac-12 pay tens of millions in damage fees if it poaches Mountain West programs.

Now that the conference has taken five Mountain West members, it owes $55 million, according to a copy of the agreement previously obtained by FOS. (The Mountain West would also receive around $17 million per school in exit fees.)

The Pac-12 argued that the damage fees were a violation of antitrust law, and characterized them as “draconian.”

The Mountain West defended the agreement in a statement, saying: “The Pac-12 has taken advantage of our willingness to help them and enter into a scheduling agreement with full acknowledgment and legal understanding of their obligations. Now that they have carried out their plan to recruit certain Mountain West schools, they want to walk back what they legally agreed to. There has to be a consequence to these types of actions.”

Going forward, the Pac-12 still needs one more full FBS member—and is likely to get one. While the lawsuit winds through the court system, the Pac-12 will seek to continue its negotiations with potential new members. The aforementioned source told FOS the possible linchpins are UNLV and Air Force. 

It could then look to add FCS or non-football playing-schools schools interested in jumping to the next level. The conference may also continue conversations with Gonzaga, which has not received a formal offer to join the conference but has been in discussions with the Pac-12 as a basketball member, another source told FOS. The Zags do not have a varsity football team.

The Mountain West, meanwhile, needs one more FBS-playing member to keep itself together. The conference has received interest from several schools in both the FBS and FCS classifications, the first source said. It probably also needs to prevail in litigation, so that it receives the financial penalties that are being offered.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBC Made Its NBA Return Feel Big

From the nostalgia to Jordan getting personal, NBC hit the right chords.

The NBA’s $77B Future Starts Tonight 

Seven 2025 NBA All-Stars will miss the start of the season.
Keegan Murray

$20 Million Per Year Becoming New Baseline for NBA Role Players

Christian Braun signed a five-year deal worth $125 million.

TNT Sports Parent WBD Is for Sale As Comcast, Netflix, Paramount Circle

The TNT Sports parent said it has received interest from “multiple parties.”

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
BYU

BYU Lost Its Star QB This Summer. Now It’s One of the..

The Cougars are thriving with a true freshman at quarterback.
October 19, 2025

Beyond Ohio State, It’s Another Massive Shake-Up in the CFB Top 25

Nine of the top 10 teams changed positions in Week 9.
Indiana
October 20, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Sports World—Again

After successful NBA and WNBA seasons, Indiana’s football teams are thriving.
Sponsored

Michelle Wie West: Women’s Sports Doesn’t Need Charity

The LPGA legend on redefining women’s sports and the future of golf.
October 19, 2025

Florida, Colorado State Firings Push CFB Buyouts Past $100M

Nine FBS head coaches have been fired since the season started.
Sep 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline during the first quarter against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium.
October 17, 2025

Belichick’s UNC Saga Now Includes GM Trip to Saudi Arabia

UNC GM Michael Lombardi traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Cignetti
October 17, 2025

Curt Cignetti Lands Third Contract in Just 19 Games With Indiana

Cignetti signed a new contract five days after Indiana upset Oregon.
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Semaj Morgan (0) makes a catch for a first down in the first half against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
October 16, 2025

Michigan Board Publicly Opposes Big Ten Investment Proposal

“The Big Ten does not need to be sold to save college sports.”