What Happened to Pac-12 Conference?
The Pac-12 Conference, once a prominent Power Five athletic conference, experienced a dramatic near-collapse between 2022 and 2024 due to a failed media rights deal and subsequent exodus of ten member institutions. Reduced to just two schools, Oregon State and Washington State, the conference fought to retain its assets and has since orchestrated a remarkable rebuilding effort, officially re-launching in 2026 with nine full member institutions and new media partnerships.
Quick Answer
The Pac-12 Conference, after losing ten of its twelve members between 2022 and 2024 due to an inability to secure a competitive media rights deal, was on the brink of extinction. Reduced to Oregon State and Washington State, the remaining schools successfully secured control of the conference's assets and intellectual property. As of 2026, the Pac-12 has officially re-launched with nine full member institutions, including additions from the Mountain West and Sun Belt conferences, and new media deals, marking a significant comeback for the historic league.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
USC and UCLA Announce Departure for Big Ten
The University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) announce their intention to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference, effective August 2, 2024, marking the first major crack in the conference's stability.
Pac-12 Media Rights Deal Stalls
Reports indicate significant difficulties in the Pac-12 securing a new media rights deal, with ESPN and Fox reportedly unwilling to meet the conference's financial demands, leaving the Pac-12 as the only Power conference without a deal past 2024.
Oregon and Washington Announce Big Ten Move
Oregon and Washington announce their departure from the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten, further destabilizing the conference.
Arizona, Arizona State, Utah Join Big 12
Following Oregon and Washington's departure, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah announce their move to the Big 12 Conference, reducing the Pac-12 to a mere four members.
Stanford and Cal Depart for ACC
Stanford and Cal announce their decision to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), leaving Oregon State and Washington State as the only remaining full members of the Pac-12.
Oregon State and Washington State Begin Rebuild Efforts
With only two members remaining, Oregon State and Washington State begin actively working to rebuild the conference, needing a minimum of eight teams by summer 2026 to meet NCAA requirements for FBS status.
First New Members Announced
The Pac-12 announces the addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State as new full members, effective July 1, 2026, signaling the start of the conference's rebuilding phase.
Utah State Joins the Pac-12
Utah State accepts an invitation to join the Pac-12, becoming the conference's seventh full member.
Pac-12 Operates as 'Pac-2'
The conference officially begins operating with only Oregon State and Washington State as full members, relying on scheduling agreements for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.
2026 Football Schedule Announced
The Pac-12 announces its 2026 football schedule, featuring its eight football-playing members (Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State) and new media partners CBS Sports, USA Network, and The CW.
Projected Revenue Distributions Revealed
New projections indicate that the rebuilt Pac-12 expects to distribute approximately $13.2 million annually per full-share school, a significant increase for incoming Group of Five members.
New Pac-12 Officially Launches with Nine Members
Seven new full-time member institutions – Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State, and Utah State – officially join Oregon State and Washington State, marking the official re-launch of the Pac-12 Conference with nine full members.
Settlement Reached with Mountain West
The Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences announce a final settlement in their legal dispute concerning 'poaching' and exit fees related to the schools that left the Mountain West to join the Pac-12. Terms of the settlement are not disclosed.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The decline of the Pac-12 Conference, often dubbed the 'Conference of Champions,' was a multi-faceted event primarily rooted in its failure to adapt to the evolving landscape of collegiate sports media rights. The critical juncture arrived in 2022 when USC and UCLA announced their departure for the Big Ten, effective 2024. This move initiated a domino effect, exacerbated by the Pac-12's inability to secure a lucrative media rights deal that could compete with offers from other Power Five conferences. Reports indicate that Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff rejected an initial ESPN offer of approximately $30 million per school in 2022, seeking closer to $50 million, a miscalculation that proved fatal as ESPN walked away.
Throughout 2023, the situation worsened. The Big 12 secured an extension with Fox and ESPN, further isolating the Pac-12. By August 2023, a mass exodus began: Oregon and Washington joined the Big Ten, while Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah moved to the Big 12. Stanford and Cal eventually found a home in the ACC by September 2023. This left the Pac-12 with only two remaining full members, Oregon State and Washington State, leading many to declare the conference effectively dead.
Oregon State and Washington State, however, refused to let the century-old conference dissolve. They initiated legal action to retain control of the Pac-12's intellectual property rights and assets, including the Pac-12 Networks production facility. This legal battle was crucial for their survival, ultimately granting them control and a significant 'war chest' from departing schools' exit fees. During the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years, the conference operated with just these two full members, relying on scheduling agreements with other conferences, notably the Mountain West, to fill out their athletic schedules.
The turning point for the Pac-12's resurrection came in late 2024 and early 2025. To meet NCAA requirements for FBS conference status (a minimum of eight teams), Oregon State and Washington State began actively recruiting new members. In September 2024, the conference announced the addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, effective July 1, 2026. Utah State joined shortly after, followed by Texas State and Gonzaga (non-football). This expansion brought the conference to nine full members for the 2026-27 academic year, with eight football-playing institutions.
As of August 2026, the Pac-12 has officially re-launched with its new composition. A legal dispute with the Mountain West Conference over 'poaching' and exit fees for the departing schools was settled in early August 2026, with terms undisclosed but resolving a significant hurdle for the new era. The revitalized Pac-12 has secured new media partnerships with CBS, USA Network, and The CW, with projections suggesting annual distributions of approximately $13.2 million per full-share school, a substantial increase for the incoming Group of Five schools. While no longer considered a 'Power Four' conference in the new College Football Playoff revenue distribution system, the Pac-12 maintains FBS status and access to automatic bids for NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments. The 2026 football season is set to begin on September 4, 2026, marking the official return of the 'new' Pac-12.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Pac-12 Conference made different choices?