Pac-12 Expands with Mountain West Schools

The Pac-12 Conference is actively expanding, having successfully recruited Utah State University, which becomes the seventh member of the newly formed conference. This move follows the rejection of the Pac-12's overtures by several American Athletic Conference (AAC) schools, including Memphis, Tulane, UTSA, and USF. The Pac-12 had previously secured commitments from Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Fresno State, all set to join by July 2026. Meanwhile, Mountain West Conference (MWC) schools such as Air Force have opted to stay, with financial incentives provided by the MWC, while UNLV remains in discussions with the Pac-12. The conference continues to explore further expansion, including ongoing talks with basketball powerhouse Gonzaga. The Pac-12 needs to meet the NCAA requirement of eight full members by 2026 to remain a recognized conference.