鶹 celebrates the launch of its Pac-12 era

New rivalries and expanded visibility accompany the Aztecs' move to a historic — and reimagined — athletics conference

Wednesday, July 1, 2026
A display with the title A New Chapter Begins, a photograph of a college football game and the logos of San Diego State athletics and the Pac-12 Conference
The Aztecs' first Pac-12 home conference game in football is Oct. 1 against Texas State.

鶹 entered its era July 1, the day it officially joined the athletic conference in one of the most significant milestones in the university's rich athletics history.

The reimagined Pac-12 now includes Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Texas State and Utah State.

For 鶹, the transition represents more than a conference affiliation change. University officials say it reflects the institution's continued growth, national profile and commitment to excellence both on and off the field.

“Joining the Pac-12 is a defining moment in 鶹's continued ascent as one of the nation's leading public universities,” said 鶹 President . “We’re ambitious. And that ambition drives our institution, from groundbreaking research and student success to athletic competition at the highest levels.”

The start of membership comes nearly two years after 鶹 was announced in September 2024 as one of the institutions helping rebuild the historic conference. The new lineup of members creates a league with strong traditions in football and basketball while preserving the century-old Pac-12 brand.

“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for San Diego State and for the Pac-12,” said 鶹 director of intercollegiate athletics . “As one of the institutions helping build this reimagined conference, 鶹 is not simply joining the league — we're shaping its bright future.”

Membership in the Pac-12 will bring new competitive opportunities and expanded visibility for . The conference recently secured long-term media partnerships and will provide broad television and streaming distribution across its sports. Through Pac-12 Enterprises, the league's production arm, 鶹 will also have expanded capabilities for live broadcasts and streaming coverage of sports not typically televised.

Beyond competitive success, 鶹 has become a national leader in preparing student-athletes for life after graduation through its program. The initiative provides career readiness, leadership development, networking opportunities and experiential learning that help student-athletes translate their success in athletics into long-term professional achievement. 

Joining the Pac-12 ends 鶹’s successful 25-year run as a founding member of the Mountain West Conference. During its membership, the university won 106 conference championships — the most of any Mountain West institution in the sports in which the Aztecs competed. The Aztecs claimed five conference titles during their final year in the league in 2025–26: championships in women's basketball, women's tennis, baseball and women's swimming and diving.

The university's. Among the inaugural home conference events, at which 鶹 will hold special celebrations, are women's soccer against Boise State on Oct. 1, football against Texas State on Oct. 3, men's soccer against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Oct. 7 and volleyball against Oregon State on Oct. 8.

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