The Pac-12 Conference officially launched on July 1, 2026, welcoming seven new full-time member institutions: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State, and Utah State. With these additions, the new conference features nine full-time members set to compete in the upcoming 2026-27 season.
New Affiliate Member Additions
The league also announced the addition of 12 new affiliate members across five Olympic sports, including baseball, men's soccer, women's gymnastics, women's swimming, and wrestling.
Basketball Tournaments Returning to Las Vegas
The conference announced that its men's and women's basketball tournaments will return to Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. This move is in partnership with MGM Resorts and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Tournament Format and Schedule Details
Scheduled to begin on March 9, 2027, the tournaments will feature all nine conference teams. The format includes a play-in game for the lowest two seeds, with the top two seeds receiving a double-bye into the semifinals.
Commissioner Comments on Conference Strength
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould stated that bringing the basketball tournaments back to Las Vegas is a testament to the strength of the conference brands and noted that the new formats will bring exciting new energy to the event.
Upcoming Championship Sports Schedule
The 2026-27 athletic season will include championship competition in 18 of 19 sponsored sports. Notable upcoming championships include football on December 4, baseball at Oregon State from May 27-30, and women's gymnastics at Oregon State on March 20.
New Media and Broadcasting Partnerships
Media partnerships for the conference will include CBS Sports, USA Sports, and CW Sports. These partners will provide coverage for the entirety of the football slate, as well as a significant portion of regular season men's and women's basketball games.
To promote the upcoming football season, the league debuted a special edition series titled The Dawn. Produced in partnership with Y-Option, the 10-episode series features discussions with eight head football coaches and Commissioner Teresa Gould. The series is available on the Pac-12's YouTube channel and the Pac-12 Insider channel.
