The Pac-12 is back in 2026, and college football is better off for it. This is not your older sibling’s Pac-12 conference, and it’s definitely not the Pacific-10 of your parents or grandparents era either.
The conference has been on a long journey to get back to this point. Nearly a complete overhaul of members, multiple rounds of litigation, and some creative scheduling maneuvers to fill out a conference slate of games, but the season has finally arrived. And the Pac-12 has no time to catch its breath. In fact, the road will get even tougher.
That is not meant to discredit all the behind-the-scenes work that has been accomplished by university Presidents, athletic directors, and countless other staff over the past few years to get to this point. Rather, it’s meant to indicate that all of that hard work will be for naught if the eight teams can’t take care of business on the field.
For the Pac-12 Conference, the hard work has to pay off. The conference rebuild was both contested and expensive. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good move, but it is one that will need to pay dividends sooner rather than later. The teams, especially those that left the Mountain West, need to do well in order to justify the move to those who thought a merger would have been better. The sooner the conference can play well, the sooner it can recoup the money schools spent leaving their former conferences and paying legal fees. Hitting the ground running this fall may not be vital, but it is imperative.
Each of the “State Eight” teams needs to carry their share of the responsibility, even though not every team can win 10+ games. The top teams have to be among the top team(s) in the Group of 6. The Pac-12 doesn’t need to earn a College Football Playoff bid in 2026, but it’s highly encouraged. And they should be in the running at the end of the season. However, it’s not just about the top of the conference. At least five teams, preferably six, should make bowl games at the conclusion of the season. 2026 isn’t the year to have a misfire and only send three or four teams to bowl season. Additionally, someone has to be at the bottom of the conference, but they can’t be an anchor. The worst team or two has to avoid an embarrassing season of three or fewer losses. Much of that will depend on having a solid non-conference showing to get some early wins before conference play.
Here is some of the work each Pac-12 team needs to work on this season to help the conference succeed:
Boise State has to set the standard for the conference. It’s difficult to say they have to make the College Football Playoff this year, but it would go a long way. But they need to be Boise State: a team that draws in viewers with name-brand players, piles up yards, and wins a big game or two, especially outside the conference.
Fresno State and San Diego State took big steps forward in 2025 to get back to respectability. Can they take another step (or two) this season? Much of that progress will have to be on offense. Both the Aztecs and Bulldogs featured deep running back rooms, but things left a lot to be desired with the passing game. Quarterback development is vital if both teams want to reach the Pac-12 conference championship game in this relaunch season.
Texas State may be the outlier as the furthest school geographically and the only school not coming from the old Pac-12 or previous version of the Mountain West. In addition to proving they can fit in with the rest of the conference, the Bobcats also need to develop a defense to match their high-powered offense. And an offensive line that can keep their star quarterback on his feet wouldn’t hurt either. Arguably the most divisive team in 2026, the Bobcats could finish near the top or the bottom of the standings.
Washington State is a good bet to have a strong season, and a legacy Pac-12 school rising from the ashes with the rest of the conference would be a great storyline for the 2026 season. New coach Kirby Moore and his staff have ties to some of the other teams in the conference, which will help to build some fun rivalries. The Cougars should be one of the better teams in the Pac-12, and it’s a given that they will be well-coached.
Utah State is on the rise, but it is unclear how much they can improve this season. They have the right coaching staff and some core talent, but consistency will be the key for this team. That, and how strong the quarterback play ends up being, will say a lot about the Aggies, who should have a stronger defense than last year. Don’t count them out, but don’t make any predictions in pen either.
Unfortunately, Colorado State and Oregon State both face uphill battles this season. They also have new coaches, but the roster turnover may be too much for the first season. From a Pac-12 standpoint, a reasonable goal for these two programs is to keep the wheels from falling completely off. A trying season is to be expected. A disastrous season needs to be avoided at all costs. In order for the league to prove they are better than the Mountain West from top to bottom, the Rams and Beavers (or whoever finishes last) need to be as good as possible, as the assumed bottom of the conference.
The eight Pac-12 teams have their work cut out for them this season. Someone will win the conference championship, and at least a few teams will reach bowl games. Hopefully, there will be a P4 upset or two along the way. Collectively, the conference needs to be both good and entertaining to keep from becoming “just another mid-major conference.” The hard work has been done; now the hard work begins.