Utah State University is expected to join the Pac-12 Conference, according to multiple reports.
Days after the conference poached four Mountain West schools, USU received its invitation, ESPN and Yahoo! Sports both reported Monday afternoon.
The Aggies would join Washington State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State and Fresno State in the rebuilt conference.
The Pac-12 had reportedly been interested in expanding east, targeting Memphis and Tulane, among others. But after those schools announced they would be staying in the American Athletic Conference, the Pac-12 appears to have turned its focus back to the west.
“College athletics is in a nearly permanent state of change at this moment. Utah State University will always be aggressive in determining our athletics future, with understanding and examination of all options that meet our mission and our values,” a university spokesperson said in a statement after the first four Mountain West schools defected. “We are particularly focused on providing our student-athletes with the best opportunities to compete at the highest levels. We are enormously proud of our athletics tradition and those who support us and are committed to the long-term success of our programs. We understand that change is in front of us, and we are approaching those inflection points with determination and commitment.”
Boise, San Diego, CSU and Fresno will join the conference on July 1, 2026.
No timeline has been announced for Utah State’s expected move.
Earlier this year, USU President Elizabeth Cantwell said she’d be aggressive in positioning the Aggies for long-term athletic success.
“I have run the numbers, and trained in the Pac-12 system,” she told The Salt Lake Tribune in February. “And what happens if you have not just winning teams, but if you have a really well-viewed D-I set of athletics, what it does for everyone else is incredible.
“I would leave if I lost that for USU.”
Whether that meant conference realignment or sharing, she was committed to USU not getting left behind in the new world order of college athletics.
New athletic director Diana Sabua — who was hired away from Ohio State to boost USU’s standing — also doubled down on football investments since she arrived.
Whereas some Group of Five teams have opted to go all-in on basketball — where the playing field is more even — Sabau said she was not willing to give up on football relevance.
“If we don’t do our due diligence in athletics, then we’re going to let the community down and I’m going to let the institution down. We have to be at a price point,” the AD said.
Football revenue, more than any other sport, has been the driver of conference realignment.
Other schools have reportedly been in discussions to join the Pac-12. Gonzaga, the basketball powerhouse from the WCC, was in talks with the conference, according to multiple reports. But a deal is not yet in place, NBC Sports reported.
ESPN reported that Mountain West schools UNLV and Air Force had committed to sticking with the conference, despite interest from the Pac-12 and others.
