PAC is BACK: The Pac-12 has officially added four teams, saving the conference from extinction

Tell a friend to tell a friend – the Pac-12 is back, baby!

Late Wednesday night on the West Coast (or early Thursday, depending on where you were), the Pac-12 pulled itself back from the brink of extinction. After facing a mass exodus, the conference announced it would be adding four new teams to keep the ship afloat.

After Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA led a stampede of schools leaving for greener pastures, the Pac-12 was left in shambles. But now, with Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State set to join Oregon State and Washington State, there’s some hope for the future. This new lineup will officially take shape in the 2026-27 academic year.

The Pac-12 was knocking on the door of the Big East (football) and Big West – those “used to be” conferences – but instead of folding, they’ve managed to stick around. No, the new recruits don’t exactly replace the heavyweights that left, like USC, Oregon, Washington, and Utah (or the rest of the departing gang: UCLA, Colorado, Stanford, Arizona, Arizona State, and Cal), but it’s a step in the right direction.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Kyle Bonagura reported that the exact number of teams to fill out this new Pac-12 is still up in the air. But for now, these six schools will be leading the charge as they search for more members to join the rebuild.

At the end of the day, it’s football that moves the needle in these conference realignments, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. So while there’s still work to do, the Pac-12 is showing signs of life – and that’s something.

Let’s look at the new Pac-12

Good morning! It's a beautiful new day 😎#BackThePac pic.twitter.com/jfIU1Gk22u

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) September 12, 2024

Boise State Broncos

Of the four new teams joining the Pac-12, Boise State Broncos might just be the most well-known football program. Established in 1996, the Broncos have proven to be powerhouse…in the Mountain West Conference, racking up an impressive 273-85 all-time record.

And yes, they’ll be bringing that iconic blue turf with them to the new Pac-12, along with a solid 13-8 bowl game record.

As mentioned, the Broncos called the Mountain West Conference home, after stints in the Western Athletic Conference and Big West Conference. Their highest all-time ranking? That came back in 2010 when they hit No. 2 in the AP poll during weeks 7, 8, and 9. They even made noise in the College Football Playoff Poll, landing at No. 13 in the 2016 season’s first rankings.

Boise State’s success has churned out some serious NFL talent over the years. Names like Quinten Mikell, DeMarcus Lawrence, Jay Ajayi, and Doug Martin all got their start with the Broncos. Oh, and don’t forget Kellen Moore, current OC of the Philadelphia Eagles, who also happens to be a Boise State alum.

Colorado State Rams 

The Colorado State Rams have been in the game since 1902 and have bounced around a few conferences over the years. These days, they call the Mountain West home, but they’ve also spent time in the Western Athletic and Skyline conferences. Their all-time record stands at 533-592-31, with a 6-11 mark in bowl games.

The Rams haven’t cracked the AP Top 25 since 2014, when they reached No. 22 in week 14 of that season. And if you’re looking for a memorable recent moment, you can’t forget their thriller against Coach Prime’s Colorado squad last season, where they took it down to double overtime before just missing the upset.

While Colorado State might not have a huge NFL alumni list, they’ve produced some solid names like Joey Porter Sr., Trey McBride, and Michael Gallup.

Fresno State Bulldogs

The Fresno State Bulldogs may not have the longest football history, but they’ve made a name for themselves as the alma mater of NFL stars like Davante Adams and Derek Carr. Since their start in 1969, the Bulldogs have posted a respectable 390-271-4 record and hold a 14-12 record in bowl games.

Like their new Pac-12 counterparts, Fresno State most recently competed in the Mountain West Conference, after stints in the WAC and Big West. Their highest AP poll ranking came in 2001, when they climbed all the way to No. 8. They’ve also popped up in the College Football Playoff poll a few times, with their best showing at No. 20 in week 11 of the 2018 season.

San Diego State Aztecs 

The San Diego State Aztecs are an intriguing addition to the Pac-12, but let’s be real—they don’t have a ton of headlines attached to their football program, either currently or historically. Established in 1969, the Aztecs have floated through a few conferences, including the Mountain West (their most recent home), the Western Athletic, Independent, and Big West. Over that time, they’ve built a 363-283-8 all-time record, with a 7-9 mark in bowl games.

Their highest AP Poll ranking takes us way back to 1975 when they hit No. 13 during week 10. They’ve also made appearances in the College Football Playoff Poll, with their best ranking coming in 2021 at No. 19, finishing that season at No. 21.

What really gives the Aztecs some shine is their NFL alumni, most notably Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk. They’ve also produced talent like Rashaad Penny, the late Ronnie Hillman, and Eagles all-time leading rusher Donnel Pumphrey. San Diego State might not have a storied past, but they’ve got some serious potential as they join the Pac-12.

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