Is Fresno State to Pac-12 happening? Closer look at latest conference realignment move

Speculation about Fresno State to Pac-12 picked up pace on Thursday to finally fill up the quota of the decimated conference. Only two members, Oregon State and Washington State, did not join the mass exodus to more lucrative conferences.

On Thursday, the Fresno State to Pac-12 speculation was finally confirmed by the conference's Commissioner Teresa Gould in a statement she released.

The statement confirmed that Boise State, Colorado State and the highly-marketable San Diego State would be the other three members also joining up.

The move for the four programs was approved in a unanimous vote by the Pac-12 board of directors.

"For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics," Teresa Gould's statement said. "We will continue to pursue bold cutting-edge opportunities for growth and progress, to best serve our member institutions and student-athletes.

"I am thankful to our board for their efforts to welcome Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno and San Diego State University to the conference. An exciting new era for the Pac-12 Conference begins today."

Fresno State to Pac-12 has steep conditions

The Fresno State Bulldogs' move to the purged Pac-12 will not come cheap. The Mountain West regulations state that any program that wishes to exit the conference will have to pay an exit fee of $18 million, alongside a two-year notification.

According to ESPN, Pac-12 will assist the four programs with their exit fees from the Mountain West. The conference is flush with cash from the withheld media rights deal money from schools that left the conference.

Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez released a statement addressing the move by the four programs to the rival conference.

"The Mountain West Conference is aware of media reports regarding the potential departure of several of our members, and we will have more to say in the days ahead," Nevarez said. "All members will be held to the Conference bylaws and policies should they elect to depart.

"The requirements of the scheduling agreement will apply to the Pac-12 should they admit Mountain West members. Our Board of Directors is meeting to determine our next steps. The Mountain West has a proud 25-year history and will continue to thrive in the years ahead."

The Fresno State to Pac-12 move will happen in the 2026-2027 academic year. The now six-member conference will decide on further conference realignment and expansion moves to reach the eight-school minimum required by the NCAA.