Four more schools plan to join Washington State University and Oregon State University in a rebuilt Pac-12 athletic conference, starting in the 2026-27 season. Why it matters: OSU and WSU became the last two schools standing in the Pac-12 earlier this year — a tenuous situation that threatened their athletics revenue and ability to pay for programs like women's sports.

The Pac-12′s board of directors unanimously voted to accept the four current Mountain West schools into its conference. The official joining date is July 1, 2026. The Pac-12 must add at least two more schools before July 2026 to reach the NCAA minimum of eight to be considered a FBS conference.

The Pac-12 is poaching four Mountain West schools to stand alongside Oregon State and Washington State in an effort to preserve the league. Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Fresno State applied for Pac-12 membership and all have been accepted,