Two years after the best of the West left it for dead, the Pac-12 has risen from the ashes.

UCLA and USC was the first wave to exit. Then came Oregon and Washington and, later, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah, leaving Oregon State and Washington State behind to fend for themselves in the cutthroat world that has become college athletics in the 2020s, where realignments and media rights money have widened the gap between the haves and have-nots.

The Beavers and Cougars bided their time in Corvallis and Pullman, respectively, winning some money in the process and putting the pieces together for a league that doesn’t look nearly as formidable as it did two years ago but still with a good chance to stand above the rest of the Group of Six.

That vision officially comes together Wednesday, when seven new universities, including Colorado State, join OSU and Wazzu in the new-look Pac-12. Let’s meet all nine schools:

Boise State

Where: Boise, Idaho

Enrollment: 18,729 undergrad

Football stadium: Albertsons Stadium (38,000 capacity)

Basketball arena: ExtraMile Arena (12,644)

The Rams play … the Broncos on Nov. 7 in Fort Collins 

CSU football’s all-time record against: 1-13 (most recent game: a 49-21 win for the Broncos last November in Boise)

How many Division I sports: 18 (seven men’s and 11 women’s)

Total national championships: 1 (Football, 1980, Division I-AA)

Famous for: Football. Since moving up to the FBS ranks in the late 1990s, the Broncos have been one of the best nonpower conference programs in the country. Boise is near the top of the all-time leaderboard in winning percentage among all programs, ranking behind only Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame and Michigan at the start of last season. This is the premier football program in the revamped Pac-12. 

Under-the-radar program: Track and field. While Boise only has one team national championship, the men’s and women’s track teams have nine individual NCAA titles with Allie Ostrander most recently winning back-to-back steeplechase championships in 2017-18. 

Must-see: Go for a bike ride or a walk along the Boise River, or rent a raft or a tube if you have to be there in the summer. The city is also home to the largest Basque community outside of Spain and has a block dedicated to the region’s rich culture with a museum, restaurants and more shops.

Grab a bite: Speaking of the Basque Market, get the paella while it’s available, but Boise has plenty more international flavor with the empanadas at Tangos and eastern African cuisine at Kibrom’s. 

Colorado State

Where: Fort Collins

Enrollment: 26,839

Football stadium: Canvas Stadium (41,000 SRO)

Basketball arena: Moby Arena (8,083)

How many Division I sports: 16 (six men’s, 10 women’s)

Total national championships: 0 team titles

Famous for: Women’s volleyball. Tom Hilbert built a powerhouse program over the course of 26 years, reaching the NCAA Tournament in every season from 1997-2019 with eight straight Mountain West regular-season championships (2009-16) in that span.

Under-the-radar program: Men’s basketball. After a solid run of four NCAA Tournament appearances under Jim Williams in the 1960s, the Rams really found their stride this decade under Niko Medved, reaching March Madness in three out of four seasons from 2022-25, including victories in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments (2024-25) for the first time in program history. Four former Rams players appeared in NBA games last season, a first for the program since the ABA merger.

Must-see: Enjoy a gorgeous day at Horsetooth Reservoir, bike through Old Town or spend a Saturday with friends at New Belgium Brewing Co.

Grab a bite: There are so many great eats in Old Town, but a personal favorite a little farther south on College Avenue is The Colorado Room. Get the poutine. 

Fresno State

Where: Fresno, Calif. 

Enrollment: 21,852

Football stadium: Valley Children’s Stadium (40,727)

Basketball arena: Save Mart Center (15,596)

The Rams play … the Bulldogs on Nov. 21 in Fresno

CSU football’s all-time record against: 11-8 (most recent game: a surprise 49-21 win by the Rams last fall, the final of two wins in 2025)

How many Division I sports: 19 (seven men’s, 12 women’s)

Total national championships: 2 (Baseball in 2008, softball in 1998)

Famous for: Softball. Boasting one of the school’s national titles, the Bulldogs have made appearances in 12 Women’s College World Series, with the most recent 10 coming under legendary coach Margie Wright, who is still top five all time in career wins with over 1,400. Nearly 1,300 of those came at Fresno.

Under-the-radar program: Baseball. The Bulldogs have made four College World Series with the most recent trip in 2008 also being the program’s lone national title. From 2011-13, Fresno State was led by a player named Aaron Judge. Maybe you’ve heard of him.

Must-see: The biggest city in California’s San Joaquin Valley and home to over 500,000 people, Fresno has plenty to do, including the Fresno Grizzlies, the Single-A affiliate for the Colorado Rockies. The Tower District is a great spot for nightlife, while the Gazebo Gardens has a beer garden, food trucks and live music. 

Grab a bite: Fresno is known as a hot spot for hibachi restaurants and Hino Oishi is a must near campus. 

