Utah State University is leveling up its sports game by joining the Pac-12 Conference, celebrating this move with their “Reach and Rise” campaign event at the end of June, a commencement that signals a pivotal change, according to USU Today. At the event, alumni, donors, and fans gathered to acknowledge the new opportunities and challenges that will come as USU steps into this larger arena.
Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, Utah State will take its place among current and other new members, including Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Texas State, after the Pac-12 Conference Board of Directors gave a unanimous nod for its admission. The interim president of Utah State, Alan L. Smith, hailed the move as a broadening of opportunities for the institution's student-athletes and a way to enhance its national presence. He said, "Our move to the Pac-12 is about so much more than changing conferences. It’s about expanding opportunities for our student-athletes, elevating our university’s national visibility and connecting more deeply with our alumni and fans across the country," as per USU Today.
In recent years, Utah State has shown considerable prowess within the Mountain West Conference with accolades such as four conference championships in the 2023-24 academic year, and a high bar of academic performance by its student-athletes. Diana Sabau, USU's Director of Athletics, pointed to the university's burgeoning culture of excellence, saying, "Our student-athletes have demonstrated time and time again that they belong on the biggest stage. Now, the Pac-12 gives them a platform to shine and show the nation what Aggies can achieve — with integrity, grit and determination," as obtained by USU Today.
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