Oregon State and Washington State took the first steps towards rebuilding the Pac-12 last summer. The two schools, left behind by their former conference-mates who fled to the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12, moved to add Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State in July. Utah State and basketball power Gonzaga joined in September, with the Bulldogs joining as a non-football full member for all sports.
While adding Gonzaga was a coup for the league's basketball hopes, the Pac-12 still needs to add an eighth football school to preserve FBS status when its new members join in 2026. The league has bided its time in doing so, but one fast-rising program has emerged as a "heavy favorite" to fill the spot according to ESPN's Pete Thamel and Kyle Bonagura: Texas State.
