Wed Sep 25 02:22:43 UTC 2024: ## Pac-12 Adds Utah State, Nearing NCAA Football Eligibility
The Pac-12 Conference has officially added its seventh member, Utah State University, bringing the conference closer to NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) eligibility. The Aggies will join the conference in all sports starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
Utah State is the fifth Mountain West school to join the Pac-12, following Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, who announced their departures less than two weeks ago.
“Utah State brings invaluable strategic insights and leadership that will greatly benefit our conference and its members as well as a history of competitive excellence and success,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould. “Today marks another exciting step for the Pac-12 – and it’s just the beginning of phase two.”
This announcement comes on the same day the Pac-12 filed a lawsuit against the Mountain West, seeking declaratory relief regarding potential penalty payments for acquiring Mountain West schools. The lawsuit stems from a scheduling agreement between the two conferences, which includes hefty withdrawal fees if the Pac-12 poached Mountain West teams.
With seven members, the Pac-12 is now just one school shy of meeting the NCAA’s eight-school minimum for FBS eligibility. The conference is operating under a two-year grace period, allowing them time to secure additional members before the deadline in July 2026.
The Mountain West, meanwhile, is also left with seven members following Utah State’s departure and will likely need to expand to maintain NCAA compliance.
The Pac-12 is currently exploring other potential members, having previously shown interest in American Athletic Conference schools Memphis, South Florida, Tulane, and UTSA. However, those schools recently announced their commitment to the AAC.
The conference will now collaborate with its seven members to determine the next steps for membership and future considerations.
First Piper 