Fresno State will join the Pac 12 conference beginning July 2026 along with Boise State, Sand Diego State and Colorado State. This  conference realignment will continue adding teams in order to meet the NCAA minimum team requirement (8 teams) for bowl game qualification. According to The Fresno Bee this has been a long time goal for the bulldogs.  (Updated: Sept. 12)

After a full day of school Theron Myers,‘25, grabs an ice-cold drink, lays back, and kicks his feet up on the center console. As a multisport student-athlete who enjoys football, he appreciates watching it at a college level.

With the ‘24-’25 college football season kicking off, fans nationwide are moving on after the Pac-12 combusts, distributing college teams into new conferences.  On Aug. 2, 2024, 10 of the 12 teams dropped out of the conference leaving Washington State and Oregon State to remain. USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington headed to the Big Ten. Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah moved to the Big 12.

The Pac-12 (Pacific 12 Conference)  is located in the western region of the United States. In 1915 several college-level football teams banded together to create a division to compete with each other. This was called the Pacific Coast Conference, consisting of the University of California Berkeley, University of Washington, University of Oregon, and Oregon State teams. This conference was disbanded in 1959, and old members created the Big Five.  

After countless name changes, the Big Five became the Pac-12, consisting of California Berkley, UCLA, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, USC, and Utah.

In 2023, George Kliavkoff, commissioner of the Pac-12, proposed a deal with Apple TV to secure new media rights. Due to a revenue shortcoming, the deal fell through and left schools in the conference without broadcasting.  

Student athlete and fellow college football connoisseur Nathan Bridges,‘25, shares his thoughts on the ongoing kerfuffle. 

“I’m definitely sad because that was the conference that I watched growing up. I remember all the rivalries during Pac-12 after dark, so many memories it’s sad to see it come to an end”

This season the remaining teams in the Pac-12 are now set to play games in the Mountain West Conference which includes  local team, Fresno State. The Bulldogs are set to play Washington State in the coming season. Fresno Christian endorser and radio announcer for the Fresno State Bulldogs, Paul Loeffler, shares his thoughts on the situation. 

“Fresno State has had some thrilling games in the past against the Cougars including the L.A. Bowl victory at SoFi stadium two years ago,” Loeffler said. “Hosting Washington State gives the Red Wave a chance to sell out Valley Children’s Stadium for a signature win.” 

Blake James, an Oregon Ducks enthusiast, has been a Ducks fan his whole life while growing up in Eugene and describes the situation as heartbreaking, but he looks forward to the upcoming season.

“Ducks have always been a powerhouse. They are a top 10 team, and going to The Big Ten will be a huge test,” James said. “Hopefully, they can show that they belong there.”

On season opening day, The Ducks used a unique strategy to introduce themselves to their new conference friends.

 

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Fresno State plays a home game against Washington State, Oct. 12. Come out and support your local bulldogs as they compete against former Pac-12 powerhouse Washington State.

What’s your favorite college team? Let us know in the comments below.

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