Four NCAA College Football Teams Are Headed To A New Conference
The landscape of college football has changed drastically over the last few years. Playoff expansion, NIL, in-helmet communication, and new clock rules have been major changes, but none may be bigger than conference realignment.
Pac-12 Resurgence
The Power Five conferences, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Pac-12, look a lot different this year. Teams all around the country left their conference to join others, such as Oregon and USC moving to the BIG Ten or Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC. Through all the movement, one conference was left in the dust: The Pac-12.
After losing 10 teams the “Pac-12” entered the season consisting of just Oregon State and Washington State. The NCAA gave the conference a two-year grace period to either find a new home or expand the conference to the required eight-team minimum.
It seemed like the “Conference of Champions” was truly in the rearview mirror. That is until the commissioner of the Pac-12, Teresa Gould, announced the addition of four teams to keep the legacy alive.
“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.”
Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State all come over from the Mountain West Conference. The transition will be completed in 2026, expanding the conference to six teams.
Oregon State and Washington State’s Presidents welcomed the new schools with open arms.
“We are honored to welcome the distinguished leadership of Boise State University President Dr. Marlene Tromp, Colorado State University President Amy Parsons, California State University, Fresno President Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, and San Diego State University President Dr. Adela de la Torre.”
The move comes at a cost. All four teams leaving the Mountain West are required to pay approximately $18 million to the conference for their departure. The Pac-12 will also have to pay the Mountain West roughly $40 million for ripping four members away from them. If the Pac-12 is willing to pay the departure fee of each school they will be spending around $113 million.
The Pac-12 has the money to do so. They have $250 million in funds obtained from the 10 former members who left for other conferences this season.
Despite the money and the acquisition of four teams, the conference isn’t out of the woods yet. They still need two more teams to join to meet the eight-team requirement. The conference could target more schools in the Mountain West or elect to poach teams from other places.
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