Sep 12, 2024 - Sports

WSU and OSU vote to add 4 schools to the Pac-12

The Pac-12 logo is shown on a basketball court in March. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

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 latest: OSU and WSU voted to bring San Diego State, Colorado State, Fresno State and Boise State into the Pac-12, ushering in "a new era" for the league, the conference said in a Thursday news release.

The four universities joining are all from the Mountain West conference, leaving that league's future uncertain.

Catch up quick: The Pac-12 was gutted heading into this season after the University of Washington and the University of Oregon left for the Big Ten; Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah headed to the Big 12; and California and Stanford moved to the ACC.

The intrigue: Oregon State and Washington State are on the hook for $43 million in "poaching fees" to the Mountain West, the Union-Tribune reported.

Each departing school is expected to owe the Mountain West millions in exit fees, too.
OSU and WSU "should be able to afford it," the AP reported, having a warchest consisting of tens of millions of dollars — including from a $65 million settlement reached with the Pac-12's 10 recently departed schools.

What's next: The Pac-12 will now search for at least two additional schools to reach the NCAA's eight-school minimum for a conference.

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WSU and OSU vote to add 4 schools to the Pac-12

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