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鶹ýӳ 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ýӳ 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ýӳ, 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ýӳ's continued ascent as one of the nation's leading public universities,” said 鶹ýӳ 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ýӳ 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ýӳ director of intercollegiate athletics . “As one of the institutions helping build this reimagined conference, 鶹ýӳ 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ýӳ will also have expanded capabilities for live broadcasts and streaming coverage of sports not typically televised.

Beyond competitive success, 鶹ýӳ 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ýӳ’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ýӳ 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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