Pac-12 Conference: Nine schools to watch for further expansion plans

Just over a year ago, the ACC voted to add Cal and Stanford in a death blow to the Pac-12. The move left Oregon State and Washington State to fend for themselves after doing everything possible to please their former Pac-12 peers.

On Thursday morning, the conference announced the additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State, swiping four core members away from the Mountain West Conference. With brand recognition and the league’s state-of-the-art studio, closing the Pac-12 to join the Mountain West never added up.

Oregon State and Washington State instead reinvented the Pac-12, adding four programs that join for the 2026-27 academic year. Landing a TV deal should not be a problem, sources tell On3.

“An exciting new era for the Pac-12 Conference begins today,” Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement.

Now the attention shifts to further expansion. Thursday’s news is just Phase One of the Pac-12’s expansion. The league needs to add at least two more schools to reach the NCAA’s minimum to qualify as an FBS conference. The deadline to reach eight schools is July 2026.

A source tells On3 that the Pac-12 could reopen talks about the College Football Playoff’s new TV $7.8 billion contract, which begins in the 2026-27 season. The Mountain West school exit fees sit at $17 million per institution.

All options are on the table. The conference could dip back into the Mountain West or turn its attention to former members Cal and Stanford, who are now in the ACC. Other Group of Five teams could also join.

Who should the Pac-12 target?

So what schools will join to get in the new-look Pac-12 across the eight-team threshold? After talking with sources Thursday morning, On3 is evaluating the conference’s options:

Memphis: The Tigers are a real contender to join the six schools that now consist of the Pac-12. Viewed as one of the top football and basketball programs at the Group of Five level, Memphis would bring a new audience to the league. The financial support is there for the school to compete in a top conference. FedEx committed $25 million over the next five years to Memphis’ NIL efforts in April.

Tulane: Tulane has emerged as one of the top college football programs in the Group of Five in recent years. Plus, the Pac-12 would be able to have access to New Orleans. How the American Athletic Conference reacts to multiple schools being tied to the Pac-12 remains to be seen. Crucial in Memphis and Tulane’s pitch will be opening access to the Central Time zone for the Pac-12.

UTSA: The American Athletic Conference school has become a proven winner in college football. But what else does UTSA bring to the table? Texas. Located in San Antonio, UTSA is 40-15 in college football in the Jeff Traylor era. The Texas market is invaluable when it comes to negotiating television contracts. UTSA is another Central Time zone option.

“You can’t undersell Texas,” a source told On3.

Cal and Stanford: The schools ran for cover in the ACC last summer. But now the conference is in legal disputes with Clemson and Florida State. Will the ACC settle with the schools and open a window for Cal and Stanford to head back to the West Coast? That remains to be seen. But the conference is now on better footing and the appeal is there for Cal and Stanford – they wouldn’t need to fly across the country to play college sports.

Multiple sources have told On3 it’s a logical move for Cal and Stanford to join the Pac-12 if a window opens to leave the ACC.

UNLV: Las Vegas has become the mecca for sporting events in the last few years as sports betting has become legal in 38 states. The Pac-12 previously held its conference championship game at Allegiant Stadium.

Air Force: The service academy opens up another key market for the Pac-12. Denver is the 17th largest TV market in the country. Air Force has been successful in football under Troy Calhoun, cracking the AP Top 25 poll and making 13 bowl appearances.

Wyoming and New Mexico: The Mountain West schools are next in line to land an invite to the expanded conference. What moves the league makes determines if Wyoming and New Mexico land in the conference.