Gonzaga

Where: Spokane, Wash.

Enrollment: 5,293

Basketball arena: McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)

The Rams play … the Bulldogs first in women’s volleyball Oct. 1 in Spokane. The Zags are the only nonfootball school in the conference so far, and the hottest CSU basketball ticket (ever?) will be when the men’s basketball team plays at Moby Arena for the first time. 

CSU’s all-time record against (in men’s basketball): 2-3 (most recent game: a 93-61 win for the Zags in November 2013)

How many Division I sports: 18 (nine men’s, nine women’s)

Total national championships: 1 (Boxing, 1950)

Famous for: Men’s basketball. Maybe the best way to quantify what coach Mark Few has done with his program is the full media rights share the department will receive, despite not fielding a football program. That’s how good basketball has been in Spokane — and for a long time. Under Few, the Bulldogs have reached 27 straight NCAA Tournaments with Final Fours in 2017 and 2021 and countless program legends in their history from John Stockton in the 1980s to Chet Holmgren and Jalen Suggs more recently.

Under-the-radar program: Baseball. The Bulldogs have been a fixture in the West Coast Conference, reaching six NCAA Tournaments since 2013 and sending plenty of players to the big leagues, most notably three-time All-Star outfielder Jason Bay and Fort Collins native Marco Gonzales, a solid left-hander pitcher for a decade.

Must-see: Road trip through the nearby Idaho panhandle, fly fish the North Fork Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe rivers and swing by John Elway’s lake house in Coeur d’Alene.

Grab a bite: Run into famous Zags at Jack and Dan’s Tavern, which was a true tavern, serving only wine and beer, until it switched to a bar and grill in 2007. But the real draw was Denver Gazette sports editor Paul Klee’s hot dog stand, which stood outside Jack and Dan’s and served hungry Zags at closing time in 1999.

Oregon State

Where: Corvallis

Enrollment: 32,014

Football stadium: Reser Stadium (35,548)

Basketball arena: Gill Coliseum (9,301)

The Rams play … the Beavers on Oct. 3 to kick off Pac-12 play for both.

CSU football’s all-time record against: 2-2 (most recent game: a 39-31 double-overtime victory for the Beavers last fall that served as a microcosm of the struggles of the Jay Norvell era at CSU)

How many Division I sports: 17 (seven men’s, 10 women’s)

Total national championships: 4

Famous for: Baseball. The Beavers became a powerhouse on the diamond in the 21st century with seven College World Series appearances since 2005 and championships in 2006, 2007 and 2018, also reaching the last nine NCAA Tournaments. Several stars have gone on to shine in MLB, most notably Jacoby Ellsbury, Michael Conforto, Adley Rutschman and Travis Bazzana with the latter two being No. 1 overall draft picks. 

Under-the-radar program: Football. OSU has punched above its weight on the gridiron for decades with various periods of strong success, the most recent coming under coach Mike Riley from 2003-14 with eight bowl appearances and four AP top-25 finishes in that span. There are famous alumni like Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and a Heisman Trophy winner in QB Terry Baker (1962).

Must-see: If you have a long weekend in Corvallis, it’s more than worth the hour trip west to the spectacular Oregon coast. Newport is a scenic fishing town worth a stop, but for those staying in the vicinity of OSU’s campus, there are countless bike trails to explore.

Grab a bite: It’s the Pacific Northwest, after all, so seafood is a must and del Alma combines that with Latin American flavor for an excellent meal.

San Diego State

Where: San Diego

Enrollment: 33,839

Football Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium (35,000)

Basketball arena: Viejas Arena (12,414)

The Rams play … the Aztecs on Oct. 24 in Fort Collins.

CSU football’s all-time record against: 15-23 (most recent game: a 45-24 blowout last October that sparked the end of the Norvell era)

How many Division I sports: 18 (six men’s, 12 women’s)

Total national championships: 1 (Men’s volleyball, 1973)

Famous for: Men’s basketball. The dominant program in the Mountain West and one of the best mid-majors of the 21st century, the Aztecs have been a powerhouse under coaches Steve Fisher and now Brian Dutcher, reaching 14 NCAA Tournaments since 2002 with a Final Four appearance in 2023 and with Kawhi Leonard representing the program in the NBA as a two-time Finals MVP and future Hall of Famer.

Under-the-radar program: Baseball. It’s not really under the radar given the stadium is named after one of the game’s great hitters, Tony Gwynn, but SDSU’s best run came recently with five Mountain West conference titles from 2013-18. Along with Gwynn, the Aztecs have seen plenty of alumni succeed in the MLB with the likes of six-time All-Star third baseman Craig Nettles, former Rockies manager Bud Black and 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg. 

