A general view of the stadium during the game between the Boise State Broncos and the Bowling Green Falcons at Bronco Stadium on September 13, 2008 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
New schools joining Pac 12 Puzzling move: Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Fresno State announced they are leaving the Mountain West and joining the semi-defunct Pac 12 in a curious move. Currently, following recent departures by most of their schools, the Pac 12 is just the Pac 2, including Washington State and Oregon State.
When everyone else left, Washington State and Oregon State rushed into an emergency alliance with the Mountain West. However, last week both schools announced they would be on their own beginning with the 2025 season. Now we know why. The Pac 12 is growing again, trying to survive.
JOINING PAC 12 PUZZLING
But why would the Mountain West teams join a dead conference that basically exists in name only? The answer is always money, but the Mountain West and its member schools seemed to have all the leverage because they actually exist as a full functioning conference. Until now the Pac 12 existed in name only, with just two schools.
Speaking of money, here is how this will go down; The new schools will depart the Mountain West and join the Pac-Whatever for the 2026-27 season. The schools will pay an $18 million dollar exit fee. The Pac 12 will help the schools with those fees with media rights distribution fees they saved up when they didn't have to pay their departing schools their distributions. The Pac 12 will also have to pay the Mountain West $43 million dollars in poaching fees which was part of the agreement made when the Mountain West saved Washington State and Oregon State with their brief affiliation deal, which resulted in 6 "conference games" for their 2024 schedules.
New schools joining Pac 12 puzzling move: For more on this story tune in each weekday to Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida from 2-6pm.
