The new-look Pac-12 just dropped its 2026 football projections, and wow. We're talking eight football members, an eight-game league schedule, and a flex game at the end of the season. While the experts are surprisingly united on who's taking the crown, there's one team that's an absolute enigma, with projections swinging wildly from a respectable middle-of-the-pack finish to dead last. Get ready, because this new era of college football in the west is looking unpredictable!
Boise State's Unanimous Throne
If there's one thing the national outlets agree on, it's Boise State. Every single prominent national outlet, from Phil Steele to Athlon Sports, ESPN's FPI, Yahoo Sports, and College Football News, pegs Boise State as the absolute favorite to win this new Pac-12. There is zero uncertainty here. They are the consensus king heading into the season, and honestly, can you blame them? They're coming over from the Mountain West, and clearly, the experts think they're ready to dominate the new landscape. It's a bold statement, and it sets a high bar for our region's new conference leader.
The Wild, Wild West of Texas State
Forget the favorites for a minute, because Texas State is the real head-scratcher here. They are the biggest unknown in these projections, by a mile. Coming from the Sun Belt, unlike the other teams from the Mountain West that have played against these Pac-12 legacy members, the Bobcats are a total wildcard. Phil Steele has them as high as No. 4, which would be a huge shocker. But then Yahoo Sports drops them all the way down to No. 8, the basement! That's a massive range, and it tells you nobody has a real read on where this team fits. Can they surprise everyone and challenge for the middle, or are they truly destined for the bottom? This is the kind of mystery that makes you wanna fast-forward to kickoff.
Who's Fighting for the Cellar?
While Boise State sits atop everyone's list and Texas State is all over the map, most outlets are in agreement on another battle: who finishes at the bottom. Colorado State and Oregon State are projected to be battling it out for those lower spots. Four of the five outlets have CSU at No. 7 or No. 8, with College Football News giving them their highest spot at No. 6. For Oregon State, three of the five pick them at No. 8, one at No. 7, but Yahoo Sports throws a curveball, putting them at No. 5. So, even down at the bottom, there's a little bit of disagreement. Meanwhile, teams like Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and our own Washington State are peppered throughout the middle, waiting to see how this wild conference shakes out.
Six months might feel like forever, but when these new Pac-12 teams hit the field, you know we'll be watching every snap to see if these early calls hit the mark. Will Boise State run away with it? Can Texas State shock everyone and land in the middle? Or will the bottom feeders solidify their spots? It's going to be a wild ride, and we can't wait for the action to begin!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.