Must-see: It’s one of the most gorgeous cities in America, so you really can’t go wrong, especially if you find yourself at Mission Beach Boardwalk. Catch a Padres game at beautiful Petco Park if it’s baseball season or spend a day at the world famous San Diego Zoo.

Grab a bite: It’s San Diego. Track down tacos from a local food truck. 

Texas State

Where: San Marcos

Enrollment: 39,415

Football stadium: Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium (28,388)

Basketball arena: Strahan Arena (10,000)

The Rams play … the Bobcats likely twice this season in the first meetings between the programs. CSU heads to San Marcos for a Thursday night game Oct. 15, while TSU will almost certainly return the favor in the regular season finale Nov. 28 as part of the Pac-12’s “flex” games in the final week.

How many Division I sports: 16 (seven men’s, nine women’s)

Total national championships: 0

Famous for: Baseball. The Bobcats have been on the rise as a university and as an athletic department in the 21st century with the baseball program reaching the NCAA Tournament seven times in the last 30 years, with one of those appearances coming thanks to future All-Star first baseman and 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt.

Under-the-radar program: Football. Texas State is a team to watch in the new Pac-12. The Bobcats have only competed at the FBS level since 2012, but it’s Texas so the money is pouring into the program. Coach G.J. Kinne has led the program to a 23-16 record with bowl wins in all three of his seasons so far. 

Must-see: Rent a kayak or tube and beat the Texas heat on the San Marcos River or, if you have time to kill, Austin and San Antonio are both less than an hour away on Interstate 35.

Grab a bite: Again, it’s central Texas so any local Tex-Mex or barbecue spot should hit the spot, but a special shoutout to Toma Taco and The Taproom. 

Utah State

Where: Logan

Enrollment: 26,629

Football stadium: Maverik Stadium (25,513)

Basketball arena: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (10,270)

The Rams play … the Aggies on Oct. 31 in Logan for a Halloween matinee kickoff.

CSU football’s all-time record against: 40-38-2 (most recent game: an electric, 42-37 comeback win for the Rams at Canvas Stadium that was arguably the highlight of the program’s first winning season since 2017)

How many Division I sports: 16 (seven men’s, nine women’s)

Total national championships: 3 (1 women’s volleyball, 2 softball)

Famous for: Men’s basketball. Arguably the best program in the final years of the old Mountain West, the Aggies have been churning out NCAA Tournament appearances this decade with six March Madness trips since 2019, despite regularly needing to replace a coach who took a bigger job. Senior guard Mason Falslev is the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year and has the Aggies looking to compete right away in the Pac-12. 

Under-the-radar program: Women’s volleyball. The only program to meet (and even surpass) the standard set by CSU in the Mountain West, the Aggies have regularly competed for conference titles, including a sweep of the regular season and tournament championships in a 2025 season that also featured the program’s first NCAA Tournament win since 2001. 

Must-see: Like much of the Wasatch region, Cache Valley has plenty of outdoors-related activities to do, including any hike in Logan Canyon.

Grab a bite: Check out Herm’s Inn for some comfort diner food or go to Le Nonne for some excellent Italian cuisine. Plus, no trip to Logan is complete without some Aggie Ice Cream at the creamery on campus.

Washington State

Where: Pullman

Enrollment: 14,178

Football stadium: Martin Stadium (32,952)

Basketball arena: Beasley Coliseum (12,058)

The Rams play … the Cougars on Nov. 14 in Pullman.

CSU football’s all-time record against: 1-3 (most recent game: a disappointing 30-2 defeat last September to close nonconference play)

How many Division I sports: 17 (seven men’s, 10 women’s)

Total national championships: 1 (men’s indoor track & field, 1977)

Famous for: Football. It’s not the most storied history, but Wazzu has a proud tradition on the gridiron. Whether it’s players or coaches, some of the game’s best have spent time in Pullman. The Cougars have produced several top NFL draft picks, including QBs Drew Bledsoe (No. 1 overall in 1993) and Ryan Leaf (No. 2 overall in 1998). More recent, Wazzu was a fan favorite under coach Mike Leach from 2012-19 thanks to an “Air Raid” offense and a charismatic quarterback in Gardner Minshew.

Under-the-radar program: Women’s volleyball. This is a shout out to Cindy Fredrick, the mother of CSU men’s basketball coach Ali Farokhmanesh. Fredrick led the Cougars to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1993-97, guiding the longest run in program history to a regional final. Wazzu has continued to be relevant in the 21st century, making eight NCAA Tournament appearances since 2016.

Must-see: If you find yourself in eastern Washington in the summer, drive the rolling green hills of the Palouse, a unique region unlike much of anything else in the Pacific Northwest.

Grab a bite: Tri-tip steak sandwiches from a food truck? Yup, Pullman has one of those and Beef & Co. is a must visit just south of campus.