It's official: Colorado State (CSU) is joining the Pac-12. The announcement was made on Thursday morning.
"We are taking control of our future at CSU by forming an alliance of six peer institutions who will serve as the foundation for a new era of the Pac-12," CSU president Amy Parsons said in a news release. "This move elevates CSU in a way which benefits all our students, bolsters our core mission, and strengthens our reputation for academic and research excellence. CSU is honored to be among the universities asked to help carry on the history and tradition of the Pac-12 as a highly competitive conference with some of the nation’s leading research institutions."
The league announced Thursday morning that CSU isn't the only one leaving the Mountain West—Boise State, Fresno State, and San Diego State will also join the Pac-12. They will begin as full Pac-12 members starting July 1, 2026.
CSU will remain in the Mountain West for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year and the 2025-26 school year. All CSU sports will move to the Pac-12.
"Pac-12 football is back in Colorado!" said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. "Colorado is known for our outstanding athletic achievements and talented student-athletes, and I am thrilled to celebrate our student athletes at Colorado State University who are bringing Colorado’s world-class academic and athletic success to the Pac-12 Conference."
Good morning! It's a beautiful new day 😎#BackThePac pic.twitter.com/jfIU1Gk22u
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) September 12, 2024
Of course, the Pac-12 currently only consists of two teams. Oregon State and Washington State were left behind as the rest of the league recently left for other Power 4 conferences.
Mountain West schools leaving would owe a $17 million exit fee, plus other penalties imposed as part of the scheduling agreement with Oregon State and Washington State. Those two remaining Pac-12 schools have funds from penalties from the other schools leaving, which could potentially be used to help offset fees for Mountain West schools to join.
CSU is a founding member of the Mountain West.
