As the landscape of collegiate sports continues to shift, the Pac-12 conference is making moves to revitalize its lineup. Recently, the conference announced the addition of Utah State as its seventh member, with discussions also underway to bring basketball powerhouse Gonzaga on board by 2026. These developments are part of a larger trend of conference realignment that has been sweeping the NCAA in recent years.
The Pac-12’s pursuit of Utah State and potential interest in Gonzaga comes on the heels of a series of strategic maneuvers by several conferences. American Athletic Conference schools had initially been targeted as potential additions to the Pac-12, but ultimately chose to remain in their current conference. As a result, the Pac-12 shifted its focus to Mountain West members like Utah State and UNLV.
While Utah State has reportedly accepted the Pac-12’s invitation, UNLV’s decision remains uncertain as Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez works to keep the conference intact. Air Force and San Jose State have also committed to staying with the Mountain West, highlighting the complex interplay of conference loyalty, financial considerations, and athletic competitiveness that define these discussions.
The potential addition of Gonzaga to the Pac-12 would be a significant milestone for the conference, bringing one of the top men’s basketball programs in the country into the fold. With a storied history of NCAA Tournament success and a strong reputation in women’s basketball as well, Gonzaga would further bolster the Pac-12’s athletic profile.
Financial considerations are also playing a key role in these realignment discussions. The Pac-12’s pitch to American Athletic Conference schools reportedly included projected media-rights distributions of $12-15 million annually per school, along with options to join in football and basketball only to reduce travel costs. Both conferences are eyeing ways to increase their value to potential television partners by expanding into new geographic regions.
As the Pac-12 and its new members navigate the complex landscape of conference realignment, the college sports world awaits further developments with interest. The addition of Utah State and the potential inclusion of Gonzaga signal a new chapter for the conference, one that could have far-reaching implications for collegiate athletics as a whole.
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