Utah State Joins Pac-12 in 2026 Amid Exit Fees and Realignment

Sep 26, 2024, 12:58 PM

Utah State University has officially announced its move to the Pac-12 Conference, set to begin in the 2026-2027 season. The decision comes amid significant realignment in college sports, with the Pac-12 also suing the Mountain West Conference over member schools. Utah State's departure from the Mountain West will cost the university over $17 million in exit fees. The Pac-12 has now snapped up five Mountain West schools. Meanwhile, the Mountain West Conference has secured commitments from seven remaining members, including UNLV and Air Force, who have decided to stay despite offers from the Pac-12. The Mountain West has incentivized these schools with substantial financial bonuses, including a lump sum of $10-14 million to UNLV in 2025 and annual payments of $1.5-1.8 million over six years starting in 2026. Both the Pac-12 and Mountain West are now focused on adding more members to meet the required number of schools for conference stability and eligibility for College Football Playoff (CFP) autobids. The retention agreement includes a 24.5% share for Air Force and UNLV.