University of Hawaii president releases unexpected statement on latest Pac-12 departures

Conference realignment is affecting everyone in college football. The Pac-12 is down to just four schools, with the Big Ten and Big 12 benefitting from the conference’s demise. Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, and Washington State are effectively left without a home, with questions arising about their program’s futures.

Some have wondered if the Mountain West could be an option, combining with other schools located along the West Coast. One of those is Hawaii, who has been with the MWC since the 2012 football season. University president David Lassner used the Pac-12 as an opportunity to reflect on the Rainbow Warriors’ conference stability, saying they are happy to be Mountain West members.

“The once-mighty Pac-12, a conference many Hawaiʻi fans followed, is now down to four members as of the 2024–25 academic year,” Lassner said.

“For the last several years and today, UH has stood and stands firmly with our partners in very stable conferences. This is completely unlike the prevailing conditions that resulted in prior realignments in both 1999 and 2010, when UH was caught on the outside of leadership of a WAC conference under significant stresses.”

As for what the future holds, Lassner said he currently does not have any comment on the Mountain West potentially adding some or all of the four schools. If there needs to be any kind of movement, Lassner is confident his fellow conference members will have discussions on the ideas.

“I can have no specific comment on the directions that will be taken by the remaining members of what is now the ‘Pac-4.’ Those institutions face difficult options and decisions,” Lassner said. “And any acceptance into our conference would require the support of the Mountain West board, not just UH.

“My board colleagues and I are in regular communication with our highly capable Conference Commissioner and are excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Ironically, Hawaii does have two Pac-12 teams on their 2023 schedule. Stanford will be making the journey across the Pacific Ocean, coming to play the Rainbow Warriors on the island. And then the soon-to-be Big Ten-affiliated Oregon Ducks will be a road game on Sept. 16.

Stanford is on the future schedule as well in 2025, 2025, and 2030. But who knows? Maybe the two programs will be conference mates by the time those games are meant to be played. Lassner said there may be opportunities in the future in the Mountain West Conference. It certainly would be program-saving for some.