The Pac-12 is taking steps to regain its standing among the elite Power Five conferences by bringing in a new member.

The conference and Gonzaga University revealed on Tuesday that the Bulldogs will officially join on July 1, 2026. Gonzaga becomes the eighth addition to the Pac-12, following the announcement last month that Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State would be joining Washington State and Oregon State.

The Bulldogs submitted their official request to join the conference on Monday, as detailed in the announcement. The board of directors and presidents of the five newly added schools unanimously endorsed Gonzaga’s membership.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gonzaga to the Pac-12 as we embark on this exciting journey together,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould. “President McCulloh and Athletic Director Chris Standiford not only bring valuable insights and innovative thinking to the conference, but they are also remarkable leaders dedicated to enhancing student success and enriching the experiences of student-athletes both academically and athletically.”

“This day marks a significant achievement for the Pac-12 as we embrace another esteemed institution with a notable legacy of success.”

Since Gonzaga doesn’t have a football program, the Pac-12 will need to recruit another football school to meet the eight-team requirement for any conference champion to qualify for an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff.

The Pac-12 is undergoing a transformation after losing ten members before the 2024 season. Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC moved to the Big Ten, while Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado joined the Big 12. Stanford and California moved to the ACC.

Gonzaga, which hasn’t had a football team since 1941, will compete in all its other sports within the Pac-12. The Bulldogs boast one of the country’s top basketball programs in recent years, producing numerous NBA players and making it to the Sweet 16 for nine consecutive seasons.

Current Members of the Pac-12

Here’s a list of the existing and future members of the Pac-12:

• Washington State (current member)
• Oregon State (current member)
• Utah State (future)
• Colorado State (future)
• San Diego State (future)
• Fresno State (future)
• Boise State (future)
• Gonzaga (future)